Apple's New iPhone

Steven Jobs recently unveiled Apple's new iPhone, a touch screen smartphone based on a version of the Mac OS that will run on the Cingular wireless network in the U.S. Though it's not slated to ship until June, the device is already generating a lot hype in the media. Will it match the success of the iPod and dominate the smartphone niche, or will it get lost in the crowded world of existing devices? We've already gotten a lot of feedback on this subject from our expert bloggers (http://pocketpcmag.com/blogs) and contributing authors.

Consumer success inevitable, but not enterprise

The success of this device is inevitable in the consumer market, but I can't see it doing well in the enterprise because of what Michael Gartenberg has already said: "It's not extensible by third parties, only Apple. That means there are currently no RSS readers, no Slingplayers, and no support for Microsoft Office attachments."

It's good that Apple's limiting the focus of the device's capabilities. This has worked for the iPod and what it has evolved into. It also worked for RIM's BlackBerry and Danger's Sidekick. RIM has an enterprise audience that it caters to and Danger has the consumer audience. Although Sidekick may still have the iPhone beat in terms of text-entry and physical controls, I really believe the iPhone is the Sidekick killer.

Apple will probably try to position Windows Mobile devices as "Jack of all trades; master of none" devices, and I expect the iPhone to be praised for starting out right by doing what it says it can do. However, what cannot be denied is that Windows Mobile still has an edge in enterprise, industrial application, and third-party software development.

If it can be unlocked, I might get one. But I can easily see it being relegated to second phone status. After all, my T-Mobile Dash syncs up with Exchange Server, and I can swap my SIM card over to my HTC Wizard or Universal when I need to do some server administration.

A Microsoft/Nokia killer?

The entire handheld world has been eagerly awaiting information and prototypes of Apple's new iPhone, which is slated to ship in June of this year. Based on what I've seen so far, the device looks very promising and, in some respects, puts what's on the market now to shame. For example, it is supposed to run OS X—the full Unix environment and not a dumbed-down version.

The specs are pretty cool, particularly the screen resolution and thickness. The lack of high-speed HSDPA or UMTS data capability is the major drawback. The phone only supports the "slow" EDGE.

It won't replace my Pocket PC!

I was very interested in the iPhone at first, but three things stopped me in my tracks:

• It does not have a removable battery, theoretically turning the iPhone into a $600 brick when the battery dies.
• It does not have an expansion slot; I'm stuck with either 4 GB or 8 GB of internal storage max.
• Most disappointing to me is that you can install your own software on the iPhone, meaning that I won't be able to use any third-party innovations or applications that I use all the time on my Windows Mobile device.