iDropped

Some of you know I'm the proud owner of an iPhone 3G. It's pretty damn cool. But there are issues with it, and those issues are enough to turn people away from the product and back to other smartphones from other carriers besides AT&T.

Apple is denying anything's wrong of course, and so is AT&T. So is the iPhone 3G right for you? The biggest question is if AT&T has 3G coverage in your hometown or not. If they do (I live in Cincy and I'm here 99% of the time within 3G range) then you're fine.

If you're on the road a lot or live out in an area without 3G coverage, you're going to be in trouble. I've noticed that my iPhone will switch from 3G to standard EDGE network coverage without issue if you're deep inside an office building for example, but you have to reset the network settings to 3G to pick up 3G coverage again once you're in a location that should get 3G coverage. It should do it automatically, and it's not. That can be a REAL pain in the ass if you're in a building where Wi-Fi is not available, or where it's locked down because you're in a work environment.

Apple and AT&T have a fair amount of work ahead of them to make the iPhone 3G live up to the hype. When it works, it works great. When it doesn't work, you have to have an IT degree to get it working again. If it's the iPhone software or AT&T's network, Apple needs to get on the ball. There are too many competitors out there that have better service, and once they catch up on the functionality of the iPhone, Apple's in real trouble, because AT&T's 3G service leaves a lot to be desired so far. That may change, but everyone's gunning to the be the "iPhone better than the iPhone" and the brand power of Apple's product is only going so far.

Microsoft took what Apple did right and fixed what was wrong and the rest is history. Will Samsung, Verizon, RIM, or Sprint do the same 20 years later?