iPhone released in USA!

Today is iPhone day! Oh yes, that is “official”. The highest anticipated mobile+iPod+internet(+blender+vibrator+…) device is finally released in USA. Millions of people across the continent wanted it and some of them will be lucky to have it from today. But until it will come to Europe, why the Americans went crazy about it and what are my predictions for its future?

It’s the first time in history that an object of personal use is so popular for months before its lunch and without anybody trying it. This is part of (as many wrote) a successful marketing of Apple about its products. But this time they did something remarkable. Usually they are not announcing products; they are just announcing their straight release. But for iPhone they succeeded to keep the expectations of the critics’ and the customers’ alike, high, and without even paying for advertisements. It was just the announcement of this product that based on the successful iPod mp3 players alongside with a phone and internet capabilities would (and it did) create an expectation and anticipation higher than any other object had created before.

But it was not only because of these capabilities (that for some are even obsolete for today’s standards – namely, because of no 3G capabilities), but also because of some extras that raised the “hype” in even higher levels. The fact that there is no keyboard on this device but just a touch screen is enough to show that iPhone is different from any other smart-phone ever released. Another breakthrough for today’s standards are the various sensors that apple successfully (?) implemented to this tiny (again - ? - ) device. If for example you turn your iPhone from vertical position to horizontal, then thanks to the censor the screen will change its orientation. There is also a sensor that adjusts the dim of the screen according to the light of the room you are in. Finally there is a special sensor that answers automatically to a phone call when your iPhone approaches your ears.

These new features along with the successful iPod and a promise of a good internet browser created a must-gadget for most of the people that are willing to pay $500-600 for the device plus a 2year contract with one mobile operator (AT&T) with contract prices that begin from $59 per month. Oh yes! It is expensive but iPhone promises things that were unimaginable before. The whole operation system runs so smoothly and the product seems to deliver what it’s promising so I expect a hit. But there is a big But and If. Who does not remember the hype that the powerful Playstation 3 created before its release and how now it’s struggling to keep up with the competition from Xbox360 and the surprise of last year Wii. The reason why the PS3 is still last in sells of its console among the competition is for various reasons but mainly because the console in USA costs $600. People prefer to pay $250 for the Wii that is not as powerful as its competition but delivers a different experience with its innovative control system. In the other hand, the Microsoft’s Xbox360 offers the same 3^rd generation games as PS3 (but with the latter having better capabilities) but with a more competitive price.

But the iPhone might not experience the same problems because of its high price as PS3 did. First of all iPhone is a completely innovative product and, as Nintendo’s Wii did, it will possibly stand out from other smart-phones. Also the iPhone is the first of its kind so it will most probably lead its competition (as xbox360 did because it released almost a year before PS3). But there is the possibility that an alternative to iPhone mobile device with a lower price will appear later and it will be the next big-surprise as Wii did.

Whatever will happen in the end, it remains to be seen. But for now I’m starting dreaming iPhone’s arrival to Europe (hopefully from Vodafone)… but this will happen after my return from the army next year L

Until then… welcome iPhone!