I'm looking to upgrade to a smartphone. Can someone make me a good argument for why I should look at anything other than an iPhone?
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M$6 Answers
The iPhone is still bound to AT&T's wireless network. If you want full customer service and support, you need to keep it on AT&T's network. If you have any significant problems with AT&T's network where you live, work, or your primary travel and shopping areas; then you need to consider a different carrier and thus a different handset. The choice of carrier comes down to you.
Google Integration
You stated that you are concerned with Gmail and Google Calendar connectivity. The Google Android phone OS featured on many different handsets links your phone to your Google account. It pulls and stores contacts in your Gmail Contacts. Your preferences are backed up by google; so if you replace the handset, you will automatically get all your contacts and setting back down from Google. I do not know what level of Calendar integration already exists.
I cannot speak good or ill towards the iPhone, Blakcberry, or Palm integration with Google.
Handset features
The iPhone is what it is. There is only one form factor and you are limited to apple approved accessories. Blackberry has a variety of models, but they too keep all their technology "in house". The same goes for Palm. Android is an OS that many manufacturers are adopting for a variety of handsets. Leaning that way may offer you the broadest set of features to choose. Some specifics include camera (with or without focus), keyboard, touch screen, scroll ball/wheel, slide or flip design, and so on.
I guess it looks like I am pushing you to look at a Google Android powered phone. But I am refraining from recommending a specific model mainly for the first and third points I described above. A phone is a rather personal item and you will likely be signing a contract to the same handset and plan for about 2 years. I have tried to suggest some key things to consider in lieu of knowing what you prefer. I cannot presume to know what you actually like. For example, I prefer clamshell phones (they have a hinge and open like a clam shell to be used) over all other kinds just because I think they are the most durable.
Best of luck, and don't forget to fiddle around with the floor models or your friends' phones if you have the chance before you buy.
Personal Experience, my friend's iPhone, my wife's HTC Hero, my Motorola VE450, reviewers' comments on various Google Android powered phones
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1) Do you need a smartphone at all?
If you mainly use your phone for calling and little else, you don't need one. I've known people get a smartphone and wonder why they bothered. However if you did get an iPhone you might well find yourself liking surfing on it a lot more than you expect, as well as enjoy the apps. It is not so much a phone as a handheld computer.
2) You talk about accessing email
If you plan to do a lot of emailing with your phone, a phone with a keyboard might suit you better. A lot of people prefer Blackberrys for emailing. Also Android phones like the Nexus One have a keyboard, and will presumably integrate very well with Gmail and Google calendar. You should probably try out the keyboards before deciding. Some people are happy with the iPhone's on-screen keyboard, others not.
3) Photo quality
You didn't mention it, but some people care about taking photos of high quality. Many other phones have a better, higher resolution camera than the iPhone,
4) Cost
The total cost of ownership of an iPhone can work out considerably higher than some of the other options, depending on which models and plans you go for. See here.
Their data is summarised in this chart, which also compares other phone fearures:
You may also want to consider the possibility of getting an iPod Touch to go with your normal phone. The iPod Touch is also a handheld computer and can do most of what an iPhone can do, but minus the phone. You can use it to surf the internet, email and run apps where you can get wi-fi access, i.e. home, work, coffee shops etc. The advantage is no extra phone bills.
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M$
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My battery lasts all day. Unless I plays games for a couple hours. Just charge it ever night and any other time that's convenient. Not too hard.
Actually, the original Droid was made by Motorola and runs (I believe a custom version of) the Google Android operating system. Very similar to PCs, anyone can manufacture a phone handset (Motorola, HTC, LG, etc) and then install the Android OS on it. HTC also has the Droid Eris available from Verison.
You could compare this to companies like Dell, Toshiba, and HP making computers and all installing Microsoft Windows OS on them.
Google has, however, markets the Nexus One.
http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/ci.Motorola-DROID-US-EN.vertical
http://www.google.com/phone
EDIT: I stand partially corrected. The Nexus One is manufactured by HTC, but marketed by Google directly. The handset can be purchased unlocked for use on any GSM network or with a TMobile plan.
http://www.htc.com/us/support/nexus-one-google/tech-specs/
i have one:)
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M$android os
iphone os
blackberry os
symbian os
windows mobile os
only one that's open source right now is the android, so if you like open source, this is your phone.
iphone has the most apps, but android apps are catching up.
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M$My iPhone with a "slow" EDGE connection is still way more useful and enjoyable to use than any other phone out there. There are some apps on the iPhone that are better than any desktop app and many I don't know if I could live with out. Maybe the competition will catch up but why not bet on the horse that's still in the lead? If you can wait a few months, the next gen iPhone will be coming.
A tip on using a iPhone with Google. Setup Google Sync with your future iPhone. It's uses of all things Microsoft Exchange. You get FREE push email, contacts, and calendars. http://www.google.com/mobile/sync/
Enjoy your new iPhone.
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M$
