iPhone and Africa?
Comments(4) 
I might be jumping the gun here a little, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents before the pre-launch euphoria kills everyone. The iPhone hype is so great, Jesus might be coming shortly thereafter. All hail the life changing utility of the future - or is it?
Judging from what I've seen online and in the catchy TV ads, this might well be the phone to end all phones. I'm not sure whether to call it a phone, or a gizmo with Phone + iPod + Internet. What more could you possibly ask for? I'm a certified phone whore, switching phones every few months, on a quest for the mythical device, the holy grail of all gadgets and I'm just wondering if this could be it. My gut feeling is that brilliant marketing is what is at play here.
I suspect that the iPhone will have the same flaws the T-Mobile MDA did (back when I had it). The MDA was everything you might want in a phone (multimedia & internet)… except it failed at the one thing it was supposed to do the best - be a phone. Touchscreen dialing looks nice and easy until you have to do it driving a car. People take a keypad for granted. Have you ever noticed the the #5 key always has that tell-tale bump that guides you to dial a number even while blind-folded?
Anyone planning to use this 'Great Gadget' in Africa might be a little disappointed. All that I've read so far hints at the internet being at the core of its great features, with the Safari Browser, Email, Google Maps, YouTube integration and more. GPRS/EDGE coverage in most African countries is spotty if any. If you just want to settle for a glitzy phone with music, then by all means go for it. Also, if the iPhone gets you a hot date, then you have my blessings and it is definitely worth the price.
I don’t know if you’re a big fan of Skype like I am, but they’ve elevated this VOIP thing to a whole new level. I can hardly complain about a good thing, but Skype has always been connected by the hip to the computer. Lately two new products have come out that enable you to free skype from the bounds of your PC. Both of these items connect directly to your router instead of the computer. They also have a PC-like Skype User Interface making for easy configuration. Finally, they show all of your Skype friends/buddies who are online (Amazing!).
