The 3G version of iPhone was introduced this year in July. Despite the high price and software issues, popularity of iPhone has been growing everywhere including Pakistan. To date about 75 countries have been announced for this international launch but Pakistan is still not on the official list.
But given the talent Pakistanis have in reverse engineering and adapting gadgets to their need, who needs an official provider? I believe that iPhone has all that it takes to be one of the most popular phones in Pakistan: it is stylish, feature-rich and a status symbol. In a very short time iPhone has become the phone of choice for the tech celebrities of Pakistan. It is also quite popular with Pakistanis abroad as well. Actually iPhone is one of the most requested gift item from Pakistan!
I have been testing the 3G iPhone for a few months now and I love it, despite a few issues. I couldn’t help comparing it with Blackberry pearl and other regular phones. But a simple comparison is not possible because iPhone packs so much more than the so-called smart phones. Now it does not mean that it is beyond criticism – the 3G iPhone has had its share of software bugs and network issues, many of which have been fixed recently.
First and foremost – iPhone is an eye candy. Browsing the web on iPhone is a treat and has made mobile web enjoyable. The visual elements, its ability to render images and graphics is superior than any other device. I find myself browsing the web quite a lot with the iPhone. Fans of iPod will love it too as it packs the popular audio features and capabilities in one sleek gadget. If you are all about email, many consider Blackberry to be much better but the new push capabilities of iPhone are quite appealing. The touch interface is intuitive and easy. If you make quite a lot of calls then beware – the touch key pad may or may not be your thing. Personally, I prefer the physical keyboard, at least when using the phone while driving.
The GPS and google map works quite well. There are many interesting new applications available which utilize GPS, such as iPray with Qibla Finder. This brings another interesting point: the very profitable Apple Store business model, which has resulted in huge number of interesting applications (some are free) available for download. Both the developers and Apple benefit from this approach.
Here are some suggestions. In case you have the new 3G iPhone, get the latest software fixes released by Apple (2.1 was released on Sep 12) which improves battery life and call quality and fixed many bugs.
If you have the original iPhone, no worries – it is good enough for most purposes. If you want to take the phone from US/EU to Pakistan, you are better off with the non-3G edition as 3G is non-existent in Pakistan. For US residents note that depending on your location, you may be on EDGE as 3G coverage is still limited and ATT network is mediocre. The email (push, support for exchange) of the new iPhone allows it to be easily adopted by professionals and companies.
Regardless of the bugs and complaints from die-hard Nokia and Blackberry fans, the iPhone is selling very well and it has some impressive and attractive features. Apple has shaken up the mobile monopolies of carriers and handset makers. It even forced Nokia to open up its platform and Google is under pressure to come up with a better product and platform. Competitors like Samsung, LG and HTC are working hard to come up with their versions of “touch†phones and this should mean more choices for consumers.
Images are from Apple web site and flickr.com.
Hi. Look, its a ground breaking phone. Its started a completely new race for handset manufacturer. And its customer friendly like hell.
What about the $$$ it costs and the number of people in Pakistan who walk around with this phone? Everytime I see somebody with the new iphone 3G or some other horribly expensive gadget, the only think that comes to my mind is the immense amount of forex we spend to look cool. Look what its doing to our nation!
Will we ever stop? Or will consumerism be the end of us? Why do we live outside our means?
Oh for god’s sake i have enough of this iPhone mania , i hope it never comes to Pakistan so we can save more people from being ripped by a useless gadget ! it cant even do some basic stuff like mms which even a Rs.5k phone can do !
It may be stylish and good for showing off if that’s what you want but its not a useful gadget i have seen better phones by Nokia and SonyEricsson.
Just realized my comment below is typo-ridden. I apologize in advance.
By the way this line reads like this:
Besides being eye candy, a new phone for
I am myself a software architect and do a lot of work with mobile devices in addition to other areas.
iPhone is a paradigm shift in how we interact with mobile devices. I have used all flavors of data enabled and corporate friendly mobile devices including Windows Mobile, BlackBerrys, and what not. To be honest iPhone wins hands down because of its interface and functionality
Besides being eye candy, a new phone for ‘homosexuals’, or , it is very intuitive and behaves and respond as expected. I didn’t even have to read the or open the manual – it responded to my intuitions and did it really well.
Its GPS is far superior and faster than Samsung BlackJack II (windows Mobile6 – My last phone that lives in a trash now). Locks satellites within secconds rather than minutes. Its 3G is helps, and not to mention the builtin WiFi modem (Although a power sucker but works liek a charm).
The latest version firmware 2.0.2 fixed lots of quirks too. Battery lasts longer and data throughput seems to have increased too.
Last but not the least, iPhone’s MS Exchange Outlook push makes it even more sexier. My emails come in through push and its fully compatible with MS Office and other docs. Keeps the format and styling and easy to read. Not to mention the multitouch zooms, facebook app, twitterific and such keeps you connected all at the same time with no need to be on computer at all.
Sometimes I read emails on iPhone while in front of my computer, that says a lot.
In my eyes, its not only sexy, its practical and does the job 100 times better than others out there. Yes Google Android will follow suit, but it still has to hit the market before iPhone will have competitor. Till then enjoy the iPhone revolution.
iPhone has been in Pakistan even before teh new G3 came. I have seen many people with it. Pakistanis are smart and like gadgets so they find a way to use all these things if they want to.