10 Things You Should Know Before Buying iPhone 4 (
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With Apple's iPhone 4 just a few weeks away,
it's time for consumers and enterprise customers to decide if the
device is worth buying. Making that decision is getting more difficult.
Years ago, the iPhone was the only "next-gen" smartphone on the market.
If consumers wanted to be able to use their fingers to
control the device and have access to an App Store to extend its
functionality, the iPhone was the way to go. But today, with stiff
competition from Google, HTC, RIM and so many other major players in
the mobile market, consumers have many more alternatives to choose
from.
Realizing that, it's important for customers to be as
informed as possible before they head out to the store on June 24 and
pick up an iPhone 4. That means that they should evaluate alternatives,
realize that the iPhone 4 has some shortcomings, and determine if some
future products that will be hitting store shelves later this year
might attract them more than those devices that are already available.
These are some things that customers need to know before they pick
up an iPhone 4.
1. Alternatives are awfully nice
Whether it's the HTC Droid Incredible or the Sprint Evo 4G, there are some outstanding alternatives to the iPhone 4 on the market.
For example, the HTC Droid Incredible currently boasts Android OS and
features an 8-megapixel camera. It runs on Verizon's network, which
should make those who don't like AT&T or its service happy. The
Sprint Evo 4G might not have all the bells and whistles that consumers
have to come to expect from the iPhone, but it runs on the
ultra-high-speed 4G network. Unfortunately, 4G isn't nearly as
ubiquitous as it could be, but if the Evo does well, the technology
should be available in many more places in the coming months and years.
2. AT&T's upgrade policy
AT&T's upgrade policy must be understood before
consumers head out to the AT&T store to pick up an iPhone 4.
According to the carrier, those that have contract-expiration dates
that are within six months will be eligible to buy Apple's latest
smartphone for the advertised prices of $199 and $299. Those that want
an iPhone 4, but are not within the six-month period, will be required
to pay $399 or $499 for a 16GB or 32GB iPhone 4, respectively. Also
worth noting: AT&T subscribers that currently don't have an iPhone
are not able to capitalize on AT&T's six-month waiver.
3. Data caps are in place
AT&T's new caps on data are officially in place.
It's important for customers to remember that when deciding if the
iPhone 4 is really for them. AT&T now charges $15 per month for
200MB of monthly data. The carrier charges $25 per month for 2GB of
data. Those that wish to add more data to a 200MB plan during a month
will be forced to pay another $15 to do so. Although many folks won't
use up 2GB of data in a month, those that wish to have unlimited data
can either stay in their current AT&T iPhone plan or opt for
another carrier. Currently, Verizon Wireless and most of AT&T's
competition offer unlimited plans.
4. Android is coming to AT&T
A key issue for AT&T is that it doesn't have any
Android-based devices available. But they are coming. That's an
important milestone for the company. After all, Android outsold the
iPhone in the first quarter of 2010. And although that trend may or may
not continue, Google's success in the mobile market is making it clear
that it's here to stay. Plus, customers are starting to warm up to it.
Too often, the issue of availability focuses on the iPhone not being
available on Verizon's network. When will that attention shift to
Android and the fact that it isn't available to AT&T customers?
Android is coming to AT&T. And for those folks that have been
waiting to get their hands on Google's operating system, it might be
worth waiting for.
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