IPhone G3 Benefits and Hidden Costs

The new iPhone G3 debuts this Friday and the anticipation is building for the latest device from Apple. It is expected that long lines will form outside the Apple stores for the new iPhone G3 just as they did at the introduction of its predecessor the original iPhone.

iPhone G3 Benefits

iPhone G3 will retain the look and feel of the original model but will sport a much more attractive price tag of $199, half of what the original iPhone cost. This iPhone 3G uses a new cellular technology that is extremely fast over the cell network called 3G. It also has a new operating system that will allow for wireless synchronization with your email and calendars.

Apple has improved the audio on the new iPhone and the speaker is much louder for both music and for the speakerphone. But the camera on the iPhone G3 is still not impressive, with just a resolution of 2 mega pixels and it still can't record video. For U.S. users the power adapter is now tiny and there is no longer a dock for charging, just a cable.

Apple is introducing a consumer service called Mobile Me for the new IPhone G3 and for upgraded older models. MobileMe offers functionality such as synchronized push email, calendars, photo and contact management.

There are other improvements on the new iPhone G3 such as the ability to delete multiple emails at once, set parental controls, search contacts, save photos in emails and open Microsoft PowerPoint files sent as attachments.

iPhone G3 Hidden Costs

The new iPhone G3 has two hidden costs that have surfaced in testing of the phone. The first cost being that the iPhone's G3 battery drains much faster than the battery did on the original iPhone. Because of the demands of the 3G network, the new iPhone 3G requires a lot more power for the same functions. This problem becomes quite significant because the new iPhone 3G has a sealed battery that can't be replaced with a spare, it has to be charged.

The second hidden cost is that exclusive network that Apple uses from AT&T. With the new iPhone G3 you will pay an additional $10 a month on that new contract that you must sign to be able to get the new phone. So that lower price that you paid for the new iPhone is now negated by the additional charges to AT&T over the two year contract totaling $240. Before you would get 200 text messages a month free with the iPhone, now 200 messages will cost $5 a month, or another $120 over the two-year contract.

iPhone G3 Activation

If you already own an iPhone remember to synch it with iTunes right before you get your new iPhone G3, so you don't lose any of your music or videos. According to the official Apple site you will need to bring the following with you if you want to purchase the new iPhone G3:

1. Credit Card

2. Social Security Number

3. Valid government-issued photo id

4. Current wireless account number and password or PIN (if you're new to AT&T

The new iPhone G3 has the benefits of the lower purchase cost and faster network speeds making it an attractive purchase. But it also comes with the higher service costs from AT&T and the weaker battery that you can't replace. If you have decided that the new iPhone G3 is a good purchase for you then enjoy the latest offering from Apple.