Things to Consider Before Purchasing an iPhone

If you're subscribed to Cingular (now AT&T) and in the market for a new phone, or just simply want to buy the iPhone because it's the latest new gadget to hit the streets - you may want to think twice before making that decision. I'll say right away that I, myself, do not own an iPhone. However, this article is aimed at those are struck between whether or not to purchase one in the near future. This article is for you because I am in the same boat.

There are a few things you should consider before you decide to purchase the iPhone at this point in time. I have been in the market for technology related products for quite some time and I would like to give those who are not exactly well-versed in today's technology some advice on your decision. There are a few things you should consider before purchasing the iPhone, as it may not be the best purchase to make at this point in time.

One of the biggest issues is cost. If budget is of no concern to you, then you can skip this paragraph. If price is one of the biggest concerns in your decision-making, however, just keep in mind that the iPhone is currently $499 for a 4GB model and $599 for an 8GB model. There is an extremely good chance that this high price for a cell phone will drop in a few months or more. As with most every other product in the tech market, the iPhone will probably decrease in price if you wait a few months or even a year before your purchase. If anything, Apple may release a much better, upgraded version with more memory for the same price. This is the usual trend with most Apple products, so if you have the patience and have no immediate need for the iPhone at this point in time, wait it out.

Another thing to consider is the battery. If you purchased a product from Apple before, whether it be an iPod, a MacBook, or some other mobile device with a battery, you may have issues with it dying after a year or so. This is nothing new for Apple products. They've had this problem in the past, and they are having it now with the iPhone. This article from news.com details the battery exchange program which is similar to the iPod. The only reason I bring this up is that if you are considering the purchase of an iPhone, you should probably wait a while until they fix any huge battery related problems, or upgrade the iPhone in a way that extends the battery life. It may or may not happen, but this is just one thing to add to your list of considerations. It's no fun having a cool gadget to play with if you can't even use it because its power source is not working!

Also, when you purchase an iPhone, you have to sign a new 2-year contract as well as a special iPhone Data Plan. The iPhone is also exclusive to Cingular/AT&T, so if you don't have them as your provider and you want the iPhone, you will have to switch carriers and most likely pay an early termination fee (~$175). There are various other fees involved including taxes, activation fees, and so on. It's the usual situation with most new cell phone and contract plans, but it can be a large turn off for some people.

Last, but not least, it's always good to wait a few months before buying the latest and greatest gadget. Already there have been reports of issues dealing with the iPhone ranging from hacking, interference issues (this one was fixed), and various other bugs. This is normal and expected for a complex gadget like the iPhone with so much technology built into it. For you, the buyer, though, it may mean waiting a while until they have all the kinks worked out. You'll spend much less time trying to fix it if you let the guys at Apple do it for you.

So, that's just a few points I wanted to make about purchasing the iPhone. It's completely up to you whether or not you want to go ahead and make the purchase now or later. Just keep in mind these particular flaws, as there are others I didn't point out that can be found all over the web. Do your research first and then decide. It may seem like I'm bashing the iPhone for all its flaws, but really what I'm doing is making sure those who decide to get the iPhone make an educated purchase. You'll be happy you did, and I'll am happy that you read this, because you are now more informed.