Beware iPhones!

When Apple's iPhone was launched I lamented that it was not available in Barbados (see earlier blog). However, such is globalisation that the new super phone gadget has found its way here. Good news? Maybe not. For the iPhone to work it is supposed to be in conjuction with AT&T's network according to a 5 year agreement between Apple and the cellular network provider. That really limited the use of the phone. So, in a jiffy, a solution arrived. Smart kids and potential entrepreneurs saw the chance to get the phone to a wider public and perhaps make some bucks in the process, and cracked the code so that the phones can be used on other networks, such as Verizon or Cingular in the US, but also of course on most other network worldwide, such as Cable and Wireless, Digicel and others in the Caribbean. This so-called unlocking of phones (or "hacking" as called by the phone companies and network providers) is not new and it's how a lot of swanky new models get to countries in Africa and work fine there. Apple just announced, however, that it has introduced new software, which will disable the iPhone if it has been unlocked. When I saw some of the iPhones on sale in Mall Internationale at the weekend and staff there had no idea about this development. So, if you buy an iPhone in Barbados be prepared to find that the phone wont work.

But, just like that, Verizon has brought out a competitor to the iPhone, and it may be comparably priced (see article on Silicon Caribe website). It will be made by LG and is called "Voyager". It has a QWERTY keyboard, which the iPhone does not. It looks a little like a Blackberry Pearl and has whizzo stuff (like a camera) that we all don't need but love to have.

The courts are still undecided whether unlocking cell phones is illegal (see article on The Blade website). Since the first reports of a 17 year old who had "hacked" the iPhone the questions have been flying whether this is illegal and if it could damage the iPhones. Apple and AT&T clearly think that both things apply. Those who wanted the new gadget but found that it was restricted to one carrier were clear less than happy. Apple has a habit of doing restrictive things with its products, since its early PCs and such moves have generally hurt the sales of the products. The company seemed to changed philosophy in this regard, but clearly there is a residual tendency to "lock up" the possibility of generaluse for a lot of Apple products. This may turn out to be another mis-step for the much heralded iPhone, which came out at very high prices (about US$600 for the 8 gigabyte version, or a cool few thousand US dollars if you were fool enough to try to get one on eBay within a few days) only for Apple to knock US$200 off that price. Again, some very unhappy customers. Still, around a million have already been sold, so cha-ching for Apple ahead of Christmas, I guess.

Languishing here in Bajan paradise we can go and look at an iPhone, and maybe have it as a cool (non-working) accessory next to the iPod and iMac. Anyway, do some checking before adding an iPhone to the Christmas list or heading off to the US to buy a bunch of them for friends and family.