Seeing as how the iPhone is even influencing politicians in Belgium, I just can’t resist to say a few things about it … First of all, the iPhone’s being released today, friday July 11th (which happens to be our Flemish National Holiday) for a price of 525eur for the 8GB version, and 615eur for the 16GB version.
A couple of things to say beforehand: this is _extremely_ expensive for a phone. Don’t forget that is what it is: a phone. You can make phonecalls, and you happen to be able to play some MP3s, and watch movies on it. But in the end, it’s primarily a phone. End of story.
And with the iPhone being launched, a new debate is starting about ‘tying sales’, selling a product bundled with another product, or selling it with loss, which at date is still illegal in Belgium. It’s actually gotten to a point where a local minister ‘Van Quickenborne’ is making an effort to change this – to allow tied sales. All because of 1 product?
Marketing at Apple is doing a terrific job, because it’s all over the news about how tying sales should be made legal in Belgium. You mean you _want_ an iPhone coupled with a 2 year contract? Just do the math, even the expensive iPhone as it is now will turn out cheaper than buying a slighly less expensive iPhone, but having to purchase a 2 year mobile-contract.
Because what if you want to change providers afterwards? Oh, there’s a cancellation fee (up to 150eur).
Seriously, if Nokia was to launch a new phone, would it get as much press attention as the iPhone? Would certain legislations suddenly get this much media attention? Would people stand in line for 5 days to buy it? No, if Nokia was to launch a phone – it would just be buyable.
The iPhone’s overhyped. Get. Over. It.
Edit: TheRegister has an interesting list of top 3G iPhone killers _– check it out!
Edit 2: Seems like Wired also published a list of iPhone killers_