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Apple iPhone Competitors

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Does The Apple iPhone Have Any Competition?

The Apple iPhone was released on June 29, 2007 to much fanfare. This phone is the second coming on The Beatles, or so Apple would like us all to believe. The truth is, there is competition out there, and there are a lot of things the iPhone cannot do.

The major fault in the iPhone is the service. For reasons that I cannot comprehend (because I can't imagine a pile of cash that high), Apple "decided" to make AT&T the exclusive provider of service for the iPhone for the next few years. That's bad news where I live, because Verizon offers much better signal. In fact, everyone I know in different parts of the country also claims that Verizon works better where they live. Perhaps AT&T really dropped the ball after the Cingular buy-out.

T-Mobile just announced a new service plan that will include a WiFi router and will allow users to get free calls when they are in a WiFi "hotspot." That means free calls via WiFi inside your home or at your local Starbucks, etc. AT&T does not yet have anything similar to this service for the iPhone.

Anyway, let's take a look at some of the phones that other companies are offering.  

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HTC Touch

A large touchscreen like the iPhone, unlocked for $600

The HTC offers a large touchscreen, similar to the one on the iPhone, although it's plastic and therefore not nearly as sleek. I'll admit that this phone could use a redesign; it just looks to darn boring. There is another problem with the HTC Touch: it's not sold in the United States by any official carrier.

You can find these on the internet unlocked for around $600. That means you can pick whatever GSM cell phone service provider you want. That's a big plus for anyone who doesn't want to get stuck with AT&T.

HTC Touch Photos

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Helio Ocean

Dual Slider Helio For Sprint Service Only

I like gadgets that move around a little. Ask yourself which is cooler: pulling a phone out of your pocket and slyly flicking it open to talk, or pulling a phone out of your pocket and holding it close to your face while poking away at little buttons on the screen? The Helio Ocean offers a slider in two directions. Slide it lengthwise for a keypad, and along its width to get a keyboard for easy texting. It reminds of those old magic trick toys that made the quarter disappear.

I happen to love these phones, I just hate the commercials. It IS just a cell phone, although it does have all the features one would expect from a phone on the cutting edge. At $295, it's a lot cheaper than the iPhone, so you can buy one Helio Ocean and a decent iPod (with a lot more storage than the iPhone).

Helio Ocean Pics

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Nokia N95

A Mini-Computer With A Great Camera

The good news about the Nokia N95 is that it's a powerful little device with GPS and a great 5 megapixel camera. It really is a pocket-sized mini-computer.

The bad news about the N95, along with most great cell phones that would provide competition for the iPhone, is that it is not currently sold in the US market. To buy an unlocked one in the United States, it'll cost you about $750. I expect this phone, or one very similar to it, to official hit American shores in the near future as companies clamor to put up a strong front against the iPhone.

Nokia N95 Pictures

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Nokia N95 For Sale

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