| Cell phones used to be about making telephone calls, but that has changed entirely in recent years. No longer is a phone viewed as a one-function device. Now capable of performing more tasks than seems possible in a device so small, ‘phones’ are fully replacing laptop computers in some people’s lives. From games to text to voice-to-text to video to updating one’s blog, a smartphone allows it all, from virtually anywhere. But what phone is the best? Apple can be credited with introducing the first smartphone with the introduction of the iPhone.
But with myriad complaints against the package, often centered around a lack of choice in coverage providers, one can be a bit baffled by the selection process. The simplest way of looking at the problem is this: Apple has been attempting to create and hold onto a monopoly, offering their smartphone’s capabilities only on the AT&T network. Unfortunately, this is reminiscent of the Windows/Intel chip combo that ruled the 90’s so universally. Just as that combo suffered image problems, so too does Apple, for doing the same thing.
Meanwhile, other phone brands offer customization, a wide choice of service providers, many similar applications, and even faster processors in a package that includes a larger screen. Samsung’s Galaxy S2 and Motorola’s Droid 3 both seem pretty compelling when compared against the iPhone. It’s not something Apple seems to want to address, but the competition is heating up, and possibly even offering a more viable product than the originators of the smartphone device. |