Advice wanted - tempted by iphone

Leithie

Hi

I'm v tempted by the Iphone 3G, but as I've never had an 18th month contract I'm a little wary.

My O2 contract is up for renewal.

I use bluetooth in the car (headset), i use mp3 tones as ringtones and text alerts - some asigned to individuals. Can the iphone do that?

I occassionally use mobile for photos but mainly to take down a price of something or a phoen number, save me lookign for a pen & paper.

I travel quite a bit so i'd like the internet when i'm in the hotel. I'd also like to access my emails.

I have a small business and I'd like to be able to repsond to cusotmers throughout the day instead of after 5 when i get home from day job.

I have a palm organiser, which i use as a diary & address book, but it has infrared and isn't compatable with the new phones to transfer info as they are all bluetooth.

I know I can't forward texts with the iphone or bluetooth tones, but i assuem i coudl email them?

Can anyone tell me if the iphone will meet my needs?

MoscowFlyer

The text alert can be changed to one of their standard ones, email alerts can't be changed at all and are not at all loud. You cannot assign an mp3 as a ringtone yet, again you have to choose one of their standard ones. You can't email mp3's or ringtones or bluetooth anything at all to another phone, bluetooth only works with handsfree devices.

Bluetooth works with 'most' in car hands free kits.

Internet works great so long as you have a good signal or wifi available.

What email do you use? Gmail/hotmail or a company one? If your email is done through Microsoft Exchange, you can syn it so it pops up every time you have a new mail (known as push), otherwise you'll have to configure and set it manually, not sure how easy this would be if you have a work-specific email address though that isn't on Microsoft Exchange.

Leithie

MoscowFlyer wrote: »

What email do you use? Gmail/hotmail or a company one? If your email is done through Microsoft Exchange, you can syn it so it pops up every time you have a new mail (known as push), otherwise you'll have to configure and set it manually, not sure how easy this would be if you have a work-specific email address though that isn't on Microsoft Exchange.

The email i use is hotmail and virgin media web based. So I would just want to check it every so often throughout the day. Providing a better service than the all replies in the evening.

It's an in ear headset that I've got for use in the car.

MoscowFlyer

The iPhone works with most bluetooth hands free devices so there shouldn't be a problem. You shouldn't have any problems setting up the email either, definitely not with Hotmail, and with Virgin, if all else fails you can use the internet to check it anyway.

Leithie

oooh after you first post, I thought well that's it it's a no, I'll have to look at blackberry or the samsung tocco or the Lg viewty, but now your second post makes me wonder again.....

fiish

Hotmail will work when accessed through Safari, sadly the Mail application does not support it (it's not just an Apple vs. Microsoft thing, Hotmail access via anywhere other than the web seems to be slow and difficult, even via MS's own programs like Outlook).

You can assign MP3 ringtones however you need to convert them using a tool like iRinger.

The iPhone is king of mobile internet browsing (the unlimited Data+Wifi helps ). If e-mail is most important to you, maybe have a closer look at the Blackberry Bold as well. The Nokia N95 might also be worth considering although it's only offered with really expensive contracts (with O2 it's more expensive than an iPhone.....)

MoscowFlyer

fiish wrote: »

Hotmail will work when accessed through Safari, sadly the Mail application does not support it (it's not just an Apple vs. Microsoft thing, Hotmail access via anywhere other than the web seems to be slow and difficult, even via MS's own programs like Outlook).

You can assign MP3 ringtones however you need to convert them using a tool like iRinger.

The iPhone is king of mobile internet browsing (the unlimited Data+Wifi helps ). If e-mail is most important to you, maybe have a closer look at the Blackberry Bold as well. The Nokia N95 might also be worth considering although it's only offered with really expensive contracts (with O2 it's more expensive than an iPhone.....)

I stand corrected then, I thought Hotmail worked like Gmail, just that it didn't 'push'

The N95 is free with 3 at the moment, and for £5 you get unlimited data, so this could be another option.

diamonds

get the BlackBerry Bold from Orange, its 3G, email straight to your handset so you dont have to log in or send/recieve as soon as it hits your inbox its sent to your handset, plays mp3's & WAV files ( WAV is the nearest you wil get to CD quality - ripped from a CD, but without Windows ( bloatware ) Mobile ! ) Skype, Opera ( the BB browser is excellent ) Yahoo Messenger and most popular programs are available as BB is built to accept Java applications

£2.50 for BB add on ( email & browsing ) with ANY current Orange Animal plan

email/browsing is done via BB own servers so you find surfing quicker than a regular mobile where the system slows at Orange servers, Orange pass the connection to BB servers and with the BB servers to Orange servers to your handset connection being 3G, well your laughing

Leithie

fiish wrote: »

Hotmail will work when accessed through Safari, sadly the Mail application does not support it (it's not just an Apple vs. Microsoft thing, Hotmail access via anywhere other than the web seems to be slow and difficult, even via MS's own programs like Outlook).

You can assign MP3 ringtones however you need to convert them using a tool like iRinger.

The iPhone is king of mobile internet browsing (the unlimited Data+Wifi helps ). If e-mail is most important to you, maybe have a closer look at the Blackberry Bold as well. The Nokia N95 might also be worth considering although it's only offered with really expensive contracts (with O2 it's more expensive than an iPhone.....)

email is important, but if I can get ti through the mobile web, perfect.

I did think that someone now or in the future would create an app to make ringtones.

I like my palm for the ability to add different applications. And sync my diry to the pc so if it all goes wrong or i lose it i still have a copy to upload to the replacement.

i wonder if apple will make anotehr software update to allow the transfer of pics/tones via bluetooth.

boltonangel

hi

i have the iphone 3g and have managed to use mp3's as ringtones (all assigned to different contacts) quite easily and for free by watching various videos on youtube.
you cant assign mp3's as sms alerts though, you have to stick with the standard ones, which are limited.
for me the best feature of the iphone is the internet, which is exactly as u would see it on your pc, but from what i understand a lot of phones are similar now anyway and also offer unlimited usage.
i got my 1st iphone back in nov 07 and didnt get bored, i just upgraded cos i could! lol.

boltonangel

stolt

i second the blackberry bold, been waiting ages for this phone, and it seems orange are the first operator in the UK to release it. i'll be on the phone to sort a new contract out.