Have you resisted the lure of Apple's iPhone 3G thus far? Perhaps the massive Apple marketing machine has had no effect on you whatsoever, but this doesn't mean you can do without a media playing, web browsing smartphone, right?
Apple's iPhone 3G was released in Australia in July 2008 to fanfare unheard of for a mobile phone. When the device hit stores it seemed like the iPhone was the only handset people spoke about. There are, of course, alternatives.
Identifying iPhone alternatives is more than just listing other touchscreen smartphones. There are three main ways in which the iPhone excels. Firstly, it's a media player — the iPhone 3G's 3.5-inch display and excellent iPod component is a media monster, though if you're in the market for a phone that plays video files and music and sports huge internal storage then an LG's Arena or HTC Touch HD are also worth checking out. If it's an excellent touchscreen music playing mobile you're after check out Nokia's XpressMusic 5800.
Secondly, the iPhone performs well as a business device. Apple went to great pains before the release of the iPhone 3G to include important business software, like VPN support and Microsoft Exchange compatibility. It's still our opinion, though, that if you're in the market for a business handset you need a full QWERTY keyboard. Two of the best keyboards are found on Nokia's E71 and the BlackBerry Bold.
Lastly, perhaps the iPhone's most compelling appeal is as a tech fashion accessory. It's pointless to deny the sheer sex appeal of Apple's sleek smartphone and, depending on personal taste, the iPhone is still ahead of the field for having that intangible X-Factor. LG's Prada and Renoir, and Samsung's F480 are all gorgeous phones, but maybe not enough to lure the fashionistas away from Apple's gem.
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