With its launch coming up in two days, here's a geeky look into the pros and cons of owning & using an iPhone 3G in the Philippines.

WHY NOT TO GET THE IPHONE 3G:

1. JUST FASTER: If you are like me and have somehow procured the original iPhone the only thing you'll be getting with the upgrade is 3G support, which means faster data connections for Internet-based apps. There's supposed to be GPS but it isn't true-blue GPS. The rest of the added features you can get via an upgrade to the iPhone 2.0 software (just make sure you know what you are doing if you know what I mean).

2. NO VISUAL VOICEMAIL: Visual voicemail is a neat feature that came with the original iPhone (but it requires telco support to work) that allows users to see a list of voice messages arranged by name and listen to them in any order (where voice mail is concerned you waste a lot of time having your messages read out to you in the order they were received). Globe apparently won't be offering the visual voicemail service when it launches on Friday. There's no word yet if it intends to offer this in the future but I intend to find out during the launch party on Thursday night.

3. USELESS DEFAULT APPS: Some applications are practically useless for Pinoy users:

Maps: Maps application works and loads a bit faster when on 3G but the available maps for the Philippines aren't good enough for it to be at all useful.

Stocks: Stocks applications works if you intend to check stocks on the NYSE, NASDAQ, and the Nikkei Index (among others). But if you intend to use it to monitor your stocks on the PSE you're out of luck.

iTunes: There's a app called iTunes (the purple icon) which is used to purchase music off the iTunes Music Store. But because deals with recording companies haven't been worked out yet, you won't be able to use this application at all. You can try but you'll get an error message that says your country isn't supported. Unless you know a workaround.

4. EXPENSIVE DATA PLANS: Globe's Internet usage plans are still too expensive. Forget the price of the phone (which is expensive too), the killer factor here is Internet usage. The iPhone is a device that relies heavily on the Internet. Not counting the third party applications you can buy, about 8 default applications require the Internet (Music Store, App Store, Maps, You Tube, Safari, Mail, Weather and Stocks) so if you intend to use them while on Globe's 3G connection, prepare for some expensive data costs.

Apple is also offering a push-like feature for email which works in tandem with their $99/year Mobile Me service. Theoretically this service will require a constant Internet connection to ensure that email is delivered instantaneously. To quote a tech friend, "if you have PUSH enabled and your mailbox is active, you are doomed!" Of course the only way to confirm is to sign up for a phone/plan, use the service and wait for the bill to arrive.

Globe currently doesn't offer a plan with Unlimited Mobile Internet hours so for now you're stuck with a 40-100 hours/month plan or carefully watch your Internet consumption. You can also opt to go online only when a WiFi connection is available. Globe also offers free hours at Globe Wiz hotspots (with certain plans).

5. NOT FOR SMS: The iPhone is not built for texting. Last time I checked, I send an average of 1600/SMS a month and I did a lot of it on my iPhone. But the phone is heavily flawed when it comes to handling SMS. First of all nothing beats the tactile feel of a real keyboard. No matter how good you get (give yourself a week to get the hang of it) typing on glass can/will never be the same – unless they can create glass the provides tactile response. You can't forward messages, cannot send texts to groups (although you can send to multiple recipients but you have to select contacts individually) and there's no copy/paste if you want to forward snippets from a text file or another text message. Apple has failed to address these issues in the second iteration of the iPhone - apparently because it remains to be seen as a priority. This is not good for a text-heavy country like ours.


WHY TO GET THE IPHONE 3G:

1. BEST IPOD TO DATE: The iPhone is indeed the best iPod ever, and arguably the best multimedia phone as well. You're really getting a fully functional iPod and a phone - so for the first time ever you can survive with just one device and not find yourself craving for more. Movies are just awesome on its 3.5-inch screen and if you have the right converters at home you can encode home movies and what not for hours of pure viewing pleasure. Although most phones in the market today support some kind of music format what makes the iPod great is its simple to use interface. The iPhone is consistent in this regard and listening to music on it is a breeze. If you have lots of songs and movies don't even think about NOT getting the 16GB model, you'll regret not doing so once your device starts to fill up.

2. EMAIL WORKS: I've had tons of phones in the past but no other phone can handle e-mail as good as the iPhone. I can send/receieve e-mail at the click of a button (even on GPRS) and even while on roaming (tried it in the US earlier this year). Attachments are also not a problem as most files can be viewed on the fly without requiring an external program. The built-in e-mail client supports Microsoft Exchange, POP3 and IMAP accounts and theoretically PUSH Email via Apple's optional service MobileMe. And if you have a Yahoo or Gmail account, that's easy to setup as well.

3. INTERNET SURFING LIKE IT SHOULD BE: No other phone can also handle mobile Internet surfing as great as the iPhone. Pages load just like they would on a regular computer browser (no compromises except for flash video) and because of the iPhone's multi-touch functionality its easy to navigate within pages. After having tried the iPhone I have had no patience to browse the net on any other phone. Oh and if you have WiFi at home, the iPhone is also great for some last minute surfing while in bed.

4. ACCELEROMETER & MULTI TOUCH: Admittedly the iPhone's built in accelerometer (tilt sensor) and multi touch technology are more of show-off features than anything else, BUT they really do add to the user experience, which is most important after all. Plenty of 3rd party games rely on the accelerometer for some wii-esque action. Multi-touch allows you too flip through photos, zoom in with pinch-actions, scroll through your home window to access applications, and navigate around web pages with ease.

5. AMAZING APP STORE: Apple's decision to open up the iPhone to 3rd party developers is one of the best moves its done so far. The App Store is filled with a variety of applications that extend the capability of the iPhone and seal the deal as one of the best phone's ever. There are currently hundreds of applications currently available on the app store ranging from games to productivity apps to scientific apps. My favorites are WordPress (update your WordPress blog), OmniFocus (Get Things Done), Facebook (Facebook!!!) Twitterific (Twitter) and NetNewsWire (RSS reader). I haven't even begun to explore the wealth of games that's available for purchase.

Where pricing is concerned you'd be pleased to know that some iPhone apps are FREE while paid apps are priced at an average of 4-6 US dollars each.

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I must admit that I have a White 16GB iPhone 3G reserved for me but I haven't gotten around to submitting the paper work they sent me. Am holding off because the way Globe is offering the phone is ideal for new subscribers but not for loyal old timers like me. I have already 2 Globe lines and am not ready to get one more just for the iPhone. If I did it wouldn't even be FREE.

I hope you found this guide helpful, although based on experience, if you've already set your mind on something, nothing anyone can tell you can convince you otherwise. The iPhone after all is one of the most hyped devices in history (deservingly so) and with a wait (and anticipation) that has spanned almost two years, I wouldn't be surprised if Filipino fans, take the bait without batting an eyelash.

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Disclaimer: The author prefers Macs over Windows and admits to be a BIG apple fanatic. His experience with the iPhone dates back to August 2007.