Here is some information that I have gathered about the second generation iphone. A quick question and answer post.

If I have an Iphone already do I have to sign a new contract to get the 3G?
The answer is yes, if you want to upgrade, you will need to sign a new contract. You will pay $199 for the 8 GB and $299 for the 16 GB.

Will I finally be able to replace the battery on my new Apple Iphone?
Once again you will not be able to replace your battery if you need to. Well there are ways to do it if you have the confidence to crack it open. But it is not for the weak at heart if you attempt it.

Will the Iphone have picture messaging?
Unless you do it via your email client, the answer is no. But hey just do it through your email. Yeah you're right, that is kind of sucky.

Will the Apple Iphone ever be available for another carrier besides AT&T?
Before 2012, um no. Sorry.

And now the biggie. Will I be able to purchase this cell phone with out a contract?
The answer to this answer especially saddens me, but no you will not. Whether you purchase it at AT&T or the Apple Store you must get it activated for service. Now this is interesting because I am curious to see how this will affect the segment of the country that had an unlocked 3g iphone. About roughly 25% of the iphones sold here in the US were being used for the T-Mobile network.

I guess in theory, someone could buy the new Iphone, activate, then cancel their contract during the 14 day trial period, then get the iphone unlocked for T-Mobile, or sell it someone else. I do know that Apple and AT&T both have a vested interest in making sure that those phones stay locked.

Also I forgot to mention that the data plans for the 3G will increase $10 extra a month. So despite the fact that AT&T is eating $200 of the cost of the iphone, they will make a total of about $30 extra on the back end. I will continue to post updates as I get them.

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A new report came out today that confirms something many of us already knew—cell phone usage is growing. The gains cell phones are making is at the expense of the old landline. Many people, particularly younger phone users, are going all mobile and eschewing the landline.

A poll from Harris Interactive shows that 1 in 7 adults use a cell phone exclusively. The report also shows that 1 in 5 have no landline. The survey polled 9132 adults in all. I for one didn’t have a landline for years, using cell phones exclusively. I only got a landline recently and I never use it. I only have it to get DSL service and make the occasional fax. I bet lots of landline users are the same way.

The study also showed that 89% of adults have a cell phone and that 79% of adults still have a landline. The percentage of adults with landlines has dropped from 81% in 2006. The survey also shows that only 1 in 6 adults use VOIP.

Read the story here: http://www.slipperybrick.com/2008/04/report-cell-phone-usage-goes-up-landline-goes-down/

Update June 9, 2008: Apple announced today that the Apple Iphone has been pushed back to July 11, 2008.

The new Apple Iphone release date has been announced! It will correspond with the one year anniversary of the wildly successful initial Iphone launch. (edit: I somehow forgot to add the date initially! The date for the new Iphone release is June 27, 2008 as of right now.) This phone version will be ready to run on AT&T's much faster 3G network. Allowing for faster internet speeds. Also according to sources, a few weeks prior to the release of the new Apple Iphone, Apple will remove all remaining stock from the market to help boost demand.

These new Iphones will be available in 8 gigabytes and 16 gigabytes. Now here is the best news. In an effort to help boost demand, AT&T will be footing $200 of the cost. What does this mean? This means that instead of paying $399 for the 8 GB Iphone or $499 for the 16 GB, you will only have to pay $199 or $299 respectively. This deal will only be available for those who are signing NEW two year contracts with AT&T. This offer WILL NOT be available at the Apple Stores. At least not as of right now.

My two cents

While I am happy about the price dropping on anything, at my store the number one requested phone is the Iphone. Now the last time I saw a demand for a phone was when the original Motorola V3 Razr was first released. It was initially $500. Then the price drops occured and soon everyone had one making it Motorola's best selling phone of all time. However the market is oversaturated with Motorola Razrs. The same fate awaits the Apple Iphone I am afraid.

Everyone wants one, and soon everyone will be able to afford one. (Not to mention 25% of unlocked Apple Iphones that are on the market.) From a consumer standpoint, that is exciting news as I would never pay more than $150 for a phone, I would buy an Iphone 3g unlocked online. I don't care what it was but that is just me. Soon the Apple Iphone will hit mainstream status, then no one will want it anymore. Maybe. The thing about Steve Jobs, and Apple, he just may find a way to keep everyone coming back for more.

Should America's children have cell phones in school? Lets think about the world we live in. We live in a world where maniacs don't hesitate to shoot up schools. We live in a world where some weirdo pervert won't hesitate to snatch up innocent kids coming to and from school. But on the flip side todays children are smarter than the children of the last generation. The majority of schools have a no cell phones policy due to the fact that some children use their phones for cheating on exams, talking to their friends during class time, and the new phenomenon of sending an obscene amount of text messages back and forth to each other.

Now how do we balance our children's safety with the need to make sure that they are learning when they are at school. While there is no perfect cell phone for kids, I think that with a little research you can find the right cell phone for kids. You can use the Jitterbug which started out as a phone for kids but has evolved into a phone for those who just want a phone with no frills and no thrills. There are also several pay as you go options as well as other cheap cell phones for sale that can help make sure that you are in control for the most part. But whether you pick a pay as you go option or any other cell phone option the important point is your child's safety.

Now do I think there should be cell phones in school? You better believe it. I also believe that college students with gun permits should be allowed to have there weapons on campus but that is another article. The fact of the matter is, the times have changed and we should make sure that our kids can get a hold of us if they need to. I don't have any children yet but when I do, if they aren't allow yet, my kid will still have a phone. And he or she better answer when I call to lol! When I was in  junior high school my mom made sure I had a beeper so she could keep tabs on me. She was and still is a great mom.

I really hope that the schools will modify they're no cell phone policies but if they don't, the parents should have the final say. You should demand the final say. Please tell me in the comments how you feel about cell phones in school.