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Why Would You Want Anything Else
The commercials make it look cool, but you really don't realize how nice it is to have an iPhone until you have one. Well, I don't have one, yet...but I did get one for my wife about two weeks ago. It is the BEST $100 I've ever spent. It's a cool phone in general with the touch screen, real internet browser capability, GPS/Google Maps, iTunes music, YouTube Video, decent in-phone camera, even video on the GS model, and of course, texting and email capabilities, but the most valuable part is the fact that you can add countless other apps to enhance its capabilities
Right off the bat, we bought 6-7 apps that were educational games for toddlers. You couldn't ask for a better tool to keep your little toddler occupied at the table in a restaurant or in the car on a long trip. Between my wife using it for Facebook/Email/Texting and my 3 year old son hogging it for the games, I really don't get to play with it. I'll be amazed if that battery lasts a year.
 When I picked up a copy of the Sept 26-Oct 2 Economist magazine the other day, the main title story on the cover says, "The Power of Mobile Money." Now this article is actually talking about how telecoms in third world countries have spurred the economies of the less fortunate using programs like M-PESA. It reminded me that mobile commerce is still in its infancy even in the developed world.
I'm surprised at how many businesses still don't see setting up a wi-fi as an opportunity to serve their customers better. The iPhone runs longer and faster when it doesn't have to rely on the 3G network to check for email and do various other background apps. It automatically searches for wi-fi networks to connect to, and if your business has one up, this gives you a great opportunity to catch their attention.
How?
Well, the iPhone (and some computers) automatically prompt you to connect to the local wi-fi network once you are in range. This is the perfect spot to direct the person to a your special local network webpage that could offer up a coupon, upcoming event, or even ask them to fill out a form to enter their personal data directly into your business database. You could even develop your own personal app, be it an addictive game or something more educational like post visit instructions all branded with your business name.
There are a lot of possibilities, don't let them pass you by - it pays well to be first in business! Here's one of the coolest iPhone apps that I have seen yet!
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