Excuse my ignorance, but will the Tom Tom software enable you to just plonk the phone on the dash and have it verbally direct you, just like a Tom Tom?

Thanks.

That's the hope we have!

What I don't understand is why Apple don't sell the iphone freely, without an o2 tie-up.

I was with o2 a few years ago and their coverage was often crap - same as orange with who I was for a few years too.

That is very true! As a pilot using GSM (GPRS/3G) for weather etc data in some odd places I can vouch for Voda delivering the best technical solution, but they back it up with "customer service" staffed with absolute chimps. They have a different dept looking after large corporate (contract obviously) users but on PAYG you get just chimps...

One cannot win.

Now I am with..... Virgin. Excellent customer service, with the direct debit option the PAYG coverage is almost as good as anybody's contract coverage, and being T-Mobile it works in most places. But I still use Voda for data with my laptop etc and suffer the occassional c0ckup, not to mention their con-tricks where they advertise one data tarriff and charge you a completely different one because you are on a "different" APN.

Other countries have anti-monopoly legislation, which is why you can buy the Iphone without a long, exclusive contract. There are many areas where British companies get away with tactics their Euro or US equivalents couldn't even dream of. I could talk about precedents where British politicians have sided with Mobile providers to reinforce their monopolies. Bear in mind that the ruling party in Britain is short of money... Welcome to Britain.

IO540,

Think about it, if you go to buy a phone, say the Nokia N95 then you have the choice of 4 different networks that will offer you the phone for different prices. By locking them into one network, they don't need to bring the handset cost down, people will come to them rather than the other way around.

The iPhone Launch has been pretty crap from Carphoneware house (Who I think O2 should dump, because they are a disaster), O2 and Apple. Yet people are still flocking to get the phone. They can't say "I'm unhappy with O2 so I'm moving to ________" because they are that desperate for the phone. I had a customer speak to me yesterday who had travelled 50miles just to get the phone.

I don't agree with it personally, but it's typical of Apple. They do it with their computers as well, you can't buy the computers from very many places and they are all set at the same prices where as Windows you can buy from £100 upwards.

I'm with Virgin Internet/TV and I think they have the worst customer service department I have ever came across.

We should be doing what the French do and prevent one network from getting the handset.

Whereas the N95 comes recommended when I look at the Internet, I was just about to buy one when I found I have a couple of friends who own them, and they can't wait to get rid of them. Overrated is a term I heard used to describe the 'phone. I've toyed with the N95 a couple of times now and can't say it feels like a £350 'phone (in my humble opinion of course).

Yes... The Nokia N95 was the iPhone challenge... Better GPS, camera and a lower price; but to be honest it's not that great!

The iPhone is good for one reason and one reason only. The internet. (games are pretty good as well if your a kid :P)

The Nokia N95's internet browser is pretty poor if I'm honest, the Camera (although 5mpx) isn't that fantastic and the GPS system is laggy; also has a habbit of turning itself off to save power. I had the N95 for 4 weeks before giving it to my dad (who loves it).

If your an internet/movie/music freak the iPhone is perfect for you. If you just use the phone for Camera, get yourself the cheapest phone possible and buy yourself a digital camera. You will get better photos and save yourself a good amount of money, same with the GPS.

I got me a new I-phone 3G last week to replace my ageing Orange contract phone. I'm very pleased with it.
One gripe however is the need to keep one PC as a dedicated i-phone updater.
I have regular use of 3 pc's (work, home and laptop) and have i tunes loaded on all 3.
BUT- if I use one for an update and then dock with another I loose all the previouse updates. i tunes doesnt seem to allow me the choice to just "add the bits" I want!

Or am I missing something here?

I tunes isnt very intuitive either! (IMHO)

I wouls also like to be able to use some MP3's I have as ringtones- but by all accounts this isnt an aption.

Any hints and tips welcome.:8

ringtones: iPhone Ringtone Converter, MP3 to iPhone Ringtone Converter Maker

don't know if it works for the 3g but it should!