Hurry Up And Wait: 5 Reasons To Hold Off On Apple iPhone 3G S
The Apple iPhone 3G S is expected to be available later this week, though its release may never capture the luster of the release of the first-generation iPhone and its 3G predecessor in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Still, the world is buzzing at the prospect of a new iPhone. But here are five reasons you might want to hold off on dropping the coin on the Apple iPhone 3G S and wait a few weeks or months before picking one up.
Hurry up and wait.
1. MMS capabilities aren't ready yet
One of the big selling points for the Apple iPhone 3G S is the ability to send video and picture messages via MMS, a capability prior iPhone models lacked but is expected to be added as part of the iPhone OS 3.0 software upgrade, which hit iPhones everywhere this week. Problem is, AT&T, the iPhone's exclusive carrier in the U.S., has said that MMS capabilities won't be ready until later this summer. Bummer, right? So if you're a member of the Apple or iPhone faithful and have an itch to send the videos you record and photos you capture on the new iPhone, it might be wise to wait a little while until the MMS service is up to snuff, lest your frustration will get the best of you.
On the bright side, however, AT&T has said that once MMS is up and running, it won't cost extra to use it.
"Later this summer, as part of the 3.0 software, AT&T will make multimedia messaging (MMS) available at no extra cost to customers with a text messaging bundle," AT&T said.
How generous of them.
2. Remember what happened last time?
Last summer, when Apple and AT&T launched the iPhone 3G, there were a host of network problems. Users were plagued by slow response times, dropped calls, unreliable Internet speeds and an iPhone that sometimes reverted to the EDGE network, not 3G. AT&T's network just wasn't ready to support the smartphone, a problem that was fixed more than a month later with a software update.
Now, Apple and AT&T are promising even faster 3G speeds, up to 7.2 Mbps, with the Apple iPhone 3G S. There are bound to be issues at the offset. Why not wait for the bugs and kinks to be worked out before shelling out the $200 or $300 on the new iPhone?
3. There may not be enough to go around on June 19
Word is Apple hopes to sell about half a million iPhone 3G Ss this coming weekend, leaving many expecting that there could be a shortage come the official June 19 release date, or at least delays before the smartphones hit users' hands. Taking into account that the vast majority of new iPhones will be sold online, that will leave fewer in AT&T and Apple Stores.
Do you really want to wait in line and get the saliva flowing only to be told there are no more left? No, you don't want that. And you also don't want to be around for the riots that ensue when Apple fanboys are turned away empty handed. Wait a few weeks for the hype to die down and stroll into an AT&T or Apple Store then. It'll mean less time and aggravation.
4. Do you really want to pay full price?
Odds are, if you're excited about the iPhone 3G S, you already have an iPhone. iPhone users are a loyal lot and like to grab the latest and greatest as soon as it hits the streets. But if you decide to hold off on an upgrade there could be some cash in it for you. Granted, the official price isn't likely to budge anytime soon, but AT&T has come around to the idea of a hardware upgrade program in response to iPhone user outcry. Users are miffed that they already paid full price for their current iPhone, so why should they have to pay full price again for an upgrade? At the same time, upgrading from an iPhone 3G to a 3G S would've resulted in substantial penalties.
Now, AT&T said it will offer iPhone 3G users that are eligible for an upgrade in July, August or September, its "best upgrade pricing" starting June 18. AT&T could further expand that program too, offering a subsidized iPhone 3G S to users whose upgrade eligibility kicks in later in the year. In this economic climate, it's nice to get a break anywhere you can.
5. Let's wait and see how the App Store evolves
With the release of the Apple iPhone 3G S and iPhone OS 3.0 software, there are bound to be advancements in Apple's App Store mobile application marketplace. With the addition of video in the 3G S, the upcoming MMS capabilities and other new features like copy and paste, developers are sure to take advantage, but it might take a while for those applications to actually hit the App Store. Why buy an iPhone 3G S now when there aren't any applications taking advantage of the new functionality? Hold off, see where application developers flex their creative muscles and then reap the benefits of having myriad new applications at your fingertips, instead of buying now and waiting impatiently for the applications to roll in.