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Apple's iPhone will undoubtedly revolutionize mobile computing. This will happen simply because it raises the bar for many different aspects of the mobile phone service. These aspects include internet connectivity, handset design, and application support.

Starting with Internet connectivity, the iPhone has raised the bar with respect to connections speeds and bandwidth requirements for AT&T. There were reports that AT&T was busy increasing bandwidth to their network in anticipation of the release of the iPhone. It is nice that the iPhone can show video, play podcasts, and connect you to your email. The downside for AT&T is that these services require bandwidth. If not for the demands of the iPhone, they may have dragged their feet on improving their service.

In terms of handset design, the iPhone is revolutionary. A phone without buttons, especially a smartphone, is unheard of up to this point. Perhaps other phones may not go the buttonless route, but we can certainly expect that touch screens will become more prevalent. HTC, for example, has a similar product with a touch screen. In order to attract many of the "elite" buyers, it will be necessary for designers to come up with something so awesome that it will compel people to break their 2 year contracts and sign up for service with a new provider. Again, the bar has been raised.

Finally, application support has been rolled out fast with the iPhone. No sooner was it released than developers were busy creating iPhone interfaces for their websites. Never before have I seen the development community rally around a mobile phone like they have for the iPhone. Certainly, there have been developers for Windows Mobile, for Palm, and other mobile phone OSs; but, those are platforms, not the phone itself. Now it seems like everybody and their sister has an iPhone version of their site. Will any other revolutionary handset have a similar reception by the development community?

Just to recap, the iPhone is the product that IS revolutionizing the mobile computing industry. No other device has been met with investment in infrastructure by the service provider, has had a completely different user interface, and has been met with enthusiasm by software developers. Most phones come and go without much fanfare by anybody other than the marketers hired to push the product. The iPhone, however, has gone above and beyond what others have done to date. Now, it is up to other service providers and manufacturers to catch up or at least make some effort to raise the level of everybody's experience.

Learn more about this author, Shaine Mata.
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