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Apple has created a very good and innovative product with the iPhone but not one that is a true revolution. To make things worse, Apple hampers itself giving the iPhone the capacity for being revolutionary (but more on that later).

The iPhone has a combination of a media player, phone, web browser and e-mail/messaging system. However, these features are certainly not new to the world of mobile computing. RIM's Blackberry has had these capabilities for some time. What has been impressive with the iPhone is the interface used to connect to these features. Sleek, stylish features such as a touch-screen and the ability to turn the iPhone and have the screen change orientation as you turn it to its side make some very strong usability points but they, in essence, are more of an example of form over function.

Add to this problem a lack of good applications for an enterpise environment and you see that the iPhone starts to lag behind. Using my Blackberry, I can access the web, my media files, e-mail, do text messaging and even call someone. (Although my particular Blackberry has no camera, other models do and the information that I am comparing goes far beyond what my personal Blackberry has.) In fact, unlike the iPhone, I am able to use voice dialing on my phone.

Also, I am able to control the servers on my network, access databases, login to the company's AS/400, solve a Sudoku puzzle and play a hand or two of Texas Hold 'Em on my Blackberry.

Of course, there is always the possibility for development of software. Here is where Apple shoots itself in the foot currently. Instead of being completely open to third-party developers, those developers must go through Apple. Apple is requiring that all software get their approval and go through iTunes store for distribution. In other words, if you have a third party app but don't want to give Apple a cut, you may find your program to be inaccessible on the next round of iTunes updates. This limits the attractiveness for developing for the iPhone.

I'm not saying that the iPhone isn't a good phone and doesn't have some nice features. I am saying that those features are not likely to be considered a revolution as they exist in other devices (although without the pretty interface).

Learn more about this author, Steven Laskoske.
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