What are the alternatives to the iPhone 3G?

I am personally having an internal battle in my head over whether or not to buy the new iPhone 3G because I am not sure the additional monthly cost (US$15/month) and additional year obligation (I still have 1 year left of my 2-year iPhone obligation) are worth the addition of 3G and GPS. If I was a single device kind of person, then yes I would most likely buy the iPhone 3G without much hesitation. However, I am the kind of power user who likes to try different devices and has needs/desires that the iPhone itself cannot satisfy (cut/copy/paste, DUN tethering, Bluetooth keyboard support, etc.). With the iPhone 2.0 software update coming to my original iPhone, my desire to use 3rd party applications is satisfied. I also find the current version of Google Maps adequate for my basic needs and if not, then I use other devices with integrated GPS (HTC Advantage and Nokia N95-3) to get me where I want to go.

So, as I try to figure out whether or not to get the new iPhone 3G, let's take a look at what other alternatives are available or coming soon.

T-Mobile: The main alternatives available on T-Mobile are the various versions of Sidekick devices, BlackBerry Pearl or Curve devices (with @Home UMA support too), T-Mobile Shadow, T-Mobile Wing (nice hardware for the most part, but processor challenged) and T-Mobile Dash (still one of my all-time favorite devices). T-Mobile also has lots of higher end feature phones that may serve most people just fine and that have some functionality not found in the iPhone 3G. T-Mobile data is cheap at US$19.99 per month (with a voice plan) for unlimited EDGE data and T-Mobile HotSpots, which is a major reason I have been with them for almost 6 years. They also have excellent customer service and support. Their phones range in price from free to US$299.99 with a 2-year contract.

AT&T: The other major US GSM carrier is AT&T and in addition the iPhone 3G they have a very nice selection of mobile phones such as the AT&T Tilt, BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Curve, Palm Centro and Palm Treo 750, Pantech Duo, Samsung BlackJack II (I am reviewing this and it is an awesome device that I will write about soon), and many other high end feature phones (like the SE Walkman W580 and LG VU). Mobile phones from AT&T range in price from free to US$299.99. You can also stick with your current iPhone and continue to use it with AT&T with an upgrade to the 2.0 software that gives you access to the Apple iPhone Application Store.

Sprint: Sprint has EV-DO Rev. A and has been very active in promoting its high end feature phone with ads that show it in comparison to the Apple iPhone. The Samsung Instinct is the premier feature phone from Sprint that looks quite amazing and comes in at US$129.99 with a contract and after rebate. Other compelling Sprint devices include the Palm Centro, BlackBerry Pearl and Curve, Treo 755p, HTC Touch, and HTC Mogul. The rumors are also flying around that the Palm Treo 800 (a Windows Mobile Treo with 320x320 display and WiFi) is coming soon to Sprint. Mobile phones from Sprint range in price from free to US$299.99 with a two-year contract.

Verizon: Verizon also has an EV-DO Rev. A network and a number of great devices. They have the touch screen LG Voyager, LG enV, Palm Treo 755p and Palm Centro, BlackBerry Pearl and Curve, Motorola Q9c, XV6900 (HTC Touch), Samsung SGH-i760, and XV6800 (HTC Mogul). Their devices also range in price from free to US$349.99 after a two-year contract.

SIM unlocked devices: AT&T and T-Mobile customers in the US have additional choices in mobile phones due to the market for SIM-unlocked devices available from US importers and other outlets. Some of the most compelling devices that I have seen or had a chance to use include the HTC Touch Diamond (this device will be coming to US carriers later this year too), HP iPAQ 910 Business Manager (I am thinking strongly of purchasing this instead of the iPhone so stay tuned for my review where I tell you why), Nokia N95-3 or N95-4 (8GB larger display model), Nokia N82, Nokia N78, Nokia E71 (this device has me very excited and I may get an eval unit this week), and Samsung OMNIA (not available yet).

First generation iPhone: You may also be able to pick up a first generation iPhone on ebay or elsewhere online and use it with T-Mobile or AT&T. This way you won't necessarily have any additional service obligation and can take advantage of the iPhone's functionality. If you upgrade to the iPhone 2.0 software though, you may not be able to use it in an unlocked state so you may want to hold off upgrading until the developers figure out how to unlock the latest software version.

Multiple device solution: Everything I wrote about above is related to the single, converged device solution. However, there are some excellent choice if you want to carry a couple mobile devices to optimize your mobile experience. The Nokia N810 Internet Tablet is an excellent device that I keep going back to using since the browser is a pleasure to use and the display size is great for movie viewing on the go. You may want to go with an iPod Touch or a Zune for your media needs and combine it with a feature phone to take care of your phone needs. There are lots of choices when it comes to multiple devices and these are just a couple examples to consider.

As you can see there are a ton of choices for serious mobile fans out there and you don’t have to focus on just the iPhone 3G. I am actually thinking of skipping this generation iPhone and using my money for an iPAQ 910, Nokia E71, or other mobile device. I am also thinking of using the $15/month savings for iPhone applications and maybe for Audible books for my first generation iPhone. Then again, it is tough for me to resist any of the latest and greatest products so you just may see me writing about my new iPhone 3G here on my blog on Friday afternoon.