iPhone O2 tariff price drop shock

O2 have cut the monthly price for iPhone users - which as of yesterday included me - hurrah.

I had been looking to replace my iPod and dodgy phone - and ideally wanted something that did proper web browsing and actually made calls with some degree of success.

Google maps on the iPhone is astonishing. Press a button and it works out where you are. At the moment it has pinpointed me as being in St Martins Lane - which is pretty un-nerving. It's like an episode of Spooks.

Email too is a joy - or will be once I've mastered the fiddly, virtual keyboard. It'll read attachments too - pdf and Microsoft office docs.

The stocks applet is entertaining - lots of red figures on it again I see. 

Sadly my bank's web site doesn't work at all - I shall drop them a line and ask them about it. It strikes me the mobile web browsing market is going to keep growing and folk ignore it at their peril - something other companies have sussed - Nationwide for example. I'd be interested to hear anyone's experience in mobile banking. Chip in with a comment. 

The biggest let down with the iPhone is the sound quality - there's an audible hiss all the time through the earphones regardless of the volume level - and being Apple they've managed to provide an earphone socket you can't use without an adapter or a saw. This strikes me as a bit rubbish for something claiming to be a music player.  The other minor issue is I can't get a signal in my flat. But hey. I can move house. 

Otherwise a big 8 out of 10*. As is often the case with Apple - you find it such a joy to use that you forgive them. Stephen Fry puts it more eloquently here.

(* Peter's iPhone user-satisfaction figures delayed by at least 20 mins)