Shoot yourself in both feet why don't you!
Here's the actual Vodafone UK 3G coverage map
So if you leave a city or large town, and stray off of a motorway, you're no longer on 3G. The map clearly shows that.
Your super fast data connection no longer works, and you're back on good old GSM.
You did read my post where I specifically mentioned that 3G is geared towards population centres, didn't you?
So who are they going to phone in that other land area? Sheep? There's no point having fast coverage where it's not going to be used - GSM is the fallback for that.
Well obviously you didn't but hey ho...
Here's a little exercise for you:
Plot the major population centres of the UK against this map.
Done that? Good. Here's a ladder to help you off that high horse you seem to have inadverdently climbed upon.
Now, given that your iPhone is pulling Email and providing access to the Web, Google Maps, etc etc at all times - it wouldn't be able to even use 3G outside the main cities, it would be using GSM - just like in the US.
Right because I, like 80% or more of the population, spend the majority of our time in unpopulated rural areas or off arterial routes. Oh wait, we don't. The fact that 3G is unavailable in Wester Auchtermuchtershire is irrelevant given that only three sheep and a pigeon named Bob live there. And he's emigrating.
So, as I said, not having 3G in the iPhone is in no way a deal breaker.
For me it is. Given the European analysts comments I'm not alone here.
And thanks for that priceless comment about wi-fi - that really is the best laugh I've had in ages
You don't get out much, do you?
Even small towns like Norwhich are getting free wi-fi:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5297884.stm
Oh I see. An 18 month pilot scheme covering Norwhich - a minor UK city - is evidence that free wi-fi is commonplace in Europe? Now that really does merit a LOL.
Incidentally, good job on quote mining an article from August 2006. It's nice to have up to date information, isn't it? Like this for example:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39288023,00.htm
You'll note that Norwhich remains the only free municipal wi-fi zone in the UK - although Manchester will launch one against BT's pay for use scheme - and that the 'free' wi-fi touted here is actually dependent on spam to operate. Of course, you can block this but it'll cost you £3 an hour to do so.
Free wi-fi is gradually rolling out in the UK and Europe however it is in no way a realistic proposition for continuous connection yet. Please do your research first before making assumptions.
In fact, here's a crane to help you down as it appears to be a really, really high horse that you're on.
and you have the same pattern of stores, coffee shops, burger restaurants, hotels, airports with wi-fi as the US or any other developed nation.
Which is handy if I'm on the bus, in the car or on the train. Incidentally, most of the access points you mention - with the exception of Starbucks and a few others - actually charge you for usage.
Hell, even a tiny Yorkshire village like Kirkbymoorside has public wi-fi!
Quite aside from the fact that most areas don't or have very few free wi-fi zones, are you suggesting we should all crowd round the local bookshop to get a wi-fi signal when we could access 3G pretty much where we like in our population zones? That is, the pub, the zoo, on foot, the bus...
You get the idea.
I don't fault anyone for wanting 3G - but using it as an excuse to bury the iPhone is lame.
I'm not using it as an excuse to bury the iPhone, I'm saying that - from my point of view at least - the lack of this (and if I'm being honest a few other features - I mean no video camera? What the hell?) make the unit unattractive in its current state. Why would I pay out £600 for something that doesn't do half the things my current unit does?
Style isn't enough here, I want more. There is no shame in that.