[tadukuttan]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Was it, really? When you get an iPhone cheaper from an operator than from Apple, it means that the operator is subsidising the phone.

Apple phones are available at Apple retail outlets, and at the online Apple store. Mine came from an Apple retail outlet. And irrespective of where they come from, they all are locked to AT&T. There is no price difference. And I don't think the hardware is subsidized. On what basis are you saying that the hardware price is subsidized?
Cellphones: iPhone Only Costs $250 to Make; Rest of Price is Fanboy Tax - Gizmodo

Unfortunately for telecom companies, and fortunately for the rest of us, this strategy has triggered a good deal of debate. The US congress had "iPhone hearings", and I would expect an EU anti trust case soon after the launch in Europe.

Further reading for phone users -
SPICY IP: iPhone and Antitrust Implications: US vs EU vs India

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Try and respond to an email on that device and you will understand that business usability is different from the ability to play songs or watch cool videos.

My suspicion now, you are commenting on this whole issue without ever trying the iPhone. Have you used the iPhone? Or is this based on reviews you read from the net?

Originally Posted by Steeroid

For the cool crowd, the iPhone may be the in-thing - I dont doubt that. For business users, it falls flat on its well groomed face.

I would agree with you if you tell me the iPhone fell flat in front of you, but *ALL* business users? As I said earlier, give it a shot first, and then we will see.

I have a lot of friends in the (silicon) valley, and I know many companies which have given official iPhones to their employees. I am yet to hear outright negative remarks from business users in the US, even from die hard blackberry fans?

Or, were you talking about business users in the gulf not liking the iPhone, especially since they have never seen it or used it?

Originally Posted by Steeroid

And for me, it makes no sense at all without 3G.

Valid point, explained in detail here - AnandTech: No 3G on the iPhone, but why? A Battery Life Analysis

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Or push mail.

You mean push email the blackberry way? With an additional plan from the Telco for reading email? Airtel calls it Mobile office or something, like 1000 bucks a month extra for reading email?

Or IMAP or POP3, the way you check mail from a PC? That the iPhone already supports, without the need for an additional "plan" from the Telecom company? It also has customized clients for Gmail, Yahoo, and America Online, and that feature is pretty valuable to me. Of course, I save the additional money I need to be on the blackberry plan as well.

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Or stereo bluetooth when I want to listen to music.

The rumor is that it does not have streaming music because of Music Industry restrictions. - iPhone 1.1.1 "bug" unleashes music over Bluetooth - Engadget

If they really wanted A2DP, that is a software only fix. Currently, blue tooth works only for Speaker phones(unofficially it works for music as well), like the Jabra car speaker-phone I have. If the IPod/Zune/iPhone guys work out ways with the music industry for allowing streaming audio, I am sure it will come down as an update.