On text messaging and the iPhone

Every week, I sit down and weave seemingly disparate snippets of mobile and wireless-related news into the final MobileIT newsletter that is sent out. As I do that, an outline will coalesce that eventually will form into the Editor's Corner. This week, the news seems to be leaning in the direction of text messaging. Now, what I thought interesting here is that text messaging is generally considered as never having caught on in the United States, unlike in some other parts of the world.

On reflection however, that surely must be changing. After all, mobile operators have been able to raise the cost of text messages from a mere 10 cents in 2005 to the average of 20 cents that it is today. Why is nobody complaining though Is this a classic scenario in which a frog can be boiled alive through gradual increases in the temperature of the water?

Moving on, it appears that Apple is seriously studying the possibility of incorporating a hardware keyboard into the iPhone. Trying to win over folks who text heavily and find a touch-based keyboard inadequate, perhaps?

Speaking of the iPhone, I came across an email from Michael, a self-professed Apple fan who says he has been an engineer in the mobile industry for more than 10 years. Michael was candid about some faults of the iPhone that "nobody talks about." He noted that the iPhone has "extremely bad RF performance, poor cellular audio, poor battery performance [and] limited mobile functions" among other limitations.

What are some of the problems that you encountered with your smartphone of choice? Why not write in and share them with me? - Paul