On September 17, 2009 I did something I never thought I would do…I stopped being a Verizon Wireless customer andwent to an AT&T store and bought an iPhone.  Not that I have anything against the iPhone, i think it is great.  I have owned the iPod Touch for over a year and loved the simplicity of the layout, the ease of typing on the keyboard, the overall design of the device.

One of my hesitations of buying an iPhone was  propriety Apple hardware and software with applications approved by Apple only available through the iTunes store.  Another was the battery life and inability to have an extra battery on hand to switch out during the day.  Lastly, I just never thought I would go back to AT&T after having problems some years back with cellphone coverage.

So, I stuck with Verizon and tried very hard to find a phone that might do the iPhone justice.  I tried the LG Dare which is a nice little phone but not even close.  I tried out the Blackberry Storm but I couldn’t stand the feel of the screen, the way the whole screen depressed when you pressed on a key.  It was like quicksand in comparison to the iPhone.  I then bought a Samsung Omnia which was as close as I got to an iPhone though it was running Windows Mobile.  I hacked it as much as possible to make it run the way I wanted it to but the one thing still lacking was the ease of the iPhone keyboard.  See, the Omnia was still smaller in size so the keyboard was more compact and harder to type on.  Also, no matter what Apple does have a leg up over Windows Mobile in ease of use of the phone and applications.  If you haven’t used Windows Mobile I just say “trust me!”

Over the summer I had been using my iPod Touch more because I of XM Radio and listening to it buy the pool (I spent as much time at the pool as I could).  Needless to say when I had the Touch out next to the Samsung Omnia there was just no comparison.  Then the people I work for each got a iPhone after being Verizon customers for years and trying both the Blackberry Storm and Palm phones.  They were ecstatic over their new purchases and through their daily travels found that they had no problem with cellphone coverage which was my biggest worry.

After vacillating for a few weeks I finally did some research and stopped playing with my Omnia wishing it were an iPhone, proceeded to go to the AT&T store at the local mall and made a salesperson’s day by walking in and saying “I want an iPhone!”

Well, it’s been a few weeks and I do not regret my decision at all even though it cost me some money to get out of my Verizon contract.  Since I have gotten the iPhone multimedia text messaging was introduced as well as being able to put 5 people in my calling plan that I can talk to as long as I want without using my minutes.  Most of the people I talk to either have landlines or Verizon Wireless so I needed the option to get those people I talk the longest with off of my main minutes.  Those are two good things.

I do miss the ability to tether my phone to my laptop so I can access the Internet while I am out but I find that the Safari web browser on the iPhone is pretty easy to navigate, I can get my email easily and I have enough applications to keep me busy while I am waiting at a doctor’s office or in line for coffee.  I don’t know if I am willing to pay the extra money for tethering anyway, I’ll see when that becomes an option.

I am starting this blog to share with other new iPhone users news, reviews and my experiences with the phone.  Even though I haven’t even had the iPhone for a month I have already learned a lot.  I am a researcher.  I have found other blogs, sites and forums that have helped me find applications and accessories for my iPhone.  I am running the latest version of the iPhone firmware 3.1.2 and today I did a jailbreak on the phone (opened it up to run more applications than just what is supplied by Apple through the iTunes store).  I believe that even though I am new to the iPhone that I will be able to offer information to other iPhone users that they may not have easy access to find.

I also want to learn from my readers and create a community where we share information, applications, reviews and stories about our iPhones.

So, how did you come to own an iPhone?  What phone(s) did you try before the iPhone?