iPhone as only phone

YourFatAuntSusan

I'm potentially going to be moving away for an extended period of time and intend to leave my current cell phone home with my girlfriend as she doesn't have a phone.

I have always wanted an iPhone like any self respecting geek so I thought this might be a good opportunity to venture forth and do so, however, I am trying to discern if the iPhone is a good choice for my only phone. I will not setup a landline as it would be a waste to have both a cell and landline.

My main concern is battery life. I have read many reviews for the 3G iPhone that show the battery life anywhere from a few hours to a day or more. My usage would be occasional web browsing (no more than an hour a day), occasional talking (no more than an hour a day) and occasional video/photo use (no more than an hour a day).

Should I just get a run of the mill cell and call it a day? I currently have an LG Shine flip that works well, but I also have an iPod Touch that I love. I will not be taking the Touch with me.

saint2e

I use an iPhone as my only phone. I also call my girlfriend and talk to her for 2 hours every night. I leave WiFi and Location Services on all the time, and have bluetooth off all the time.

My screen turns off after 2 minutes.

I pretty well need to recharge every day because of the 2 hours of chatting. If I don't chat with the gf for 2 hours a night, then one charge lasts me 2.5 days, usually.

Atlus Parker

I've used a cell phone as my only phone for 4 years and have just switched over to an iPhone. Your usage sounds like it'll be less than mine and I only charge it once a day. You should be fine.

Qingu

Having a cell phone for your only phone (no landline) is fine and becoming quite mainstream.

The iPhone is awesome in many ways, and I don't have much problem with its battery life. My biggest problem by far is that AT&T provides incredibly shitty reception. Which is to say, it's not a very good phone.

I don't like talking on the phone to begin with, so this isn't as frustrating for me as it might be for you. (Honestly, my favorite feature is that it's an mp3 player and a camera! I've never had either of those before.)

cloudeagle

Atlus Parker wrote: »

I've used a cell phone as my only phone for 4 years and have just switched over to an iPhone. Your usage sounds like it'll be less than mine and I only charge it once a day. You should be fine.

Same here. The only people who have problems with the battery are power users.

I've been using cell phones as my only phone since 2002, and I've never had a single problem with it.

Atlus Parker

Qingu wrote: »

AT&T provides incredibly shitty reception. Which is to say, it's not a very good phone.

This should really be the biggest factor in your decision. I'm lucky in that AT&T is one of the best carriers in my area.

Monoxide

if all you're concerned about is using it both at home and while you're out, just buy yourself a dock. dock it when you're home and not using it, that way you'll have your contacts, playlists and calendar synced, and it'll stay charged.

or you could use the charge cable, but for some reason I'm more inclined to dock it than plug it in all the time

DeathPrawn

Does the 3G no longer come with a dock? I know my first-gen did.

Stupid cheap Apple...

Monoxide

DeathPrawn wrote: »

Does the 3G no longer come with a dock? I know my first-gen did.

Stupid cheap Apple...

it doesn't. iPods used to come with a dock too.

they're sold separately now for $30

Szechuanosaurus

The Edge came with a dock, didn't it?

I've got a dock, somehow, but my 3G doesn't fit in it :?

I guess it came with the edge.

YourFatAuntSusan

Well, I won’t be using this on the AT&T network as I’m Canadian so it’ll be on the Rogers network in Borden, Ontario. Thanks folks, I think you’ve convinced me I won’t really have a problem using this as my only phone.

232430

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

and occasional video/photo use (no more than an hour a day).

The iPhone cannot record videos or send MMS, just a quick heads up if this is important to you.

Actually, there is an app that allows you to send MMS I haven't used it but I think it works by making you purchase credits from a website which you then use up as you send messages.

Also, if you jailbreak there are apps available that allow you to record videos.

YourFatAuntSusan

232430 wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

and occasional video/photo use (no more than an hour a day).

The iPhone cannot record videos or send MMS, just a quick heads up if this is important to you.

Actually, there is an app that allows you to send MMS I haven't used it but I think it works by making you purchase credits from a website which you then use up as you send messages.

Also, if you jailbreak there are apps available that allow you to record videos.

I do intend to jailbreak (I did so with my iPod Touch).

The iPhone 3G out of the box cannot record videos? Wow.

Szechuanosaurus

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

232430 wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

and occasional video/photo use (no more than an hour a day).

The iPhone cannot record videos or send MMS, just a quick heads up if this is important to you.

Actually, there is an app that allows you to send MMS I haven't used it but I think it works by making you purchase credits from a website which you then use up as you send messages.

Also, if you jailbreak there are apps available that allow you to record videos.

I do intend to jailbreak (I did so with my iPod Touch).

The iPhone 3G out of the box cannot record videos? Wow.

Yeah, and if someone sends you a picture or video SMS, you have to log in to your service provider's website to view it.

Not that it bothers me, personally.

cloudeagle

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

232430 wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

and occasional video/photo use (no more than an hour a day).

The iPhone cannot record videos or send MMS, just a quick heads up if this is important to you.

Actually, there is an app that allows you to send MMS I haven't used it but I think it works by making you purchase credits from a website which you then use up as you send messages.

Also, if you jailbreak there are apps available that allow you to record videos.

I do intend to jailbreak (I did so with my iPod Touch).

The iPhone 3G out of the box cannot record videos? Wow.

Yeah, and if someone sends you a picture or video SMS, you have to log in to your service provider's website to view it.

Not that it bothers me, personally.

Yeah, as fantastic as most of the iPhone is there's a few baffling omissions.

Szechuanosaurus

cloudeagle wrote: »

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

232430 wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

and occasional video/photo use (no more than an hour a day).

The iPhone cannot record videos or send MMS, just a quick heads up if this is important to you.

Actually, there is an app that allows you to send MMS I haven't used it but I think it works by making you purchase credits from a website which you then use up as you send messages.

Also, if you jailbreak there are apps available that allow you to record videos.

I do intend to jailbreak (I did so with my iPod Touch).

The iPhone 3G out of the box cannot record videos? Wow.

Yeah, and if someone sends you a picture or video SMS, you have to log in to your service provider's website to view it.

Not that it bothers me, personally.

Yeah, as fantastic as most of the iPhone is there's a few baffling omissions.

Personally, I see it as most other handsets having a few baffling inclusions. I don't see the point in having a video camera or high-quality photographic camera in a mobile phone (a video camera on the same side of the phone as the screen for video calls would maybe be the exception). This isn't a critical feature for me. It just seems like people have come to expect them in their handsets without really needing them. To me, 5Mp Carl Zeiss lens cameras in handsets is an Emperor's New Clothes feature. Conversely, a decent bloody mobile web browser has been loooooong overdue. And if there is an image important enough to send me, I have email right here in my pocket kthnks.

YourFatAuntSusan

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

232430 wrote: »

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

and occasional video/photo use (no more than an hour a day).

The iPhone cannot record videos or send MMS, just a quick heads up if this is important to you.

Actually, there is an app that allows you to send MMS I haven't used it but I think it works by making you purchase credits from a website which you then use up as you send messages.

Also, if you jailbreak there are apps available that allow you to record videos.

I do intend to jailbreak (I did so with my iPod Touch).

The iPhone 3G out of the box cannot record videos? Wow.

Yeah, and if someone sends you a picture or video SMS, you have to log in to your service provider's website to view it.

Not that it bothers me, personally.

Yeah, as fantastic as most of the iPhone is there's a few baffling omissions.

Personally, I see it as most other handsets having a few baffling inclusions. I don't see the point in having a video camera or high-quality photographic camera in a mobile phone (a video camera on the same side of the phone as the screen for video calls would maybe be the exception). This isn't a critical feature for me. It just seems like people have come to expect them in their handsets without really needing them. To me, 5Mp Carl Zeiss lens cameras in handsets is an Emperor's New Clothes feature. Conversely, a decent bloody mobile web browser has been loooooong overdue. And if there is an image important enough to send me, I have email right here in my pocket kthnks.

I don’t know, I see the new features as forward steps in improvement of the technology. While some features may not be “required”, in 10 years time the development of these features will allow us to have even more useful and impressive tech. It’s simply a matter of technological progression.

I like to have a decent pocket sized photo/video camera for those (few?) times where they would be useful. Perfect example; a car accident. I can quickly snap a few photos of the damage for insurance purposes and email them to myself.

As for the video camera, what we have now are the building blocks of serious video conferencing and communication via a handheld.

illig

check for coverage in your area.. in my experience the iphone has a crappier radio than most 'dedicated' AT&T phones

my GF has an iphone 3G, and basically can't use it at her office, in larger buildings, etc. due to shitty reception. We're in NYC by the way... where all cell coverage should be 100% (and pretty much is with my Verizon blackberry)

vonPoonBurGer

YourFatAuntSusan wrote: »

Well, I won’t be using this on the AT&T network as I’m Canadian so it’ll be on the Rogers network in Borden, Ontario.

You probably won't have many issues with reception and coverage then, at least not on the network/provider side of things. I'm in Montreal, and my company recently switched from Bell to Rogers. Maybe it's a Montreal thing, but I find I get significantly better reception and coverage on the Rogers network than I ever did with Bell. All of my coworkers feel the same way, too.

Blake T

Go to ebay, spend five dollars and buy a spare docking cable, bring it to work and when the battery gets low charge it there.

The majority of my charging is done at work since I will already be sitting next to the phone so it is still easy access if someone wants to contact me.

I also keep another docking cable/wall plug by my bed and another in my home computer for syncing purposes, I have never flattened the battery.

Also remember if you are over a friend's places they probably own an iPod and you can charge it at their place.

It is not hard to keep your iphone charged now days.

Gdiguy

To get back to the battery question - I can go basically for 2 days using it purely as a phone/ipod (i.e., no/very little 3g usage). Basic usage (which I'm defining as Pandora radio for 6 hours in lab) doesn't really use much more, it's easily fine for an entire day.

However, I ate through about half my battery in two hours of random internet browsing / youtube video watching on a car trip recently, so if you're constantly going to be heavily using the internet features I'd plan on having a charger at work / in the car.

DVG

Yeah, the battery only dies quickly when you are actively using applications, like playing games and the like. Passive applications that use the network (Pandora) will drain it much slower, and iPod usage barely drains it at all.

webguy20

I've had my 3G since they launched and I love it. It is too my only phone. I charge it at work most days and that'll get me through. as long as I don't surf the web or do video a charge will last all weekend. I also charge at home most days with a dock. I never have battery issues and I'm never far enough away for it to be a problem. I've bought a few 5 dollar belkin ipod connectors that I've stashed in some luggage in case I ever go anywhere and forgot my charger. The iphone will work with most regular ipod charging cables.

Szechuanosaurus

Blaket wrote: »

Go to ebay, spend five dollars and buy a spare docking cable, bring it to work and when the battery gets low charge it there.

The majority of my charging is done at work since I will already be sitting next to the phone so it is still easy access if someone wants to contact me.

I also keep another docking cable/wall plug by my bed and another in my home computer for syncing purposes, I have never flattened the battery.

Also remember if you are over a friend's places they probably own an iPod and you can charge it at their place.

It is not hard to keep your iphone charged now days.

Also bear in mind that the iPod cable can connect to USB 2.0 and charge the iPod that way. You don't need the wall plug unless you aren't near a USB port.

Like Blaket, I have a wall plug and cable next to my bed, a cable I carry in my laptop bag and another connected to our home PC. Basically if I run out of battery power, it's my own damn fault.

Shadowfire

I charge my iPhone every 2-3 days. Typically, I talk about 1 hour a day, and browse about 1 hour. Sometimes I run apps, which obviously brings down the battery life. We have no 3G available in the area, but have a pretty solid EDGE connection in most areas we go to. I do keep Bluetooth on all the time, since I use a headset off and on (I'm too lazy to turn it off).

I mean, I guess I'm a casual user, but I really find the iPhone's battery life to be just fine.