After a veritable frenzy of media hype, Apple’s new iPhone finally reached stores last week. The excitement seems to be justified: stylishly designed, it serves as smartphone, media player and camera, with features like touch-screen navigation and integrated WiFi. But should you trade in your Treo or Blackberry for this technological superstar?

Marc Saltzman recently investigated the iPhone’s pros and cons and reported his findings in his article "Is the iPhone Worth It?" at Inc.com.

The pluses:

• The iPhone offers what Apple labels a “real” Internet experience, not the stripped-down variants offered by competitive products.
• A non-linear voicemail application will play messages in any order you like, a boon for quick navigation through a crowded inbox.
• Using an iPhone might convey the right image to clients, partners and venture capitalists. As Saltzman puts it, “You’ll look ‘with it’ technologically.”

The drawbacks:

• The iPhone’s email application might not satisfy those accustomed to instant notification. Instead of the push technology used by smartphones, the iPhone requires the user to initiate retrieval.
• Because it’s closed to third-party applications, the iPhone doesn’t have the same functional capabilities as PDAs.
• At $500 it might be cost-prohibitive for some businesses. Also, your only service option is a two-year contract with AT&T.

The Po!nt: The iPhone might be geared to the consumer market, but you can make the case for using one in your business. It depends on your day-to-day needs and how much its undeniable cool factor matters to you.

To learn more about the pros and the cons of the new iPhone, read Marc Saltzman's article at Inc.com.

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