Apple released their long awaited iPhone 3G yesterday and wow it was a stellar introduction. I stayed up until 3:30AM just to listen into the live audio feed here in Singapore. Sure its an amazing new product with new colors, but its really nothing stellar. I’m on the Apple iPhone developer program just to get the new firmware and really, theres nothing new. The only new thing is the new 3G (with HSDPA 3.5G and GPS). Other than that, stuff like the rotating calculator turning scientific, is old news. Here’s why I’m still looking forward to the Bold.

1. iPhone Push mail only works for Mobileme and Microsoft Exchange
What about Gmail? So should I forward all my email to a mobileme email address just so it will push through to my iPhone? Well for one thing, gmail is free and mobile me cost 99 bucks for a year, (yes you can also get it for 69 but were comparing this to FREE). Blackberry works with Gmail and also google apps for organizations that need their own domain. I’m not going to spend $699 for my own Microsoft Exchange server, and that price does not include hosting fees. Yikes. With the recent addition of Google syncing with your mac’s iSync, theres no need to go with the fancy mobileme or exchange to get your contacts synced. Pay 99 bucks or pay nothing to get the best webmail we all know and love.

Advice to Apple/Google: Offer Mobile Me to customized domains. Small businesses want Push mail but they dont want to shell out 700 dollars plus hosting fees to get it! Google, get Google Apps (and Gmail) to mimic exchange/mobilme push functions!

2. Lack of Default Messaging Program
One of the biggest reasons I see all my friends getting a Blackberry is because of the Blackberry messenger. Its an awesome way to keep in touch with your friends regardless of where you are. PINning only works between blackberry users but its still cheaper than international SMS when you’re messaging your friends from across the planet. The current way to chat on the iPhone is through services like meebo (even offers the big 3 msn, aim, yahoo). But using meebo drains your battery and you have to be constantly on the webpage to stay connected. Not with Blackberry messenger, its always on, even when your phone is idle. But the limitation of the BB messenger is that once you lose your phone, you change your PIN number so everyone on your contact list has to get your device PIN again before you can start PINning.

Advice to Apple: Port iChat to iPhone! Are you affraid of ATT telling you that it will eat up their SMS business?! Screw ATT! Its your turn to gain marketshare. Like the economists like to say, the bigger the network, the more valuable it becomes.

3. What about Opensource Development on the iPhone?
How on earth do people install open source applications legitimately on their iPhones without having to first jailbreak it? Even that, when the iPhone does a software update, it breaks the Jailbreak and we’re stuck waiting for a new solution from Zibri or the Dev Team to let me get Installer app back on the iPhone! Its a grey line, and people are tired to have to be forced to do something that can break their phones.

Advice to Apple: Figure out a way to encourage opensource developers to develop for the iPhone. In the process, these opensource developers (a combination of experts and newbies) will learn how to make programs for the iPhone and it will encourage them to write other software that they might sell over the AppStore! C’mon apple… havent you read Wikinomics?

On top of all this, I can safely say that the Blackberry is available in more countries than the iPhone is. That can change at any time.