Life without an iPhone

On Friday 23rd July I posted back my iPhone 4 to O2. I sent the phone back because I was extremely unhappy with the news and comments from Apple concerning the reported signal issues. I was not suffering from any great ill effects caused by the antenna issues, however I wanted to return the device before I was stuck with a problematic device for the full duration of the contract. The idea of trying to run an iPhone 4 with a less than capable antenna for 24 months is not appealing.

On the 26th June I used a BT pay phone for the first time in probably in more than a decade in St Pancras International Station at the cost of sixty pence to phone my father to let him know I was about to jump on a train. I this was such a strange moment. I don't remember the last time I used a pay phone. As a result I had to quickly remind myself the order steps required to place a call. If you are interested you lift the receiver, insert your money and then dial the number.

The iPhone 4 I returned was not my first iPhone. Nor do I think it will be my last. In order to leverage the money to purchase an iPhone 4 I sold my iPhone 3G using Envirofone. As a result I am now iPhoneless and enjoying life without email and Internet access on my phone. When I owned both devices I tended to check Facebook, Twitter and Email regularly. Possibly a little too frequently. It possibly boarded the realm of unhealthy. Now I feel much better but life and not check my phone compulsively to see if I have any new messages or status updates to read.

I do however miss the convenience of having a single device. I am currently using a very old fashion mobile phone and carrying around my 30Gb iPod Video. But on balance this is not really a big issue. I do however feel the loss of the apps on the iPhone. I am very pleased that I do not have any issues with signal but I things apps for checking train timetables are invaluable. While apps for social networking are in my opinion, largely irrelevant and pointless.

That aside, I am largely pleased with my decision to walk away from iPhone 4. I might consider using a future iPhone iteration. But for now I am not interested in Apple latest phone. There may however be an iPod touch in my future at some point.

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