Apple’s iPhone, dubbed as the Jesus phone by bloggers, is out at last. In the past six months, expectations surrounding the phone have built up such a hype that it attracted approximately 70 million hits on Google not to speak of the innumerable articles published in a variety of magazines worldwide. Americans had the first bite of the Apple last week. Is it as delicious as promised? Opinions have been divided but it looks like a major step if not a leap forward in mobile technology.

It is extremely stylish, sleek and lovable. The thing is not just a phone, it is a handheld computer, ipod and phone all rolled into one. Though we haven’t got our hands on it, from all the reviews and feedback of the consumers, it is obvious that the iPhone is on its way to give mobile companies a run for their money. The two models released have 4 and 8 gigabytes storage each.

It has a touch sensitive screen, which is larger than any other phone available in the market. All one needs to do is tap and flick with a finger to navigate. The New York Times says the bigger achievement of the iPhone is its software. It perfectly integrates the various features. If you are listening to music, it pauses when you want to answer a call and resumes when you hang up. But making a call can be a trying experience, say some of the users. But it appears so until one gets used to it! The email service is said to be very good.

Incoming messages are formatted, but the users cannot edit Word, Excel and PDF documents. Surfing the internet can be great fun, particularly if you are in a WiFi environment, as the web browser on the iPhone is voted to be the best. One can scroll with a fingertip, double-tap to enlarge the text and even rotate the screen 90 degrees. The image too rotates to fill the wider view. One can even enlarge a web page or an email message or a photo just by spreading the thumb and forefinger on the glass. When in its U.S.B. charging cradle, the iPhone slurps in music, videos and photos from your Mac or Windows PC. Photos, movies and even YouTube videos look spectacular on the bright 3.5-inch high-resolution screen.

The Google Maps module lets you view street maps or aerial photos for any address. It can provide driving directions, too. It’s not real G.P.S. The iPhone doesn’t have one. Some in the field of GIS and GPS may be disappointed but frankly, location-based service is not as yet a must have for the consumers at large. As for the battery charge, Apple claims that one battery charge is enough for 8 hrs of calls and 7 hrs of video or 24 hrs of audio. The reality may not be as good but it is said to be nearly so.

The major drawbacks are that you cannot send an MMS, forget about video recording, can’t even download a ring tone. You cannot even set one of your 1800-odd songs as your ring tone. Java files cannot be opened. The iPhone looks great but it is not the perfect phone since it lacks some of the basic features.

Apple may introduce the iPhone in Asia next year but if it ties up with one carrier like it has in the US, it may be alienating a large number of potential consumers. In the later versions at least Apple should offer some of the basic cell phone features like MMS and video recording facility for greater consumption.