Alternatives To The iPhone 3GAlternatives To The iPhone 3G

It's almost a cliché to say the original iPhone was a game-changer, but it was. Apple's so-called "Jesus phone" was well-received by critics and adored by consumers. It can be credited with bringing the smartphone to the masses, as well as a slew of touch-screen imitators.

With its application store, 3G speed, and Microsoft Exchange e-mail server support, many are saying that the latest iPhone 3G will be unstoppable. But the iPhone 3G is facing a different landscape, and its rivals have stepped up their games.

First up is Samsung, which, for some reason, announced its own touch-screen Omnia on the same day Apple unveiled its updated iPhone. How does it stack up? Quite nicely, actually.

The Omnia's touch screen is a bit smaller than the iPhone's (at 3.2 inches wide, compared with 3.5 inches), but it features an accelerometer that automatically adjusts the screen depending on how you're holding it. Both will have a high-speed 3G connection, virtual keyboards, and multimedia players.

But the Omnia bests the iPhone's lackluster camera, as Samsung's latest packs a 5-megapixel lens that automatically detects smiles and faces. You also can expand the memory of the Omnia via the microSD slot, use stereo Bluetooth, send multimedia messages (seriously, how come this wasn't available on day one for the iPhone?), and listen to a built-in FM radio.

If you absolutely cannot fathom giving up a BlackBerry, don't worry -- RIM's latest entry will give you some iPhone-like features. The BlackBerry 9000, also known as the BlackBerry Bold, lets users sync with Apple's iTunes for mobile tunes, can have its memory expanded, and will have the traditional BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard for quick e-mailing.

Unlike the iPhone, your company's IT department is probably familiar with RIM devices, possibly saving some headaches. And even BlackBerry has hopped on the touch screen bandwagon; head over to Boy Genius Report and check out the upcoming BlackBerry Thunder.

If you're having a hard time deciding whether you want a touch screen or something with a tactile keyboard, check out the HTC Touch Pro. It gives you the ease of touch navigation with the efficiency of a full five-row sliding keyboard. Its features also compare nicely with Apple's latest phone.

I'm actually pretty excited about the next-gen iPhone and plan to ditch Sprint and my Motorola Q9c for it in about a month. But these other devices have made that decision tougher, and it's good to see such an improvement in a short time.