The iPhone achieves what it set out to do - drive data revenues.

The review confirms this - the author mentions that he has been able to *use* apps rather than try then, and is off-hand about the data costs. That's a fair deal to me - get what you pay for, as long as the experience is good, and that's an iWhatever feature. Music was easier on an iPod, and iTunes drove music revenues. Data is easier on an iPhone and drives data revenues. I fail to see why it's such a surprise.

If I want brilliant mail features, attachment editing etc etc I'll go for a Blackberry and some editing software. If I want customisation to the Nth degree I'll get some bloody awful WM device that has every feature under the sun but drives me nuts as a phone. If I just want to surf data, make calls and listen to songs or watch videos, I'll get an iPhone.

Apple seems to get slated for choosing a niche and going for it. It does those niche things well. Very well IMHO. If people don't like that then don't buy the phone.......seems remarkably simple.