Do You Really Need an iPhone?

The Omnia comes in two models: 8GB and 16GB. Both versions use Windows Mobile 6.1 and an optical track pad. It comes complete with Wi-Fi, mobile GPS and built-in Bluetooth. For the mobile camera-phile, the Omnia boasts a 5-megapixel camera and LED flash. The Omnia also has several cool multimedia functions that include a 3.2 inch touch-sensitive display, the aforementioned 8-16 GB flash drive for storage, the option to expand memory via a MicroSD card and a Samsung developed media player offering excellent visual and audio quality.

There are some slowdown issues associated with the phone at times and some may find the onscreen keyboard not as easy to use as that of the Storm. These issues aside, many users have reported a better overall performance experience using the Omnia over the Storm. Comparable to the iPhone in terms of performance, the Omnia is quite fast and web navigation is generally very smooth. The only problem I see is -- as I mentioned earlier -- it uses a stylus and many will find themselves having to go back and forth between using it and their fingers to effectively navigate the Omnia's touch screen.

Another neat feature can be found when utilizing the texting interface. The phone can be set to utilize haptic feedback to confirm that certain actions have been performed. What this means is that the phone will vibrate, confirming that your text or e-mail has indeed been sent. It also means that you will actually feel the keys on-screen as you press and release them.

Pricing varies, but you should be able to find a good deal in the neighborhood of say $199 to start. Existing customers looking to upgrade and new customers will be able to take advantage of Verizon discounts when purchasing the phone.

The second alternative is the Samsung Instinct. This phone is available from Sprint and looks very similar to the iPhone. With a few cosmetic adjustments here and there it could very well be mistaken for the iPhone if you saw them sitting side by side on a shelf. In many head to head comparisons with the first generation iPhone, the Instinct won in the categories of speed and ease-of-use. While the iPhone has certainly come a long way in terms of its early speed issues, the Instinct still holds a slight edge when it comes to easy acclimation right out of the box.

Mind you, that's not to say the iPhone is difficulot to navigate. On the contrary, it is one of the easiest of the smartphones to master. I just find the Instinct that much simpler to move around on. That's one of the things that makes this such an ideal alternative buy. The major selling point of the Samsung Instinct is its great user interface that rivals that of the iPhone.

Like the iPhone, the Instinct relies heavily on its touch screen functionality. While not offering Wi-Fi like the iPhone, it does boast a 3G network and full GPS capabilities. It also comes equipped with multi-media messaging, stereo bluetooth, an expandable memory slot, video recording and video voicemail capabilities. It also has an on-screen keyboard that can be set to landscape for a more traditional typing view.

One down point is the Instinct's lack of a solid instant messaging interface. Now, if you receive an IM through Yahoo for example it gets forwarded to you in the form of an e-mail message. A little clunky for sure, but expect Samsung and Sprint to address this fairly soon. The Instinct offers e-mail forwarding in the form of "pushed" content. Simply, all e-mails from addresses that you set up on your phone that hit your traditional e-mail box will get "pushed" to your Instinct allowing you to view, respond and forward messages on-the-go.

The Instinct also has video and music players which, when compared to the iPhone3G, come up a bit short. They are excellent on their own, but just aren't as strong as those found on Apple's product. When it comes to sound quality on voice calls however, the Instinct draws about even with the iPhone. Price-wise the Instinct will run you around $70 less than the iPhone3G. Many sites have it listed at $129, before plan considerations, discounts and other fees have been added or deducted.