Shahad Ali
Senior Press Pass Correspondent
I always thought that Trinidad and Tobago was the ultimate of a gossip nation and that's why when blackberry phones hit the market I found it to be the ideal tool for all nationals. Almost everyone is guilty of messaging a friend about a person you just saw, or even worse, right in front of you. Ever found yourself in a maxi with a close friend and you were just dying to say something about the passenger who just stepped in? Almost instantly, like a cowboy and his gun, you pull out your BlackBerry and fire away. BlackBerry phones are relatively expensive. The cheapest you could get are the Curve 8520 that runs for about $1200. However, recently almost every week, at least one of my fellow blackberry contacts are making the switch to Samsung Galaxy phones with its famous Android operating system and of course, the ever popular iPhone from Apple.
The conversation which usually follows after a bbm contact has made 'the switch':
Friend: Just download What's App!
Me: Ummmmm..... No!
Despite my stubborn nature, I eventually did download the What's App application that literally syncs all mobile phones together. The only setback is that it operates on WiFi connectivity. It's not that hard for me to believe that my friends are going after these phones. Our mobile companies have been offering some ridiculous specials and deals on these 'other' smart phones. It seems that they are tempting the nation to move away from the BlackBerry craze and catch up with the rest of the world – I'm sorry, did I say the world? I meant America; and also, BlackBerries are still very popular in England. There have also been many issues with BlackBerry lately. I think everyone remembered when the RIM had collapsed and Trinidad and Tobago was in disarray. Everyone was unable to report (via bbm and email from BlackBerry phones) on the bacchanal that was occurring in the country and had to resort to more expensive means such as phone calls and text messages. What is shocking though is that purchasing these other phones on 4G Internet speeds come at a ridiculous cost. I can safely say that enjoying the full benefits of an iPhone appears to be more expensive in the long run since you will spend close to $600 a month as opposed to a full BlackBerry plan of $200 a month. The features are indeed different. he iPhone has come very close to human comfort and personalisation. Some of the features of the iPhone 4 are really amazing. Siri, the artificial intelligence application, can recall your name and those of your family members, send messages, organise your calendar and surf the web for you. BlackBerry is just your BlackBerry, but your iPhone slowly but surely uniquely becomes you over a few months.
So, which smart phone do you prefer and why? Post your thoughts on Facebook by searching: giemagazine.