When progress provokes anger

According to an article in Mobile News, Apple iPhone customers with 3G phones are annoyed about the launch of iPhone4 (although the gripes don't relate to the technical glitches endured by Steve Jobs).

The report suggests that these owners "feel duped" by Apple and "angry at purchasing new devices just weeks before [the] iPhone 4 announcement." I was in a similar position when I bought my own iPhone 3G in Autumn 2009, cancelling my Vodafone contract because O2 was the only UK provider at that time. Just a couple of months later, Vodafone starting selling iPhones too!

While severing my contract with Vodafone proved long-winded and problematic, I wouldn't use the word 'duped' or even 'angry' to describe my reaction to the situation. I assume they couldn't mention their marketing plans at the time of my request to leave due to the need for commercial secrecy. Fair enough - and the same can be said for Apple's surprise announcement about iPhone4.

Most of the time, technical progress is achieved through stealth; the result of closely guarded R&D. As consumers, we just have to accept that sometimes we'll lose out... but in the long-term, we'll win because the technology's improving.

Google not so smart with Nexus One

The launch of the Nexus One smartphone has proved frustrating for U.S. consumers - and less than successful for Google, according to a BBC report.

Americans can buy the phone from Google for $529 or get it with a T-Mobile contract for $179. Only new (not existing) T-Mobile customers qualify for the deal, fuelling many complaints. Meanwhile, other new users are moaning either about the level of support available or 3G connection problems.

All of this comes in advance of the arrival of the phone in the UK (through Vodafone) although prices and launch dates have yet to be confirmed.

Let's hope - for Google's sake and on behalf of their customers - that these issues are resolved by the time the phone does go on sale here.