Mobile Ministry Magazine

In a move that was widely anticipated but vigorously kept under wraps, Apple Computer and Cingular announced a new partnership today in the creation of the iPhone. Apple has dominated the portable music industry with its wildly successful iPods and seen its computing market share dramatically rise in the last several years with successive successful introductions of new laptops, desktops and software.

In January 2005, Apple switched to Intel chips inside all new computers. With today’s announcement, Apple and Cingular seek to revolutionize the cellular industry as well.

The new iPhone is also an iPod and initial reports indicate the following features:

* Fully functional iPod which supports iTunes
* Visual voicemail: a first for any U.S. cell carrier
* Unique internet browsing capabilities
* Integrated calling/music fade
* 4 gig and 8 gig models available initially

The Unofficial Apple Weblog is blogging live from MacWorld Expo. More news can be found there.

I was eating lunch with a pastor friend today, and we were talking about our Treo 650s. I related to him that I had been eagerly following MacWorld Expo to see if Apple was indeed releasing an iPhone. Now that the word is official, I can assure you that it will be my next phone purchase.

What the iPod did for the music industry, the iPhone will do for the wireless/cellular one. Apple seems to revolutionize everything it touches. Would that our churches could do the same...