(Column) - Apple’s wonder phone is finally here, and although it delivers on its hype, it’s still not a BlackBerry killer. I was initially going to comment on the two key factors: lack of a physical keyboard with tactile feedback and lack of connectivity to Microsoft Exchange that other smartphones are so good at. However, as it turns out, the iPhone can connect to Microsoft Exchange through a third-party application, so that point is null and void. Just in time, too.

Now that the e-mail issue has been resolved, the touchscreen is still the hindering factor for a lot of professionals. The idea of typing fast with tactile feedback, which reduces the need to look up at the screen every so often, is a great time saver. And unfortunately, without this feedback, the iPhone gets a little too annoying a little too quickly.

iPhone Delivers on Excessive Hype

From the initial reviews, it appears to be a matter of getting used to the intuitive interface, but the reviews have been mixed at best. While some reviewers got used to it relatively quickly, others were left wanting more and were frustrated in the end. That’s not a surprise, though. We were speculating on that long before the iPhone made its appearance.

Right now, it appears as though the only feature, or lack thereof, that prevents the iPhone from being the BlackBerry killer is keyboard functionality. Assuming Apple works on it some more in future generations and actually delivers on it, the company should be very successful between the niche business crowds. What could be even better is if Apple releases a brand new iPhone that’s catered to businesspeople with an actual keyboard, sort of like the various iPod models. That would probably be best for Apple if the company wants to cater to consumers and business users alike.

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