Apple iPhone

Nor is the iPhone the perfect partner for business, with limited support for Exchange being the biggest downside. The lack of push email leaves devices such as the BlackBerry 8820 as better choices, despite their stolid interfaces.

Apple is also taking full advantage of charging accordingly for this spectacular piece of wizardry: £269 might not sound like much compared with the £400 price tag of some phones, but the iPhone requires at least £35 a month on a contract, for at least 18 months. That's a grand total of £899.

But for all its flaws and there are several this is nonetheless a huge step. Apple has proved that a touchscreen-only device is possible, despite Microsoft's apparent attempts to demonstrate the opposite. Each time you pull it out of your pocket, the hairs on the back of your neck raise slightly: it's a joy to use and simple tasks such as checking a text message or firing off a two-line email are still satisfying after weeks of use. Even if you swear you're not going to buy one, giving the iPhone a quick whirl in a shop might be the last thing you and your credit card do together for some time.

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Author: Dave Stevenson