The iPhone has become the most desirable & popular cell phone in the world. This device has revolutionized how people interact with their cell phones. Apple has done a remarkable job integrating many of its popular applications on its mac computers into this handheld device. it all started with the introduction of the iPod and its user friendly iTunes library. The marrying of the ipod, iTunes, and macbook is the result of the iPhone. Its small yet powerful hand held attactive design that functions as an iPod, cell phone, and mini mac has given rise as the ultimate cell phone. What is unique about the iPhone is its 3.5 inch touch screen which has revolutionized the cell phone industry and how users interact with their mobile devices. The iPhone was first introduced on January 9, 2007 at the MacWorld Exhibition in San Francisco by Steve Jobs. The iPhone works of a modified Mac OS operating system and was offered though Apple stores and AT&T as the designated mobile carrier. Since 2007 other models have recently been introduced with the 3G model in June 2008, 3Gs in June 2009, and the iPhone 4 in July 2010.
What is unique about these devices is how they retain their value. A used original iPhone 2G can still resell for anywhere from $100-$200. Its original value was $599 without a 2 year contract and 3 years later it still has a resell value is quite remarkable. consider that most electronic devices lose half their value within six months after purchase. The resell of used iPhones is big business because of the quality of their design, its exclusivity to one cell phone carrier(AT&T), and strong brand recognition. Since the iPhone has a touch screen made of glass which is what made it so unique its also one of the most common causes of damage. This achilles to the iPhone is also a great opportunity for those who have the know how to repair this common problem. The accessibility to repair components at an affordable price through places like eBay. if you don’t have the technical know how, simply type in iPhone screen replacement on YouTube and thousands of videos will show you how.
In monetary terms I will break it down for you. so let’s say you purchase an iPhone 3gs 16GB through Apple without a contract. it will run you around $499. your screen happens to break, not all is lost and there is still hope. You can pick up a new screen & digitizer on eBay for $10 bucks, a video on YouTube for free and whalla 20 minutes later you have yourself a functioning iPhone. as mentioned the resell value is incredible and you can resell it for upwards of $350 to $400. Other common repairs on the iPhone are the home button, the power button, vibrate button, headphone jack, speaker, charging port, battery, and cracked housings. as previously mentioned these replacement components can be found on eBay for a very reasonable price. Some of these repairs take a little more technical knowledge but there are plenty of resources online to give you the know how. if you are not the hands on type and don’t want to be bothered with fixing it yourself. There are shops out there that specialize on repairing these devices for a nominal price. A quick Google search in your area for iPhone repairs will be sure to return a shop in your area.
As the iPhone continues to evolve with each new model what remains unique about the iPhone is its operating platform that is user friendly and has an unlimited potential based on the continued development of new apps as they are called in the apple apps store. last but not least the environmental impact of adding waste to the environment is reduced by repairing only the components that break. I’m not sure if Apple and Steve Jobs intended it to be this way but its a win win situation for consumers and the environment. if you happen to own an iPhone and it breaks remember it can be fixed. if you plan on owning an iPhone and are concerned about the high price, rest assured that its a worthwhile investment. Enjoy your multi tasking on the world’s most popular smartphone.