The Apple iPhone and 2.0 software update helped introduce a whole new market of applications to the mobile phone world. Due to the massive increase in demand for mobile applications, competitors like Google, Palm Inc, and Research In Motion Limited (RIM) have all stepped up to the plate to deliver their versions of multi-touch screen and gesture controlled phones with the ability to command powerful mobile applications, all helping revolutionize the industry.

Each of these new phones are offered on specific networks, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint to be exact, with attempts from these carriers to pick up more subscribers with their particular device. With the iPhone being exclusive to AT&T and the Google Android G2 offered only on T-Mobile, choosing whether or not you want to switch networks can be a tough decision. Placing network politics aside though, each phone offers both unique and specific features that are all helping fuel the mobile applications industry.

The following comparison by Appmodo should help you decide which mobile phone is best for you.

Graphical User Interface “GUI” and the integration of multi-touch/gesture controls

The launch of multi-touch and gesture controlled devices in 2008 was an evolutionary break through in the mobile phone industry. Because of this, multi-touch and gesture controls are finding themselves on every new device that hits the market.

Apple iPhone: The Apple iPhone has offered this feature since day one. Aside from practically owning every patent there is regarding multi-touch and gesture controls, Apple has the science down and the new breakthroughs in the 3.0 software will help push the phone’s capabilities to the next level, most likely re-defining it again.

Palm Pre: The Palm Pre, which launches June 6th, also offers multi-touch features. The Pre’s gesture controls are super fast especially when scrolling web pages and seem to render faster than the iPhone. Palm also used the entire screen as a touchable area with less real estate on the top and bottom used for a button and speaker.

Google Android G2: The next generation Google phone, Android G2 which is developed by HTC, offers a touch-sensitive screen but not multi-touch gesture support.

BlackBerry Storm: RIM released the BlackBerry Storm as an alternative to their normal physical QWERTY style phones, offering a full SurePress™ touch screen with multi-gesture support. Now with a Storm 2 phone in the pipeline, RIM are hoping to push their BlackBerry Storm devices to a new level.

Bottom Line: Apple iPhone, Palm Pre, BlackBerry Storm offer multi-touch. Google Android G2 does not, but does offer a touch screen.

Keyboards

The choice of having a physical keyboard on your mobile phone can be a tough decision. For some users, having a physical hardware QWERTY keyboard is an easy transition from previous generations of mobile phones as well as the software based keyboard found with computers. Digitizing that keyboard is a cool feature for some, and a dread for others.

Apple iPhone: One of the main design principles of the original iPhone for Apple was based off of a sleek, smooth, physical keyboard-less device. Combined with multi-gesture support and the Mac operating system, the iPhone is definitely the phone to choose for a software based keyboard. The new 3.0 software launch will also bring new features like cut, copy and paste. Another advantage to the software based keyboard is the ability to support different languages, 21 to be exact.

Palm Pre: Palm are releasing the Pre with a slide out, physical hardware based QWERTY keyboard that offers soft, “gummy” keys, similar to previous phones like the Palm Treo.

Google Android G2: Google’s Android G1 featured a full slide out QWERTY keyboard but their second generation phone, the G2 is ditching that “old” technology for a full software based keyboard. The G2 also has a device control trackball with enter button towards the bottom of the phone.

BlackBerry Storm: RIM decided to venture into the software based keyboards with the BlackBerry Storm and Storm 2. With an on screen keyboard that features multi-gesture touch screen capabilities, the BlackBerry Storm also supports typing in landscape mode (something Apple is planning on releasing with the 3.0 update).

Bottom Line: Physical keyboards are still the mainstream choice for typing on a mobile phone but that status quo is beginning to change with improvements in software based touch controls. Apple iPhone, Google Android G2, and BlackBerry Storm offer software based QWERTY keyboards, with Apple in an advantage of offering 21 different languages. Palm Pre on the other hand offers a physical slide out QWERTY keyboard for those who favor the need for physical buttons.

Networks

As stated in our introduction, each of these new phones are offered on specific networks in attempts to earn more subscribers. Verizon Wireless has rights to the BlackBerry Storm & Storm 2, AT&T with the Apple iPhone, T-Mobile with Google Android G1 & G2, and Sprint owning rights to the Palm Pre. With that being said, the following is a break down of plans available from each carrier. Keep in mind that network availability in your area can affect your choice of phone and whether or not you live in a high speed data area.

Apple iPhone: AT&T operates on a GSM network with HPSA (3G) for high speed connectivity, that includes SIM cards in all of their mobile phones. This advantage allows you to pop your SIM card in and out of phones all around the world (of course roaming charges apply). Whether or not you have 3G in your area should help you determine whether or not to purchase an iPhone. The original iPhone operated off of AT&T’s EDGE network which was awfully slow even when checking email. These slow connections can be frustrating and can often take the fun out of owning the new phone. Of course, there’s always WiFi. Individual voice plans range from $39.99 to $99.99 with data plans costing an extra $30.00. Total cost range: $74.98 minimum to $129.99, excluding tax. Does not include text messaging.

Palm Pre: When it comes to 3G connectivity, it’s been proven that Sprint has the fastest coast to coast 3G speeds. The company is however on CDMA technology, which means if you want to change phones at any point and time you must do it through Sprint which can be a hassle. Although they currently have the fastest network, Sprint does not allow for simultaneous voice and data downloads meaning, if you are talking on the phone you cannot use a high speed data connection for web browsing or email (unless you are on a WiFi connection). As a side note, AT&T’s EDGE network experiences this same problem. Individual voice plans range from $29.99 to $99.99 with data plans starting at $69.99. Total cost range: $69.99 minimum to $99.99, excluding tax. Includes text messaging.

Google Android G2: T-Mobile also operates on a GSM network with HPSA (3G) for high speed connectivity (the networks are actually owned by AT&T). EDGE and 2G connections are also available, but WiFi is the go-to option when a 3G network is not around. Since T-Mobile operates on the GSM network, SIM card technology is present and features the same advantages of being on the AT&T network. Individual voice plans range from $29.99 to $99.99 with data plans costing an extra $34.99. Total cost range: $64.98 minimum to $134.98, excluding tax. Does not include text messaging.

BlackBerry Storm: RIM has exclusivity with Verizon Wireless and their CDMA network, bringing 3G high speed connectivity to the table also. As with the Palm Pre, if you would like to change phones at any time you must have it activated at a Verizon Wireless facility because there is not a SIM card present in their phones. Other network experiences are the same as Sprint and the Palm Pre. An advantage of the BlackBerry Storm is its ability to be tethered as a modem, a huge advantage over the other phone but a data plan and service is of course required. Individual voice plans range from $39.99 to $99.99 with specific BlackBerry data plans ranging from $29.99 to $44.99. Total cost range: $69.98 minimum to $144.98, excluding tax. Does not include text messaging.

Bottom Line: While there are many different factors that can decide whether or not to choose a particular phone for your area, here is the bottom line as far as pricing. T-Mobile offers the cheapest plan available for the Android G1 and G2 at $64.98 with includes data usage. Next are Verizon Wireless and the BlackBerry Storm 1 & 2 at $69.98, and Sprint and the Palm Pre at $69.99. Finally there’s AT&T and the Apple iPhone 3G which will set you back a minimum of $74.98 on their network. There is a rumor that AT&T will be releasing cheaper plans sometime next week with Apple’s new announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Data Syncronization

Everyone knows about the massive, epic fail by Apple of MobileMe in 2008. Thankfully, those issues have since been sorted out and the “data cloud” is now fully functional. The ability of offering a “cloud” of data allows for unique connectivity between computers and mobile devices with data being accessed virtually anywhere.

Apple iPhone: Apple requires all of its devices to sync via iTunes with a USB cable whether you own a Mac or PC. For those who want to synchronize their data wirelessly, there’s MobileMe which introduces the “cloud” structure for users and adds support for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more. MobileMe offers a free 90 day trial version as well as a paid subscription service of $99 per year.

Palm Pre: Palm offers a feature for the Pre called “Synergy”, based off of Palm’s webOS platform which automatically synchronizes your data (contacts, calendars, messages, etc) among other devices such as your PC. The “Synergy” cloud is included with data plans.

Google Android G2: Google also offers a cloud system for their Android G1 and G2 phones via Google servers. Gmail, Maps, YouTube and the rest of their services are all shared collectively together and are integrated into their phones.

BlackBerry Storm: In order to wirelessly sync your data on the BlackBerry Storm you need to have BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) support for Microsoft Exchange and a data plan. For more information regarding BES, head on over to the BlackBerry website.

Bottom Line: All four mobile phones and their carriers allow you to synchronize your data between computer and phone relatively easy. The Google Android G2 offers free wireless syncing between your phone and Google’s servers which is an awesome feature. Google is also a juggernaut for cloud computing and hardly experiences any down time. The Palm Pre and BlackBerry Storm are good alternatives for syncing wirelessly, but both require data plans in order to do so. Apple falls in last place charging $99 per year for wireless syncing between your iPhone and computer on top of AT&T data rates and having a rocky start in 2008 plagued with problems. The only other way to synchronize your data with an iPhone is via a USB cable which thankfully comes with the purchase of the phone.

Applications & Development

The recent surge in technological advancements for these four phones can be attributed to their compatibility with third party applications. The mobile applications industry was hardly even on the map back in 2007 and when Apple released the App Store in 2008, a whole new market emerged and evolved into a growing freight train as we know it today.

Apple iPhone: The Apple iPhone and iPod Touch back the success of the App Store within iTunes, holding more than 35,000 applications and over 1 billion downloads in just one year. While they do require a heavy approval process which has been known to slow application updates, applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch are programmed via the Cocoa language, using the same Xcode that Mac programmers currently use for their own operating system. The requirement of Cocoa is much smaller than other languages found on the other phones though which limits the amount of developers in the long run. Find out why below.

Palm Pre: Palm are keeping a majority of the details hidden regarding the distribution of their applications other than users will have the ability to browse via a catalog and download them wirelessly to phones (just like Apple). There will be an approval process for applications to help “security and stability” of their device. Applications for the Palm webOS are designed using web based technologies which include HTML, CSS, and Javascript. This adoption of the webOS and applications allows for an incredibly larger development community.

Google Android G2: Google designed the Android platform as a fully open source software development kit built on the open Linux Kernel. Currently Android and Google lack an extensive approval process which is both good and bad for the developer. While their Android market is still pretty small and lacks large apps that are featured in Apple’s App Store, the ability to produce content on a completely open platform is bound to gain momentum and possibly surpass Apple.

BlackBerry Storm: The BlackBerry App World is also an emerging applications source for BlackBerry phones. They too are still in development offering games, social networking, online shopping, tools and more, but are larger than the Android and Pre stores. In order to purchase applications from BlackBerry App World you will need a PayPal account which is a hassle for anyone who does not have one, regardless if it’s free.

Bottom Line: None of the other phones (Palm Pre, Android G2 and BlackBerry Storm) are on the map really when it comes to the depth of mobile applications. While they do offer some, none of them are as diverse or in depth, in regards to development, entertainment value, and user productivity as Apple’s App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Multi-tasking

Everyone knows about the massive, epic fail by Apple of MobileMe in 2008. Thankfully, those issues have since been sorted out and the “data cloud” is now fully functional. The ability of offering a “cloud” of data allows for unique connectivity between computers and mobile devices with data being accessed virtually anywhere.

Apple iPhone: While the current 2.0 software only supports processing one application at a time (background multi-tasking), Apple’s new 3.0 software update will support multi-tasking among devices. The update will also allow for Push Notifications which is expected to be a huge update for application developers as you will no longer have to have the application running to receive updates. Example: Skype messaging service and receiving messages even when the application is closed.

Palm Pre: The Palm Pre allows for a “Card” feature that can process multiple applications at once regardless if they are currently being accessed. The Palm’s webOS also allows for fast switching between applications and notifications.

Google Android G2: The Android G2 features a notification drawer that allows for multi-tasking of processes just like the Palm Pre. You can also receive pop up notifications of email, messages and application updates.

BlackBerry Storm: The BlackBerry Storm also supports multi-tasking, allowing users to not have to constantly open and close applications and actually performs this task the best in comparison to the competition (although the iPhone 3.0 update is TBD).

Bottom Line: When it comes to multi-tasking processes, all of the phones support the feature. While the BlackBerry Storm may support it the best, there are other alternatives such as the Palm Pre, Android G2 and Apple iPhone 3.0 that do a great job as well and keep getting better.

Hardware

When it comes to what is under the hood, power and capability is everything. The ability to use applications to capture photos and video and instantly share them with the rest of the world is an amazing feat. Here’s a breakdown of what each phone has.

Apple iPhone: While a new iPhone may be on the horizon and we won’t find out until next week, our comparison today is of the current iPhone 3G model and 3.0 update. The iPhone 3G features a 3.5-inch (diagonal) 480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi widescreen multi-touch display, 2.0 megapixel camera, built in speaker, accelerometer, proximity and ambient light sensors, and is available in both a 8GB or 16GB flash drive.

Palm Pre: The Palm Pre has a 3.1-inch touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320×480 resolution HVGA display, physical slide out QWERTY keyboard, 3.0 megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field, ambient light, accelerometer, and proximity sensors, and comes with a 8GB flash drive.

Google Android G2: Google’s Android G2 has a 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution, 3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus, G-sensor and digital compass, trackball with enter button, and a microSD™ memory card slot that is SD 2.0 compatible.

BlackBerry Storm: The BlackBerry Storm features a 3.25 inch high resolution 480 x 360 pixel color display that supports over 65,000 colors, 3.2megapixel camera with auto flash, auto focus and 2x digital zoom, removable battery, expandable memory that supports a microSD card.

Bottom Line: Overall, it is very hard to choose between the four phones. Each offer high resolution screens (iPhone being the largest at 3.5 inches), powerful built in cameras (BlackBerry Storm the best with autoflash/focus/zoom), decent memory options with expandable capabilities (although iPhone offers a huge 8GB drive), it is really up to the end user to select which phone is best. Although because they offer a larger screen and both a 8GB and 16GB flash drive option, the Apple iPhone would be our phone of choice.

Browsers and Web Integration

What once was the deciding factor for mobile phones just one year ago, the browsers and web integration war is finally coming to a halt.

Apple iPhone: The integration of Safari into the iPhone OS has been a big hit for mobile phone users since the launch of the original iPhone. Allowing the use of multi-touch zooming and accelerometer controls, the iPhone’s Safari web browser is hard to beat.

Palm Pre: The Palm Pre’s web integration and browser are streamline, offering support for both applications and messaging programs. The browser is smoother than the current iPhone 2.0 software and renders pages very fast even while scrolling.

Google Android G2: While the Android G1 used vertical and horizontal bars to navigate pages, there was an option to zoom out into a panel view to see the entire page. Rendering while navigating in this mode was fairly decent but not as smooth as the Palm Pre or Apple iPhone. The browsing capabilities for the G1 are expected to be the same for the G2 with some improvements.

BlackBerry Storm: The BlackBerry Storm does have the slowest loading browser out of the three other phones, and also uses the same vertical and horizontal bars for navigation that the Android G2 uses. Not only does this make the phone look dated, but navigating by separate button controls (zoom in and out button for example) is an extra effort. With the iPhone and Palm Pre, zooming in and out is supported by a quick double tap or multi-touch gesture.

Bottom Line: The Apple iPhone set the new standard for web browsing and Palm has now been able to reciprocate it pretty well with the Palm Pre. The primitiveness of the Android G2 and BlackBerry Storm browsers are not only holding back user ease and functionality but also technological processing and rendering of pages.

Cut, Copy, and Paste

It is the most requested feature of all time since the birth of the original iPhone. Now, it is finally available on mobile platforms.

Apple iPhone: Even with the current 2.2 software update, the Apple iPhone still does not have those three simple words: cut, copy and paste. Thankfully Apple have answered this call with the release of their 3.0 software update which includes an awesome rendition and functionality of cut, copy, and paste. Simply double tap to select text (using dots to expand your selection) and choose cut, copy, or paste from the pop up menu.

Palm Pre: Although Palm have offered a cut, copy and paste option for many years, the functionality has never been easier up until now. The Palm Pre allows you to use one button, and the gesture slide of a finger to select text, followed by a menu system to copy and paste.

Google Android G2: The Android G2 offers cut, copy, and paste functionality by selecting text and “long pressing” in order to perform the action. Pretty simple but selecting smaller amounts of text can be difficult.

BlackBerry Storm: The BlackBerry Storm also allows for cut, copy, and paste by multi-gesture control. You simply select the text you want, hold the menu key and select your action. Then repeat the process to paste.

Bottom Line: While each mobile phone now offers the cut, copy, and paste functionality it is ultimately up to each user to determine which method is of their own liking.

Conclusion
As you can see from the following comparison, there are a plethora of options available in the mobile phone market today. Companies like Apple, Google, Palm Inc, and Research In Motion Limited (RIM) have all stepped up to the plate to deliver their versions of multi-touch screen and gesture controlled phones with the ability to command powerful mobile applications. Unfortunately each of these new phones are only offered on specific networks, so choosing the right phone for you and the features you are looking for can be quite an extensive task. We hope that this comparison will help guide you in the right direction for your choice of the next mobile phone.

Please post your comments, tips, and your own reviews below in the comments area!

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