The general consensus so far is that the Apple iPhone is just as good as consumers were promised it would be. The most infuriating thing that the new owners have run into is being able to use the phone.  It seems a glitch in the system (some say it was Apple’s fault; some say it was AT&T’s fault) left many newly purchased iPhone’s with service that was inactive until hours or days after purchase.

Even with this snag, consumers seem pleased with the product.  I personally couldn’t imagine spending $600 and then saying “nope, I don’t like it.”  Whatever else, I’d have to show my love for the object that demanded so much of my money.

With the success of the Apple iPhone, some are wondering where Steven Jobs will focus his attention next.  It is likely that the personal computer market will be the next great challenge. 

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Skype has filed a complaint with the US FCC over what it considers unfair control that mobile service providers are exibiting. According to the complaint, carriers are blocking consumers from using software applications on mobile phones that would give them the option of using VoIP different from the mobile phone provider.

Today, many handsets are being sold with the VoIP application preinstalled. The Open Mobile Terminal Platform (a group that includes many of the industry’s top network operators and handset manufacturers) insist that operators are entitled to lock down VoIP applications on those handsets that are subsidized.

It will interesting to see if Skype comes out on top in the complaint to the FCC. While the reasoning behind the industry position is almost understandable, it seems that the uninformed consumer is the one that is hurting the most.

The newest search engine to hit the internet has no ill will towards Google. According to the founder, all search engines own a debt to Google because the search engine giant put them on the map.

Even this gratitude does not mean that Powerset won’t be trying to pull as much of the market share as it can from Google. That’s just business.

Powerset has locked down new patents and technology that will be unleashed in September. The company’s goal is to replace the core of the search engine. It is a natural language search engine – meaning instead of typing a few words, users actually type sentences or questions. All the experts maintain that it will take something major to unseat Google.

Although the start up is being pegged as the best hope for a David-type competition, the company knows that it has an uphill battle.

One of the newest additions to the Web 2.0 family is MizPee. Here, you can actually use your cell phone to find the best restroom closest to your current location and for good measure the site will even offer reading materials for your “break time.” I’m all for sharing information, but if I’m out on the street and have to go then the odds are against me waiting for results to download. If I’m that picky about where I must go then I already know where the cleanest places are located. Trust me on this one.

It seems to me that these types of websites don’t help the case of Web 2.0. Many are claiming that it will be the new format for social interaction. This is the place where the little guy has as much, or more power, than the deep pockets of industry. I guess there is some truth to that. Still, there has to be some responsibility in what is loose online, doesn’t there?

I guess if you have to go in a crunch, a site like MizPee might help you out. But I can’t help but wonder if this is the first sign that Web 2.0 is a concept that should just be flushed away.

The Apple iPhone could be the first step in breaking the choke hold that the Telcos have had on the development of internet technology. While some have been looking at the features that Apple’s iPhone will offer, others are looking at what features the Telcos can’t get their claws into.

In the past, the smart phones that have been offered have had their WiFi disabled by the Telcos or else a monthly fee was charged for WiFi access. It seems that Apple has climbed over this hurdle and the iPhone’s WiFi capabilities are not controlled or limited by AT&T.

Apple has often led the charge in the technological breakthroughs. If the other companies follow suit, it could be that this will be the start of the take down of the Telcos.

Most people think of Google when they think of internet search engines. It might surprise you that Google is also the leading search tool for mobile phones. This gives the internet giant a lead on the optimization of mobile opportunities.

It seems that Google and Microsoft are both making a push to dominate the mobile search market. Live Search Mobile and Google Maps Mobile are the two strongest contenders in the field. While there are other platforms available for mobile searches, these two manage to hold well over half the market.

Both platforms are an easy download and both are very user friendly. It may be the name alone that gives Google the push to be first. As Microsoft continues to vary its markets, that may not hold true for long.

Dialup internet service is a dinosaur. With the majority of the universe getting connections through DSL or cable, those few souls who are forced to clean the house between downloads (because dialup takes so long) may have to wait even longer in the future – if they can connect at all.

Dialup data comes in over the phone line. The phone lines (some of which have been in place for 20 or more years) have a limited capacity. Unfortunately, it seems that web pages are unlimited. The amount of information that must be squeezed through the lines just keeps growing. This means the download time gets slower.

Is there hope? It doesn’t seem like there is. Although companies, like AT&T, are trying to reach every one in the United States with DSL service by the end of the year, there are bound to be dead spots (like my house) in some of the more rural areas. Providers, like NetZero, are working to make the dialup connections faster by using technology to compress the data so more can be transferred through the phone lines, but turtles on speed are still just turtles.

Vonage commercials are beginning to pop up on my television again. This doesn’t mean that the patent troubles that the VoIP giant has been facing are finally gone.

It was back a few months ago that Verizon sued Vonage under the premises that the VoIP company was using its patented technology. Vonage countered that the patents would be the equivalent of slapping tinsel and lights on a cedar tree and patenting the Christmas tree.

A judge sided with Verizon, and the problems for Vonage began. Now the case is again in the appeals court. The panel of three judges is asking that the companies find a way to compromise for the benefit of the general public.

It will be interesting to see if companies whose main goal is profit can find a way to put the public ahead of their corporate interests. It will be equally as interesting to see if this one lawsuit will snowball through out the internet.

IBM is working hard to bring the benefits of Web 2.0 to the masses. It has already announced its Lotus® Connections and this is just the first step in IBM’s philosophy to bring the new internet technology to business in a way that will be reliable, will give them the options they need, and will help them manage the technology to the greatest benefit.

For some, Web 2.0 is the best thing for users since sliced bread. It is the perfect platform for social interaction and will ultimately be the boost needed for the creation of unique applications.

For others, Web 2.0 is just a social network that is a jumble of unreliable information. It isn’t useful in any practical business sense.

I’m still on the fence. If you looked far enough back in history, I’m sure that computers, in general, were at one time considered impractical. As for the reliability of information, my parents always taught me not to take anyone’s word on a subject. Always back up your information.

Skype has been a force to be reckoned with in the VoIP industry since it first came into the market. It is only making its presence stronger through the use of it own instant messaging system.

For many regular internet users, the instant messenger has replaced emails. It allows for more of a conversational tone that emails, and is quicker to download (for those of us who are still stuck in the dark ages of dialup).

Skype has yet to adjust to the mobile lifestyle that is so prevalent in users today. Even with this major pitfall, the benefits of the service make it a solid contender in the VOIP market. With the improvement of features in the future, it is likely to maintain this position.