The recently announced iPhone from Apple is very promising indeed for podcasting.

Think about it. Millions of people with a direct connection to the iTunes podcast directory in their pocket. Plenty of storage (4GB or 8GB). Audio and video playback capability. It could be a podcast consumption juggernaut. Wait a minute though.

This isn’t an iPod, it’s a cell phone. And that means people will have to make a big decision before picking up this sweet piece of hardware. Do they really want to switch to Cingular (soon to be AT&T again) wireless?

It’s a fact that people can be pretty darn loyal to their cellular providers. Especially since departing mid-contract can mean a financial hit of up to $200. I just recently extended my contract for two years, upgrading to the pretty darn good Samsung Blackjack. I like the look of the iPhone but there are some concerns that will prevent me from switching.

• No 3G support. Yeah, I know it has WiFi but 3G coverage is more widespread. Sure you can connect at Starbucks and lots of other places. But you also need a separate paid account for many hotspots. Why pay the $$$ for a cellular data plan and pay for various WiFi plans?
• Potential battery life issues. This device has all the great power suckers including a big screen, wifi and bluetooth. And the battery is not replaceable. The one big difference between an iPod and a phone is the fact that you need your cell phone to be with you almost all the time. The iPod is carried typically by preference but no necessity. Powering up on the go would be easier if the battery lasted longer and was replaceable.
• Lack of support for 3rd Party apps. The Windows Mobile and Series 60 platforms both have a robust suite of independently developed applications. There are questions about what will be available for the iPhone since it will run OS X. There’s no doubt that OS X is great for the computer. But will it work for the cell phone?

In my mind this device would be ten times more killer if it were not a cell phone. Heck, Id put an order in tomorrow if you took away the cellular requirement and made the battery replaceable.

I think this phone will be good for podcasting because a lot of non-iPod users will switch over, thereby adding to the number of people who will seek to leverage iTunes for their entertainment. I don’t think it will be the blockbuster success that is being predicted by the hype. Initially I’m willing to bet that there will be hardware and software issues that will make the overall experience less than stellar.

Apple will make adjustments though. And with future releases the experience will improve greatly. So put me on the waiting list for an iPhone for June…June 2008 that is.