How can a phone make calling abroad more expensive? What a daft thing to say! Call and data prices are set by the tariff, not the handset, so it'd cost the same to use abroad as it would using a Tocco!

Simple solution? Don't use the data connection when abroad, or phone the operator (o2) and get a roaming package so it costs less.

As for the iPhone being worth the hype? Depends what you want to use it for. If you spend a lot of the time on the internet, emailing, going on websites, using maps, etc etc - then yes, you will benefit from it. If you rarely use mobile internet, email etc, then no, you probably won't.

As a "phone" (ie, calls & texts) it's nothing special at all. In fact it's pretty mediocre, and Nokia's are typically better in that capacity - as you already said, you know about not being able to do MMS/picture messaging (even tho you actually can, it's just not a native Apple app, rather a third party app - like so many other apps for it - about 95% are third party)

The whole point of the iPhone is it's tag line : "The internet - in your pocket" Thats what it's for - the internet. It's a device geared to access the web and email in the best format. In that capacity it beats nearly ever other device out there (must admit, the Blackberry Bold looks good, not seen it in action yet tho). It's mobile version of OS X is just a joy to use.

But, there are limitations and things missing from it. From my point of view, I'd like to see the following come out for it;

- Native MMS support - at the very least picture messaging
- Copy N Paste support within applications
- Disk mode enabled (so you can carry docs, etc without having to access them OTA)
- More customiseable(sp) - ringtones, message alert tones, etc
- If a new hardware revision comes out, small LED indicators for new message (text/email), new voice message, missed call etc would be nice