Hopefully someone will be able to answers my questions about the IPhone. There are some excellent birding applications available (for North America) and also GPS, lots of other stuff.

One of the guides at Rancho Naturalista, who uses all manner of technology to do his job, thinks that the IPhone would cover all of his needs. He has asked me to look into getting one for him and bringing it later this month--10 days to be exact. I've put off doing my research and now need HELP!

Who knows anything? We are small town and I can't just run down to an IPhone dealership and find out the things I need to know.

Please help if you can. . and thanks in advance!

I would call 1-800-MYAPPLE or go to www.apple.com for more info. They're usually very helpful.

Thanks!

What do you need to know? An iPhone without a contract is around $600 last time I checked for a friend who lives outside the country. Even without a contract, I believe all US iPhones are still locked to AT&T so it'll need to be unlocked unless you only want to use it on wifi.

There are also some on E-bay if you want to take a peek.

Agree with E-Bay. I always buy my cells on E-Bay with no contract.

Part of the problem, as your friend should be aware, is that the state still has a monopoly on telecommunications in Costa Rica, and the government has no arrangement with Apple over iPhones yet. BlackBerry just arrived late last year, but you have to set up your service with ICE, the state telephone company.

Doesn't he actually want the iPod Touch with no phone service? All the things you've mentioned in the first post are available with the iPod Touch.

Thanks, everyone. No, he wants the IPhone. And yes, he is aware as I remember his mentioning something about there could be a problem using it in Costa Rica. He thought there was a way to do it, but I don't remember what he said. I need to contact him this week. Jeff, do you think IPhone will arive in time? I don't think Herman is in any great hurry for it.

Does Costa Rica have the 3G infrastructure in place?

I've read that ICE is in negotiations with Apple to bring iPhone service to Costa Rica. Who knows when that will be?

I don't believe there's 3G in Costa Rica just 2G/EDGE. While slower, I don't see why it wouldn't work. You could also use it where there's wifi.

This is all very helpful. I know nothing about any of it, so am learning! I'm thinking Herman will want to wait on ICE to get it's "stuff" together and do the deal with Apple. Maybe within the year.