Is the new iPhone 3G mom-friendly?

Let me begin by saying that I lust after the iPhone. It is a glorious example of form and function. My designer’s eye thinks it is a thing of beauty. But, here in mom world, it just doesn’t cut it.

I am sure for mothers of older children that it could quite possibly be the world’s perfect phone with music, photos, videos , phone calls, and Internet at your fingertips. I can imagine groovin to your kid’s latest iTune downloads, watching videos while waiting for soccer games, or browsing the New York Times in the carpool line. However, for mothers of younger children I just don’t think it can pass the durability test.

To be fair, Apple didn’t design the iPhone for me. They designed it for business people and college kids and others far hipper than SAHMs of preschoolers. And, I have not actually held an iPhone in my hand because at this point I would be terrified to take my preschooler and infant into the Apple shrine (I mean store) at my local mall. I do have a Mac at home that my son is learning to use so one day soon we may be ready for the trip.
In the meantime I have to rely on television and the Web for my information.
Here’s what I know–it’s basically one large touchscreen that is thin, sleek and doesn’t fold up into a protective cocoon like my current phone.

For a young mother who never know when her hands will be covered with jelly, paint or, God-forbid, poo, a touchscreen is a dangerous choice. Lovely, though it is.

I think one of the things that rules it out for me most is “where would I carry it?” My current phone is usually deposited in the pocket of whatever pants I happen to be wearing or perhaps in the pocket of my diaper bag since I don’t actually carry a purse anymore. I used to have a handy belt clip but after breaking two of them while carrying around my son when he was a baby and toddler I gave up and settled for the pocket.

I’m ok with the pocket with my current flip-phone, but I don’t know how a touchscreen phone would fair being in and out of pocket, sat on, dropped and drooled on by curious babes.
The size is bigger, too, at 4.5 in. by 2.4 in. compared to my current Nokia at 1.5 in. by 3.25 in. I’m not sure it would even fit in some of my pockets.

Apple and others have thought of some of these challenges, and there are a range of protection devices for your new phone including Speck ToughSkin, the OtterBox iPhone Armor Case, and the Invisible Shield to cover the display, among others.

I’m sure these really do limit potential damage, but I’m still not willing to foot the $199+ bill, at least not until I get the little ones into school.

As for so many other things in my life, this is not the season for an iPhone. One day, hopefully, it will be. But for now I’m going to continue my search for a mom-friendly phone.

If you have any suggestions for a good, durable, useful phone for moms, leave me a comment. Or, if you own an iPhone and you think I’m wrong, let me know!

I’m also working on a story about kid-friendly cell phones so you can leave ideas for that too.