Today, Apple Computer has released the rumored iPod Phone combination device, called the ROKR. At first glance it's quite a nice phone, featuring tri-band international GSM, a small and light formfactor, video recording, camera with zoom and flash. Add to that the iTunes mobile software which at present time can hold 100 songs, and the stereo playback, and you have a nice way of converging audio playback with mobile communications.
The ROKR, made by Motorola, is currently only supported by Cingular Wireless. Rumor has it that the other mobile carriers had problems with allowing the songs to be transferred to the phone directly from the users' iTunes installations on their desktops. The phone has Bluetooth technology, leading to speculation that song transferrence can take place wirelessly (though at Bluetooth's datarate I wouldn't want to transfer any more than the 100 songs this phone can hold!).
This phone looks to be a winner. The advantages of having its desktop sync software already installed on many home PCs, the nice touch of having music automatically pause when incoming calls occur, and a well-laid out interface will make the first iTunes-capable phone a worthy entry into the market.
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