While Apple demonstrates leadership in the voice and PDA space with the game changing iPhone; AT&T has reportedly had major network problems. Also, early reports indicate that 24x7 support was not even available on the first weekend of the iPhone launch from AT&T.

While it would be too easy to make 'living on the EDGE' jokes, it is apparent that iPhone's biggest North American impediment is the network itself. Perhaps by choosing EDGE initially, Apple may cleverly accelerate the rapid growth of high-speed wireless in North America; an area that is years behind markets in Asia and Europe.