iPod Touch sales were off the chain this holiday season.  On Amazon, the iPod Touch 8 GB was the 2nd best-selling electronics item, 2nd only to the Kindle.  3rd best?  iPod Touch 32 GB.  Why is it so popular?  Has it overtaken the iPhone in popularity?  Some say that the iPod Touch is just training wheels for the iPhone.  They’re aggressively targeting teens and pre-teens with this thing so that when they get their first cell phone, it’s gotta be an iPhone.  And then that’s where they really gash you, with the data plans and whatnot.

I actually had my choice between an iPod Touch and an iPhone and I chose the iPod.  Why?  Because I didn’t want to mess with my cell phone plan, didn’t want to be paying $100 a month for data, and I definitely didn’t want to switch from Verizon to AT&T.  Man, AT&T has some bad word of mouth over there, though they say they still have the nation’s fastest 3G network, and that problems caused by network overload would have happened to anybody, even Verizon.  I don’t believe them.  They are so hated.  I believe Verizon would have found some way to do a better job than AT&T has, at least coverage wise.  I mean, what good is the fastest 3G network if you’re not getting a signal?

According to Flurry, for the first time this Christmas, app downloads from iPod Touch users soared past iPhone users by 172%.  Total iPod Touch downloads jumped by over 1000% on Christmas day.  Looks like iPod Touches were more popular than iPhones this past Christmas.  There’s just a bigger market there, going after kids that don’t have cell phones.  Also looks like nobody wants to be on AT&T.

Or maybe they’re like me and don’t really need an all-in-one device.  I like my cell phone.  It’s a Motorola Razr and it’s nice and shiny and thin.  Plus I’m on Verizon so I always get a signal.  ALWAYS.  I can’t remember the last time I haven’t gotten a signal.  Verizon is a trusted brand in my book and I don’t feel like switching ever.  I don’t think it’s fair that the iPhone has to be tied to AT&T, isn’t that some kind of a monopoly or something?

That monopoly is coming to an end, though.  AT&T’s exclusivity rights come to an end the summer of 2010.  Reports are that’s when they’ll come out with a Verizon iPhone.  Actually, that new iPhone will be a UMTS/CDMA hybrid so it’ll be open to all carriers.  In my eye, this is proper.  Free choice.  AT&T has been holding the iPhone back and they’re lucky they’ve been along for the ride this long.  Can’t wait to see what happens when their exclusivity ends.

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