AT&T has announced a 3G model of the Apple iPhone is due out in 2008. This comes as expected, considering Steve Jobs had already announced a 3G iPhone model. So to put it bluntly, AT&T is not surprising anyone. Yet, what does a 3G model bring to the user of the iPhone? And what does it do for customers who purchased an iPhone already? Simply put, nothing.

As an owner of the iPhone, I marvel at how well designed the phone truly is. Everything has been designed to just work, with no true problems associated. The only problem that I have found with the iPhone is the network. AT&T’s EDGE network is just plain slow as compared with the EVDO network provided by Verizon.

A 3G iPhone would deliver a new experience to iPhone users as they would be able use the functionality of the iPhone in a much faster environment. Using the iPhone when not connected to a wireless network is just plain brutal when using Safari or any other application that requires network connectivity.

For the majority of iPhone owners, the aforementioned problem doesn’t dissuade them from enjoying such a good product. Customers did not switch to AT&T for the network, they switched for a product that appealed to them. But when AT&T begins to sell the 3G iPhone, it will irritate many of its existing customers. Why would Apple sell the most anticipated cell phone to come to this industry in many years on such a slow network when it knew all to well it was going to have a 3G model?

The reason Steve Jobs has given is the lack of battery life. As research and technology have advanced, Apple has been able to lengthen the battery life of a 3G model. But this does not help the already existing customers who have the EDGE iPhone.

The question of does this change truly matter is a question easily answered: no. But this change certainly will broaden AT&T’s customer base. More cell phone users would be willing to change providers because the speed they need on a network will be provided along with a phone they desire.