Verizon Wireless Palm Centro vs. 3G Apple iPhone

In Apple's favor, iPhone 2.0 users can also use MobileMe, a wireless syncing service that lets users update information across multiple devices if they change one. For example, if an iPhone user changed a contact number on the iPhone, the system will update that information over the air to the user's other accounts and devices.

For Web browsing, the iPhone uses Safari, while the Palm Centro runs Blazer as its browser.

Where the Apple iPhone takes the cake is in the music player category. The device uses iTunes and basically serves as an iPod with a phone and access to some applications. The Palm Centro lags a bit behind with multimedia function, using Pocket Tunes Deluxe for a media player.

The sizes of the device are also relatively close. The 3G iPhone measures 4.5 inches high, 2.4 inches wide and 0.48 inches deep and weighs in at 4.7 ounces. Palm's Centro for Verizon clocks in a tad more compact, though a little thicker, measuring 4.2 inches high, 2.1 inches wide and 0.7 inches deep. The Centro weighs 4.2 ounces with the battery.

Both feature a camera, with the iPhone offering 2 megapixels and the Palm Centro coming in with 1.3 megapixels and offering up two times zoom.

As for screens, the iPhone boasts a hearty 3.5-inch widescreen touch screen display with 480 pixel by 320 pixel resolution. The Centro houses a 2.2-inch color TFT touch screen with 320 pixel by 320 pixel resolution.

The Centro also features a full QWERTY keyboard and Bluetooth support. It is based on Palm OS 5.4.9. For memory, the Palm Centro has 64 MB internal memory which is expandable to 4 GB with a microSD slot. The iPhone's memory speaks for itself, with the new models offering 8 GB and 16 GB of memory. The iPhone, which also offers Bluetooth, runs OS X.

Lastly, while Verizon is the latest to offer the Palm Centro on its network, other carriers like AT&T and Sprint have Centro models available, along with other worldwide carriers. With the iPhone, AT&T is the only carrier choice for the foreseeable future.