The new iPhone 4G: The death of letters?

Extensive media coverage has surrounded the police raid on the home of a technology blogger who showed-off a prototype of what could be Apple’s next offering – the iPhone 4G. The blogger in question, Jason Chen, editor of Gizmodo, bought the phone off a man who found it in a bar in Redwood City, USA. The prototype was allegedly left in the drinking establishment by Apple engineer Gray Powell.

On his site, Chen talks us through the features of the new iPhone, and as an owner of the current and soon-to-be-replaced model, I’m very excited.

I was hesitant about getting my first iPhone two years ago, as I couldn’t see beyond the art of traditional phone calls and occasional texting. However, once in my possession I quickly concluded that the iPhone was the best ‘toy’ I’ve ever had. Not only could I keep in contact with my loved ones, but I could use e-mail, maps, check the weather, sell on eBay, buy on Amazon, and enjoy Facebook – probably my most-used app.

Smartphones have acted as catalyst in the growth of social networking – when out and about people now do not need to find an internet café to log-on to Facebook – it’s all within hands reach. As a result, people become more reliant on the site to keep correspondence with one another.

So as we experience the ever-growing development in communications technology, I fear it will be physical mail that will meet its maker. Of course business correspondence, etc, will always exist, but in terms of friends and family keeping in touch with each other through the romantic process of letter writing, the future looks bleak – which will further impact declining letter volumes, and therefore affecting the postal industry.

I for one am guilty of abandoning the art of letter writing. I keep in daily contact with my friends through Facebook, Linked In, through phone calls, SMS, and more – but I have never received a letter from any of them.

In truth, I have sent one personal letter since buying an iPhone, and that was a letter to my grandparents, naturally. Furthermore, I’m positive that when I’m a grandfather I won’t ever receive a single letter from my children’s children – A video call? Perhaps. A spontaneous visit from them in holographic form beamed into my living room? Possibly. But a letter? Doubtful!

So the question I’m asking is how long personal physical mail will last? Five years? Maybe ten? Or maybe I’m completely wrong and we will see postmen delivering our letters on hover boards in the year 2050 in true Marty McFly fashion!

I’d love to hear your views…