Yes, you can, and during your three-ways you can watch YouTube, check your email and perhaps order a pizza. No, it’s not Heaven, but it may be the next best thing.  I am, of course, referring to the iPhone. Up until this week I’ve had a severe case of “iPhobia” (an intense fear of Apple products, specifically iPhones).  Of course I had already been suffering from the infamous “crack berry” addiction, but I couldn’t quite understand salivating over an iPhone. Could something really be better than my blinking light with a track ball key pad?!

Recently, I was phased into the notorious iPhone cult currently sweeping our nation and now Pavone. (Actually, Apple was the top device manufacturer in September with a 22.4% impression share.) Despite my fear of this screen with no buttons and certainly no track ball or blinking light, I welcomed the palm-sized opportunity with a smile.

My old Blackberry habits were a thing of the past. Purse dialing contacts at 2am, the soothing “Say a command” request which only seemed to  come on during meetings, my conditioned response to the blink red light and, most importantly, the ability to speed e-mail faster than I can think.

(Rest in peace, Blackberry. I will miss you.)

Before my iphobic behaviors could take over, I consulted my iPhone-using co-workers for tips on how to make the conversion before a meltdown could occur. My fellow co-worker — also a known speed-emailing addict — tipped me off to his new found touchscreen techniques.

(Note to self:  Turn sound on when typing.)

Within a few days I was talking in app lingo and downloading life-changing applications, including those which access my bank account and investments, something called “Bump,” and pretty much every song known to man.  Emails from a year ago are pulled up in seconds and my entire world is now at my fingertips. Someone else’s world is probably also at my fingers, and I’m sure there’s an app for that.

(Blackberry who?)

Yes, my iphobia has faded and a new love has emerged.  In just a week, my phone has a vast new wardrobe including hot pink and lime green skins. After two weeks, I can order food, tour the NYC subway and find the cheapest gas within a 10-mile radius. I have yet to try the three-way capability though. Maybe I can could coordinate one of those with the Blackberry.

I just found out that you can’t have email if you are President. According to The Patriot-News, “As President, Obama might have to live without his blackberry.”

That officially takes me out of the running in 2012. I love politics as much as the next person, but not that much. When they said McCain didn’t use email, he should have promptly responded, “It doesn’t matter, if I’m President I can’t use it anyway.” As the article states, ” (Obama) faces the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official public record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpeoneas.”

Obama is an admitted addict. I can relate, as I am sure all of us can in some way (varying levels of course). Think about no email for four years…possibly eight. No way. I attempted this feat, using hours instead of years, and it was still tough to comprehend.

On the surface it struck me as one of those, how in the world can that be kind of things, but after reading the article, it makes complete sense given the whole “leader of the free world thing and potential security breaches that might occur if our Commander in Chief were allowed to fire off e-mails to advisors and friends at all hours of the day and night.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for it, just not for me. I’ll sleep better I guess, not sure about him. I can’t even begin to imagine the resources and support needed to make this even a possiblility for the President Elect. For Obama this has got to be one aspect of “Change” he might not have seen coming. Good thing he’s got 60 or so days to let everyone know the best way to reach him besides e-mail. Sounds pretty novel, huh? I wish him luck.