The gadget world is head over heels for the touch pad technology today - most out there have heard the call and are crazy producing direct competitors to the pioneer - ‘iPhone‘. But, will Apple Inc.’s iPhone, with it’s much boasted multi-touch screen - be the modernization that’ll transform the cellphone and PCs when it hits the market in three odd days?

The aforementioned perhaps requires an answer from a tyro but for a geek and an Apple fanatic, it is just an affirmation.

Hold on yet, that may have a twist to its tail, provided by the competitors and rivals - and that’s what I’ll be emphasizing on in this post.

What does the iPhone have to offer?

With the iPhone, Apple attempts to improvise over the traditional cellphone and the iPod - combining the virtues of the two - for a virtual inroad into the gadget market.

The iPhone is an alluring device that is all-in-one camera enabled mobile phone, Web browser, visual voicemail, wireless connectivity and video and music player. It outdoes the mainstream finger press tech. introducing the touch sensitive controls on its big 3.5-inch screen. Of late, Steve Jobs has changed the perception of the iPhone from a mere mobile phone to that of a media-friendly device, to give the gadget a wider market appeal ahead of its launch.

The iPhone will be available through AT&T, Apple retail stores and Web sites form Friday 29 June. Initially Apple demands you to fork out $499 for 4 GB model while $599 for a 8 GB plastic screened model, though it wishes to devise out scratch resistant and clearer glass screens soon.

Some phones and devices that possess the Anti-iPhone mechanism are out in direct competition hitting the iPhone where it will hit the hardest - the market. There are many reasons, why you could opt for one of them if not the iPhone.

• Only access at AT&T restricts iPhone’s coverage area - and this is where Prada’s KE850 could make an incursion - with its T-Mobile availability. Prada is the only handset apart from the iPhone that boasts of a full touchscreen, that’s embedded with Tri-band GSM, attuned to frequencies of 900/1800/1900 - that makes it a phenomenon in Europe but evades it from the American geeks. It is equipped with the on-screen keyboard feature yet, it falls short in mentioning the iPhone’s much publicized multi-touch feature.

• If Apple doesn’t attract you - yet, iPhone’s features have caught your eye - then HTC Touch is probably the closest substitute. Launched by HTC - it features a touchscreen interface, which to a great extent resembles the Apple creation. HTC Touch initiates in the featuring of ‘TouchFLO’ touch screen technology, developed by HTC itself. If you live in the world of Windows Media then Touch is just the right thing for you, as it is more of a Windows mobile phone - with the touch interface minimizing the complications of getting to the popular applications.

• When talking of competitors Nokia is one company that’ll surely give Apple a run for its money - and Nokia N95’s already there to flaunt its all equipped multimedia phone over the awaited iPhone. N95 plays better on the iPhone with GPS, 3G and a 5MP camera some of the features that Apple’s creation perhaps misses. However, where iPhone asserts itself is its thinness i.e. half the thickness of N95, still a larger screen size and a better interface that operates effortlessly.

• Blackberry Curve is one of the world’s smallest and lightest QWERTY keyboard device - and is already accepted as the best smartphone until date. For the ones at jobs it is sad, iPhone’s just not a businessman’s dream machine - lacking the advanced security features, it finds itself inapt in connecting to many corporate email systems, while Curve stands well equipped with the Blackberry push email. The Curve however, lacks HSDPA and WiFi. I know you’ll be swayed by the iPhone but with a good physical keyboard, Curve isn’t a bad pick for the ones who cannot handle with care.

• Samsung Upstage features a unique dual sided design with a button to switch from side to side, to do away with the hindrance provided by the conflicting requirements of the handset and a video and music player. It is a candy-bar style handset that’s compact and less than half an inch in thickness. Sprint may introduce it as a phone for the music nerds but iPhone with its predictive keyboard that corrects mistakes definitely counts Upstage out of the reckoning.

• Here is another dual side mechanism - this one is the Helio Ocean - that combines the numeric keyboard and the full QWERTY keyboard. It’s the devise for the instant messaging frenzy - as the iPhone’s projected less IM friendly. Ocean also edges the iPhone with its wide range of supporting all popular email and IM services. Ocean however, lacks WiFi and comes with a smaller screen size that works in Apple’s flavor.

• You may have had enough of it and would probably be wondering where’s this leading up to - so here is one last in contention. If iPhone is cool, then you definitely need to check Meizu M8 miniOne out - it’s even cooler and slimmer and has already hit the stores (if the rumors have it correct). Chinese are kings of speed production and duplicity - and this iPhone clone is evident of the fact. MiniOne isn’t just a copy of the Apple creation but carries some good and remarkable features - that include a 3.3-inch touchscreen display, 3.0 MP camera and up to 16GB of storage capacity - a few to name that helps MiniOne edge out the iPhone.