I was living in Greece (still am) when the iPod revolution hit the US market.  Except for the UK, the fascination with the iPod never really became an obsession in Continental, and especially Southern Europe. 

Now many people would think that Europeans, especially us Mediterranean folks, would be iPod crazy; after all we love our mobile phones, and when we sit down for a coffee in the historic city squares, the first thing we do is set our mobiles on the table for all to see (a pop star status symbol for sure).

Somewhere along the way the iPod missed the obsession mark here in Europe. Don’t get me wrong, people love the little devices, and they were extremely popular, just not a MUST HAVE!  Europe seemed to be more geared toward having that one in all device; and when it comes to music or talk, we prefer talk.  Fact is Europeans (in my opinion) are not multiple gadget people; and since we walk around everywhere, one device is just easy to carry around.  Believe me, there is no way that the music device will supersede the mobile phone when I am ready to hit the town, so my pocket space is all taken up with talk time and text messages, no room for music players.  

I however must admit that when the U2 iPod came out, I was hooked with the device.  I remember window shopping in downtown Athens, face plastered against the U2 iPod display, thinking this will be the day I buy the Irish Quartet’s iPod and walk around with two gadgets in hand.   I mean I am huge U2 fan, and hey this iPod just looked way COOL!

I never bought the U2 iPod, as I just could not rationalize the inconvenience of carrying around multiple devices, switching from phone to music, music to phone. So I kept the status quo and went about listening to Vertigo through the music player of my mobile device.  

So here we are with the iPhone about to launch here in Europe (already the talk of the town in the US) and I think to myself, we Europeans have finally got the iPod we want; that one device where we can talk, text, and play music on...Oh and most importantly set right on top that cafe table and just look cool.

So will I buy one...not just yet.  I think I will wait for the U2 iPhone.  After that all I’ll need is fixed price internet access so I can check my Wadja Inbox Messages and keep connected with my friends, now that would be truly mobile!