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I am sure when Apple introduced the iPhone, it had grand plans for it. But I would be surprised if Apple is not impressed with the way iPhone has changed folks lives. I was certainly surprised to see folks in Europe using the iPhone to create a better car pooling experience for drivers and riders.

The folks at Avengo have created an iPhone app that makes it easy for drivers and riders to connect. You download the app, you set your route, and you can see who’s in your route that you can pick up.

I am not sure if this idea will catch the fire it deserves. But it’s still an impressive idea. Here in the U.S., we talk about being greener and putting less cars on the road. I am sure using applications such as the one by Avengo could help. I guess in a short period of time, people can just tap on their iPhone to get their food, taxi, and everything else without too much bother.

I have been thinking about the very same thing in the past few weeks. PSP is one of the most popular mobile gaming systems on the planet, but I am not sure if it can stay relevant with iPhone moving into the gaming territory. I have mentioned in the past that games are going to always be hits on the iPhone, and with all the cool features that iPhone has to offer, I wonder how Sony will respond.

IGN has a very interesting story on the very same issue. In truth, iPhone is “cooler” than PSP right now. It provides more bang for the buck. The days of selling a one pony trick devices are really over. In fact, unless a device addresses a half a dozen of needs, there is a good chance it’s not going to get enough traction to stay around. Whether it’s PSP or Kindle.

Your take: Can PSP effectively differentiate itself from iPhone and other gaming-phone devices? Or should Sony come up with a PSP Phone?

There were rumors a while back that Apple would start selling iPhones at Walmart stores soon. It seems that day is close if you believe the story being reported by PC World. The original story was about iPhone being sold for $99, but that seems to be false at this point. I have not heard anything about the new cheaper iPhone yet, which means even if Apple is still planning on it, it won’t be released to Walmart on December 28.

Walmart will give Apple access to a whole new segment of consumers. Folks who go to Walmart are more conservative and price conscious, which is why it would have made sense to release a $99 iPhone. I guess that option may come back to the table depending on how this relationship works out.

When I heard first that Steve Jobs was not attending MacWorld as a keynote speaker, I thought it was strange, but at the same time no big deal (I am not really into reading things into every small development). But now that I think about it, Steve Jobs and Apple have given us more than a number of hints that Steve Jobs maybe moving on. I don’t know if it’s his health or that he is just tired of running the show, but he has hinted before that he may be moving on. Speculation is fun but it’s just that. ZDnet has a comprehensive coverage of this whole saga.

I personally think that Steve can’t find a better time to leave the company. He has been a huge part of Apple’s success, and he’s got nothing to prove to anyone. He doesn’t have to stick around for fans like you and I. I am not sure if Apple will be the same if Steve leaves, but he has certainly build a great foundation. I do hope that if he is suffering, health-wise, it’s nothing too serious. I am a true believer in cycles, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Apple not overwhelm our expectations in the near future. But someone’s got to take Steve’s place someday.

It took a while, but it seems financial companies are just getting into the iPhone app business. Financial companies are notoriously slow in adopting new technologies (except maybe Bank of America), but Chase has just joined the small group of banks that have a mobile presence on the iPhone.

What I like about this new app is the ability to check balances and paying bills online on the go. It’s not a super exciting app but Chase Mobile does the job well.

What’s been your experience with Chase Mobile?