1. Banking Applications / Finance (BoA, Citi, Chase, PayPal)
Allows you to check balances, recent transactions, transfer funds, bill payments
Find nearest banking/atm locations
Call Customer Service (in Citi)

Is it safe to install banking software?
YES it is safe to install these applications. You always need to provide password/pin to access the account. There is no option to store your password/pin in the application. Probably it is much safer than your PC which can be infected by viruses.

2. News (NYT, US Today, Bloomberg, News India, The Weather Channel)

3. Social Networking (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitterrific, WordPress)

Facebook: You can update your status, check notifications, capture and post pictures. (Shake phone to refresh).
Linkedin: You can check updates, update you status. It needs more features like editing, etc
Twitterrific: Kind of good to post updates on your Twitter account but I still want something which is more simplistic
WordPress: This is an awesome application. A must have for WordPress users.

• Add multiple blogs.
• You can post new articles along-with photos taken from phone or phone library.
• Edit & publish your posting on the move.
• Follow comments on postings.

4. IM (fring, skype)
Skype: Works only in Wi-Fi.
fring: I didn’t find any other better free IM application than fring, so no choice.

5. Sports (Mobicast by Cricinfo)
Mobicast: Great for cricket lovers. Live scores + famous Cricinfo Live Text Commentary + Recent photo galleries (nice quality pics)

6. A Personal Assistance (by PageOnce)
This is must for anyone who thinks handling tons of online userid/password is a hassle.
For more details visit: http://www.pageonce.com/

• You can have all your online accounts in one place (e.g. I have Banking Accounts, Travel Sites, Blockbuster, AT&T Wireless etc)
• Check updates from your accounts in updates sections
• Check recent transactions in your financial accounts (bank + credit card transactions)
• Check you itinerary/scheduled trips

7. Shopping (Amazon, EBay)

Amazon: Find and see the products on the move.

• It is great for comparing the price if you are in a retail store .
• You can view your cart ans saved items.
• Track orders/packages. View/cancel items or orders.
• Set 1-click buy.
• You can click a photo of the product and amazon upload the photo to you online account and finds similar products and updates you.

EBay: Haven’t used it. Never actually bought anything from E-Bay.

8. Utilities (ZipCodes, iHandy Level, iTalk, Evernote, iThesaurus, Dictionaire, Kindle by Amazon)

ZipCodes: nice utility to find city based on ZipCodes and vice-versa for 20 countries (sorry India not included)

iHandy Level: This more of fun than actual utility.

iTalk: Very nice and simple interface to record voice and play them back. Useful in meeting or if you want to record a conversation.

Kindle: Yes it is Amazon Kindle on iPhone. Buy and read book on the fly. Books downloaded into iPhone within minutes of purchase wirelessly using 3G network.

9. Local Help (Yelp, Fandango, Flixster, GPSLite)

Yelp: helps people find great local businesses like restaurants, dentists, hair stylists, mechanics, etc.

Flixster/Fandango: Find movies and showtimes nearby. Check new releases, clips, and reviews.

GPSLite: Uses the GPS chip in the phone and finds your current location and can also give you turn by turn directions.

10. Games (Brick FREE, iChess, Bowl Lite, Sudoku, Hangman, TicTacTouch, Air Hockey, iBowl, Checkers)

Games can be your personal choice. I personaly love iChess (allows you to save and load games).

11. Just for FUN (Shotgun Free, Zippo Lighter)

Shotgun: A fun application to show off the potential of iPhone.

Zippo Lighter: Looks like a real lighter, you can open the flap, light it, swing the lighter and the flames swing along as if a real lighter, you can even blow (in mic) to flicker the flame of lighter. This application can be used as a real lighter in case you are attending a concert or a show.

There are tons of iPhone applications and more are on their way to iTunes AppStore.

Note: All applications are installed in my iPhone and were available free at the time of writing this post.

Popularity: 1% [?]