The success or failure of the iPhone hinges on the touchscreen. The million or maybe billion dollar question for Apple is will consumers prefer the dynamic UI via a touchscreen vs. the tactile buttons we become so accustom to?

Pictures of the iPhone make it look fragile and it’s fair to ask will the touchscreen survive the  day-to-day abuse a mobile phone takes? I’ve noticed other touch screens take abuse pretty well. I see touchscreens used mostly at ATM’s and Point of Sale Terminals (POST). The POST at bars take some serious beatings and still seem to be in good shape. I have conducted many site surveys to local pubs and bars just to investigate this fact!

My predication is the touchscreen will become a success and succeed in redefining the form factor. What’s yours?