Right now, if you don't want to be tied into an AT&T contract you can unlock your iPhone and use it as a portable WiFi web-browser and video iPod.  Although many - myself included - would see that as a terrible waste of some of the handset's much-vaunted convergence, the lure of Mobile Safari and all that video-playing goodness could be enough to swing the hand of some.  But what are your options if you're thinking of using an iPhone in that way?  GenerationMP3 pitted one against Archos' popular 605, a WiFi-enabled audio & video DAP which also has web functionality.

Despite the bigger screen (4.3-inches versus 3.5), video quality on the Archos looks to come in a close second to the iPhone; the 605's hard-drive is a real improvement over the iPhone's maximum 8GB storage, though.  The web offerings on each has its strengths and weaknesses, with the Archos device having greater support for web formats squaring up against the iPhone's tremendous ease-of-use.

Obviously you couldn't use the Archos 605 as a cellphone, but if you're considering picking up an iPhone merely to use it with WiFi and as a video iPod it would make sense to take a look at the (strong) competition.

[via PMP Today]