Verizon customers, welcome to iPhone Nation! Here are tips

IPhone nation is growing quickly, as Verizon customers are now carrying the planet's most popular mobile phone. If you're a new iPhone owner, welcome to the club.

If you're an iPhone newbie whose only experience with the phone has come from commercials or ads, here are some tips. Call it iPhone 101, or just friendly advice from someone who's used an iPhone for a few years.

■ Apps. This is short for "application," which is another name for a program that runs on the iPhone. There are more than 300,000 available and more are added daily. Don't be overwhelmed.

I suggest you talk to your iPhone-carrying friends to find out what apps they use most. Many apps are free, and many come with small prices of a dollar or two. Some apps are high-end, costing $10 or more. I've found that you really do get what you pay for when it comes to apps.

Some apps have both free and paid versions. The paid versions may be advertising-free or offer expanded services. If you're unsure about an app, and there's a free version, I urge you to test-drive the freebie, then buy the full version if you find it useful.

Everyone who uses an iPhone will develop a Top 10 Apps list. Here's mine: (I won't include the well-used built-in apps, like Safari Web browser, e-mail, iPod or phone.)

1) Twitter

2) Weather Bug

3) ESPN SportsCenter

4) Facebook

5) MLB At Bat (listen to all Major League Baseball games);

6) NoteSpark (a note-sharing service that syncs online)

7) Bank of America (or the app from your bank)

8) Words with Friends (a multiplayer Scrabblelike game)

9) Hipstamatic (camera app that takes vintage-style photos)

10) AP Mobile (news).

Visiting the App Store should become part of your routine, as many apps are routinely updated to fix bugs or add features. It's best to have the latest version.

Before downloading any app, check the user reviews. The star rating system of one- to five-stars is a good gauge, but also read the reviews. I also visit Free App Tracker (It's an app, of course) for a daily list of normally paid apps that are temporarily offered for free.

■ Wi-Fi. One way to stretch your data plan, and often get faster service, is to activate the iPhone Wi-Fi feature. This connects your phone to hot spots, but can also drain your battery. I suggest you keep a charger handy if you watch a lot of video or use other data-heavy features.

The Verizon iPhone also serves as a portable Wi-Fi hot spot. This app comes installed on the device, and lets users connect up to five Wi-Fi devices through the iPhone. The cost is $20 for 2 gigabytes of data, which can get pricey. Avoid data-heavy activities while tethered to the iPhone.

Smart phones are really small computers that happen to have phones. You newbies will understand that soon.

Share your Internet story with me at agibes@reviewjournal.com.