Reach-for-your-iPhone syndrome now affecting millions

I've noticed a new syndrome evolving in coffee shops, social events and other general meeting places. I call it the reach-for-your-iPhone syndrome.

It starts when a bunch of people gather together in a public place. Then suddenly the distinctive ring of an iPhone begins to play. Immediately, half the people in the room reach for their iPhone to see who is calling.

One problem. Only one of the iPhones is actually ringing.

The history of reach-for-your-iPhone syndrome

I've spent the last 3 months researching this (ok, actually about 3 minutes but 3 months is much more dramatic don't you think?) and have been able to trace things back to the root of the problem. Here's how the reach-for-your-iPhone syndrome came to be:

June, 2007: Apple releases 1st generation iPhone to public. One bazillion units were sold in the first week alone.

July, 2008: Apple releases 2nd generation iPhone 3G. Several more bazillion units are sold.

June, 2009: Apple releases 3rd generation iPhone 3G-S. Nearly half the population of Earth (and even a few on Mars and Venus) now owns an iPhone.

June 2007 - June, 2009: Not one iPhone owner changes the default ringtone because the signature ringtone tells the world how hip and cool you are because you own an iPhone.

See where I'm going with this?

So, because Apple has claimed world domination in the cell phone market and because its entire customer base is too hip and cool to change their ringtone, we will all continue to suffer from reach-for-your-iPhone syndrome for the rest of our natural-born lives every time an iPhone rings within a 100 foot radius of us.