I don't agree with your assessment here.  While there wasn't an existing product with the exact same specs as the iPhone in existence there were products that could do everything an iPhone does (Windows Mobile Phones) and there were multi-touch screens out there.  What made Apple successful is combining those elements in a way that was attractive to average users.<p>In that same sense there are Tablet PCs and so called "Slate PCs" out there.  What will make Apple successful is creating a package that can appeal to the average user.