Apple's 3G IPhone Could Bow at Developer Event **IMPORTANT**

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Apple's 3G IPhone Could Bow at Developer Event
Agam Shah, IDG News Service
Friday, June 06, 2008 1:00 PM PDT

With anticipation at a fever pitch, Apple may release its new 3G iPhone and officially announce a new software platform for the phone when CEO Steve Jobs takes the stage at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference Monday.

The new iPhone will feature GPS (Global Positioning System) services and a thinner form factor, wrote Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research, in a research report this week. The new iPhone will also have thinner casing and an "improved virtual keyboard with haptics," like multitouch technology, Wu wrote.

Pricing for the 3G iPhone may be US$50 to $100 cheaper than the iPhone, which sell at $399 for a 8G-byte version and $499 for a 16G-byte version, Wu wrote.

Apple's iPhone is in short supply, with both current versions listed as being unavailable on Apple's Web site. Apple officials previously acknowledged that iPhone stocks were low in the U.S. and Europe, fueling speculation that Apple was winding down supplies to ready the market for the new iPhone.

However, the old iPhone won't disappear, Wu wrote. It makes sense to keep the old iPhone supplies running as the usage of older wireless networks is widespread, especially in the U.S., Wu said.

AT&T is readying its 3G (third-generation) network to handle potential traffic from the iPhone. AT&T this week announced that it had upgraded its 3G wireless network to reach downlink speeds of up to 1.7M bps (bits per second), a 20 percent increase over previous speeds. The broadband network is available in many U.S. metropolitan areas, and the carrier intends to expand it. The network uses HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology.

Apple hopes to ship 10 million iPhones in calendar 2008. A number of network providers worldwide recently signed deals with Apple to offer iPhones, including Softbank in Japan, Telefonica in Spain, and Telecom Italia.

The company hopes to Boost iPhone adoption through iPhone 2.0, the phone's software platform that Apple might announce at WWDC. During an earnings call in April, Apple officials said the company plans to deliver iPhone 2.0 software as a free download in late June.

The iPhone 2.0 includes an SDK (software developer kit) that allows developers to write applications for the iPhone, including push e-mail support through the Microsoft Exchange mail server.

Apple may also preview the new version of Mac OS X, an upgrade to Leopard, its current OS, according to The Unofficial Apple Weblog Web site. Code-named "Snow Leopard," Mac OS X 10.6 may ultimately be released at the Macworld show next January.

TUAW also said that Apple may retool its .Mac online service, renaming it MobileMe service and adding support for new applications on the service. The new service will add new versions of its online mail and address book services and support for Apple's iChat and iPhoto desktop applications, the site said.

WWDC will be held in San Francisco from Monday through Friday.

PC World - Business Center: Apple's 3G IPhone Could Bow at Developer Event

so the 3G iPhone will be slimmer and cheaper and it will be released with the new firmware to tinker with along with the SDK.....and push email capabilities being a possibility..

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!

[TWX]

I was reading an article on the 3G iPhone a few days ago, and the new iPhone is actually already in the country. Records show that Apple imported 60 cartons (the contents of the cartons were "Electronic Machines". These were then delivered to a Apple warehouse somewhere in Calif. There could be already a million 3G iPhones already getting ready to ship to distrubution centers across the country. I'm willing to bet that Apple will start to sell the 3G iPhone the day of or after the WWDC this week.

[RJB]

You know if they can make the keypad better I think in the future I could consider looking at this phone.

[M in LA]

You know if they can make the keypad better I think in the future I could consider looking at this phone.

I've actually gotten used to the "virtual" keyboard. It is amazingly responsive.

Nonetheless, I am looking forward to the new version.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

how would you be able to make the iPhones keyboard better...

also how different do you think the UI will be compared to the old iPhone

[AJE]

Any idea on a release date? Also is the on the is soon to be release going to have 3G and the Exchange Activesync client? I heard Apple was going to release on this month with only the Exchange client then, release another version in Sept that is 3G.

Thanks,
aje

[SteveW]

Any idea on a release date? Also is the on the is soon to be release going to have 3G and the Exchange Activesync client? I heard Apple was going to release on this month with only the Exchange client then, release another version in Sept that is 3G.

Check out the "Worldwide Developers Conference Rumor Rundup" on MacRumors. Steve Jobs' keynote at WWDC is Monday, June 9 at 10:00 Pacific. MacRumors is sure the new iPhone will be announced. Will it be available immediately? They say yes, but those who really know aren't talking. What about features beyond 3G? Tune in tomorrow (or later today if you are on Eastern time)...


SW

[bobolito]

Wow! If all that is true, I will no longer need to carry the following items:

- Bluetooth GPS receiver
- HP iPaq PDA
- Dell Laptop
- RAZR2V9

All of them will be replaced by the 3G iPhone.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

if that would hold the same for all consumers like you i think Apple could go from # 3 to #2 and possibly #1 with this release

[SteveW]

Well, it's announced, but not available yet. Here's the Engadget link..


iPhone 3G is finally official, starts at $199, available July 11th

by Paul Miller, posted Jun 9th 2008 at 2:59PM

It's been a long, leak-filled wait, but Apple finally took the wraps off its 3G iPhone. Thinner edges, full plastic back, flush headphone jack, and the iPhone 2.0 firmware -- Apple's taking a lot of the criticisms to heart from the first time around. Obviously 3G is at the forefront, but they're also making sure it's available all over internationally, works with enterprises, runs 3rd party apps... and does it all for cheaper. Apple claims its 3G speeds trounce the competition, with pageloads 36% faster than the N95 and Treo 750 -- and of course it completely trounces the old EDGE data. battery life isn't getting put out to pasture though, with 300 hours of standby, 8-10 hours of 2G talk, 5 hours of 3G talk, 7 hours of video and 24 hours of audio. GPS is also a go. Apple is using A-GPS, which supplements regular satellite GPS data with info from cellular towers. WiFi data is also worked into the mix, which should give users a pretty solid lock on where the heck they are on this planet. Unfortunately, there's no front-facing cam, which syncs with what we were hearing, but is still a little disappointing. Apple hopes to launch in 70 countries this year. 8GB is available for $199, 16GB for $299 -- and the 16GB comes in white. Apple will be hitting the 22 biggest markets, including the US, on July 11th. Pre-orders are available now at the Apple Store.



SW

[bobolito]

If the 3G iPhone with 8GB will be $199, what does this mean for the 2G 16GB iPhone? Will it be $199 also?

[viewfly]

Yikesss, looks good, $199

3G (850, 1900, 2100) and Quad GSM plus WiFi + better battery life

Apple - iPhone - Technical Specifications

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/te...hp&oref=slogin

What do you think?

[Gamer03]

Here are the battery specs according to MacRumor:


300 hours of standby, 2G talk-time now has 10 hours (as opposed to 5), 5 hours of 3G talk-time (most phones only have 3 hour 3G talk time), 5 to 6 hours of high-speed browsing, 7 hours of video, 24 hours of audio.


All I can say is this is definitely going to be the device I get when we switch to AT&T. I won't be able to get it until 7/18 due to being on vacation and gone for 10 days when it comes out. Oh well.

[Steven2420]

Check out the "Worldwide Developers Conference Rumor Rundup" on MacRumors. Steve Jobs' keynote at WWDC is Monday, June 9 at 10:00 Pacific. MacRumors is sure the new iPhone will be announced. Will it be available immediately? They say yes, but those who really know aren't talking. What about features beyond 3G? Tune in tomorrow (or later today if you are on Eastern time)...


SW

Here it is!!!
Steve Jobs keynote live from WWDC 2008 - Engadget

[SteveW]

If the 3G iPhone with 8GB will be $199, what does this mean for the 2G 16GB iPhone? Will it be $199 also?

Please note that the 3G iPhone prices are with a 2-year contract, unlike the previous, unsubsidized prices. According to the AT&T press release:

* With a two-year contract, the price of an 8GB iPhone 3G will be $199; the 16GB model will be priced at $299.
* Unlimited iPhone 3G data plans for consumers will be available for $30 a month, in addition to voice plans starting at $39.99 a month.
* Unlimited 3G data plans for business users will be available for $45 a month, in addition to a voice plan.

I haven't seen any word on whether the 2G prices will change, but they are mostly sold out anyway, aren't they?


SW

[Ddeere2]

Apple already has it out on their website. Apple - iPhone - Features - Home Screen
I like all the new features it comes with, like geotagging photos, push email, and of course, the 3G. Can't wait till July 11th. To bad it wasn't on June 27th as everyone thought it would go on sale. It does still have the same UI. I like the GPS and that it has Wi-Fi. Do you think they'll let Skype make a program and put it on there?

[M in LA]

I guess Apple left well enough alone as far as the home screen goes. Why mess with a good thing?

The biggest surprise to me is the July 11th release date. I wonder what that's about? Oh well, it really doesn't make any difference. Nonetheless, I think they've really got a winner on their hands now. They've added the expected things needed to make this a truly great phone.

[cellular_freak]

I guess Apple left well enough alone as far as the home screen goes. Why mess with a good thing?

The biggest surprise to me is the July 11th release date. I wonder what that's about? Oh well, it really doesn't make any difference. Nonetheless, I think they've really got a winner on their hands now. They've added the expected things needed to make this a truly great phone.

I believe it's because the iPhone 2.0 Software update isn't going to be available until early July, according to Apple. So, they may want all iPhone 3Gs shipped with the 2.0 right on them.

Does anybody know if the new iPhone 3G plans may include text messaging? There's rumors going around that it may not.

There's also talk of the iPhone 3G having to be activated on site at the store. To me, this makes sense with the whole subsidized thing, and to make activations go smoother, but I don't know how it's going to work at Apple Stores.

[RJB]

You know I know there are things not on this that people wanted to see but still this is going and going. I think now that it does have higher speeds I would enjoy trying this out.

[bobolito]

Please note that the 3G iPhone prices are with a 2-year contract, unlike the previous, unsubsidized prices. According to the AT&T press release:

Maybe what you mean is when they say that the "New agreement replaces revenue sharing with traditional model that supports a significantly lower device price point." This doesn't clearly spell out that the price is being subsidized, but it kinda gives a hint. I have yet to see hard evidence that the price is being subsidized, but the current price level seems to indicate that. If the price is subsidized, then there has to be a listing of the unsubsidized price somewhere. I have not seen that yet.

The only bad thing I see here is that the plans are now more expensive. The original iPhone plans was just $20 on top of voice pricing and it included messaging. Now it will be $30 on top of voice plans and it doesn't seem to include messaging.

If this is now a "more traditional model" then they should allow you to buy the device unsubsidized at a higher price for those who are not eligible for upgrade. But I haven't seen what that price is.

[SteveW]

Maybe what you mean is when they say that the "New agreement replaces revenue sharing with traditional model that supports a significantly lower device price point." This doesn't clearly spell out that the price is being subsidized, but it kinda gives a hint.

Yes, that, in combination with the part that I quoted, is pretty clear I think.

The only bad thing I see here is that the plans are now more expensive. The original iPhone plans was just $20 on top of voice pricing and it included messaging. Now it will be $30 on top of voice plans and it doesn't seem to include messaging.

I've seen various calculations but they all lead to the same conclusion. This new "cheaper" iPhone is more expensive. Somehow none of yesterday's headlines noted that.

If this is now a "more traditional model" then they should allow you to buy the device unsubsidized at a higher price for those who are not eligible for upgrade. But I haven't seen what that price is.

I haven't seen that either. Another change is that they are apparently not selling them online any more. You have to go to an Apple or AT&T store to buy it and get it activated. They are trying to limit the number of phones not on their network and limit the gray market.


SW

[treotosh]

At first i thought the new firmware was going to be called SDK, but yes i am going to grab the Iphone 3G on day one.

[bobolito]

Another change is that they are apparently not selling them online any more. You have to go to an Apple or AT&T store to buy it and get it activated. They are trying to limit the number of phones not on their network and limit the gray market.


SW

That's a good point. So that probably means you won't be able to do the iTunes activation anymore. That sucks, because if this is the way they are doing it, they'll be forcing everyone to be on the right plan and I didn't want to make my plan more expensive.

But I know there's always a way around things. After buying and activating the 3G iphone, we can just call CS and tell them I want to switch back to a regular phone and put MediaMax 200 back in my plan, then jailbreak the iPhone and put my SIM card in it. That should work!

[SteveW]

But I know there's always a way around things. After buying and activating the 3G iphone, we can just call CS and tell them I want to switch back to a regular phone and put MediaMax 200 back in my plan, then jailbreak the iPhone and put my SIM card in it. That should work!

Well I didn't say they were going to thwart you and the other experts on this forum, just that they want to make it harder. Also, while previously they put up with tons of Europeans coming here, buying the iPhone, and then taking it back to Europe to unlock it, it looks like they aren't going to allow that any more. You will probably have to be on some AT&T plan if you buy the phone in the US.


SW

[bobolito]

I heard the entire AT&T conference call on the new iPhone release and I was surprised nobody of the callers even mentioned pricing. They mostly talked about boring financial stuff and the Blackberry.

However, I just read from another source that as of last night, the pricing for non-eligible customers (unsubsidized) has not been determined yet. So that seems to indicate that there will be one. Let's just wait and see.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Im not gonna lie......the real clinchers in this new iPhone were Exchange support and the new MobileMe service.......how well do you think that will do? the MobileMe i mean?

[cheddar]

Im not gonna lie......the real clinchers in this new iPhone were Exchange support and the new MobileMe service.......how well do you think that will do? the MobileMe i mean?

It would be hard to do worse than .Mac has done.

[Eric47]

everything apple does is top notch. expect their corporate mail to be nothing different.

[viewfly]

So let me get this right. The data plan will be priced as a pda/smartphone @ $30 instead of the unlimited $15 I have now? I'm not counting SMS, which I have a family plan for. Is that correct?

And for gmail, etc, will it have 'push' technology or pull under that plan? Or is it that ony for an extra yearly charge ($99) one can get MobileMe and have push email.

Excuse my ignorance in advance.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

no Gmail will still be accessible through POP3 or IMAP4 with MobileMe you get a separate email address @me.com.

that email will be pushed to your phone and devices but from the looks of it you can hook other email addresses up to that account.......no of course you could always add accounts to your desktop and have your desktop download the mail and sync it through MobileMe