Korea and Japan use strictly W-CDMA for cellular networks. Being a GSM device with no 3G, the iPhone lacks W-CDMA, and is therefore not Pacific Rim friendly. Of course this is all about to change soon, when Apple launches the long awaited, rumor surrounded, now holy grail of a device 3G iPhone. It is assumed to be launched at WWDC of course.
According to one rumor, the possibility of the iPhone making its way to these two countries is very real. It seems as if NTT DoCoMo and Korea Free Telecom will be the lucky carriers to get the new 3G iPhone, and apparently it will be an exclusive. It is not clear if there will be any sort of subsidies or if the revenue sharing agreement will come into play.
There is only one problem for Apple in these countries though. Korea and Japan have much more advanced handsets and networks, so the question remains as to whether or not the device will sell well in these countries. Though there will most likely be plenty of buyers, Apple might want to make the deal a little juicer, I don’t know maybe subsidies could be a good thing for them.
[Via Apple 2.0 Fortune Blog]
Written by Chase Higgins on May 22nd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 3G iPhone and Apple and Carriers and iPhone 2.0 and iPhone archive.
O2 has dropped a small bit if information which hints at the launch date for the 3G iPhone. It is not very exact, just like all the other rumors regarding dates, it does say that they expect it “in the coming weeks”. Well, that is about as vague as it can get. O2 has states that they will be making a joint announcement with Apple in that time to announce the new device.
This is of course falling in line with the rumored date we know now, which is June 9th. This is of course referring to Apple’s WWDC event that is being held that day. O2 was still shy about the exact date that the new iPhone would come out, saying instead “that is more of a question for Apple”. Well we know Apple is not going to tell until they have to, so looks like we still have to wait if we want something more solid.
According to O2, they will have the exclusive rights to sell the new iPhone in the U.K. and Ireland. O2 is already Apple’s partner for selling the device in those areas, so it is not a surprise O2 gets this one too. O2 is currently sold out of iPhone’s, which has prompted many rumors the newer iPhone could be dropping on their network shorty.
[Via Guardian UK]
Written by Chase Higgins on May 15th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 3G iPhone and Apple and Carriers and O2 and WWDC and iPhone archive.
In a report published earlier suggests that the 3G iPhone could come in more than one color. These colors include white, black, and silver. The report also claims that Apple partner Swisscom has already set their usage prices for 3G and and SMS usage for the new device. The report clearly states it is speculation, so it should be taken as such.
According to the report one of the first carriers to get the new iPhone will be Swisscom, which would explain the early preparation. The rumor continues to speculate that there will be a 32GB version of the iPhone, whats more they even have some rumored price points. The 16GB 3G iPhone will sell for $627, and the 32GB 3G iPhone for $760. Again, this is not confirmed.
According to the report, the 16GB model will only be available in silver. The 32GB color will come in white, black, and silver. This is perhaps an incentive for subscriber to purchase the more expensive model. The new iPhone will be on sale in 118 Swisscom shops, and in Apple stores, including Geneva and Zurich. According to the report, the device will ship in June.
[Via 9 to 5 Mac]
Written by Chase Higgins on May 14th, 2008 with no comments.
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If you’re about to run to your local Apple or AT&T store to snag up a new black iPhone, let me save you a trip. I just received and email from AT&T representative with the following quote:
“The reference to “iPhone Black” was simply a temporary placeholder used over the weekend for a scheduled catalog update. It was meant to temporarily distinguish the various iPhone models-4GB, 8GB and 16GB-but was never reassigned. It should be corrected on the site by now.” Brad Mays, PR for AT&T.
This is actually kind of silly from my perspective. I apologize if our previous articles here and here got your hopes up. At lease now you know for sure.
Written by Vincent Nguyen on May 12th, 2008 with no comments.
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What a mismatched pair you are Apple and AT&T. Apple can hold a secret until the last minute, and AT&T somehow manages to leak things weeks if not months before they go down. True to form, AT&T has shown on their site, the option to select the ‘iPhone Black’ as your device. I could not verify if the option is still up, but here is the screen shot proof.
The discovery further helps to substantiate the rumors that the 3G iPhone will come in a gloss black case. While we would not put it past Apple to be releasing a limited edition of the current iPhone, it does not seem likely. This could be the 3G iPhone, showing up in the shadows of AT&T’s website, and taunting us with it’s potentially sooner-than-we-think release date.
With the 3G iPhone being rumored to potentially drop before WWDC, this could be AT&T and Apple getting ready to drop this on us. It is rumored that Apple and AT&T will not make a big deal about the launch, and if the 3G iPhone sneaks its way onto AT&T’s site, that falls in line with the rumor. With the attention this story is getting, AT&T will surely remove the ‘iPhone Black’ option from their site soon, if they don’t, then we may have ourselves a launch party soon.
[Via AppleInsider]
Written by Chase Higgins on May 12th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 3G iPhone and Carriers and Cingular / AT&T and iPhone 2.0 and iPhone archive.
