June 07 iPhone availability.. reasons?

[chibianh]

This may or may not have been mentioned in the other iPhone thread, but why do you think Apple announced a product 6 months before it will become available? Why not announce it closer to the release date?

Is the product not completely ready and they were just pressured to announce it? Or will their surprise be ruined once they file for FCC approval since it will become public info?

They've never done this for their computers. The only time I remember them announcing early was with the AppleTV.. wonder if this trend will continue with other consumer devices they have in the works.

[dejo]

Is the product not completely ready and they were just pressured to announce it? Or will their surprise be ruined once they file for FCC approval since it will become public info?
Watch the keynote. Steve specifically mentions they announced it now because it takes a while to get FCC approval and Apple didn't want the FCC introducing this product for them.

[chibianh]

Watch the keynote. Steve specifically mentions they announced it now because it takes a while to get FCC approval and Apple didn't want the FCC introducing this product for them.

ah.. gotcha. Haven't seen the keynote yet.. couldn't connect yesterday. Thanks for clearing it up though :)

[bbydon]

FCC approval then after that it goes to mass production.
So then they stock pile for 3 months then release.

[RichP]

Beside FCC regulation, and then mass production, there is also rumor that it is using a new NVIDIA chip that isnt ready for production yet. The device certainly has some serious power in such a small package.


Another question comes up: How much can a cellphone manufacturer change a phone AFTER the FCC gives it the thumbs-up? Obviously not a lot, but can they change processor, memory, etc?