Next Generation iPhone Pushed to Mid-Late Summer 2008? [Archive]

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MacRumors

Nov 30, 2007, 04:25 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

An EETimes report (http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204300968) that a Friedman Billings Ramsey & Co. Inc. analyst believes that the 2nd Generation iPhone has been pushed into the mid-to-late summer 2008:
...due to a pushout in the introduction of such 'killer applications' as the second-generation iPhone from the March/April time frame to mid to late summer, demand for NAND in 1H08 could weaken more than expected,"

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/11/30/next-generation-iphone-pushed-to-mid-late-summer-2008/)

Drumjim85

Nov 30, 2007, 04:46 PM

no surprise, I've been guessing a late summer / fall all along ..

Doctor Q

Nov 30, 2007, 04:56 PM

It's a tradeoff, I guess. The longer they wait, the more features they can add and improve.

dashiel

Nov 30, 2007, 05:03 PM

RichP

Nov 30, 2007, 05:09 PM

i'd be interested to know how an unannounced product can be "pushed back" or "delayed".

we all know iphone 2.0 is coming, but it hasn't been announced, it hasn't been hinted at – by apple, and really mid-to-late summer is just about correct. the ipod is on a yearly upgrade cycle i suspect iphone will be too.

I concur. I would have thought late summer-early fall to get ready for next holiday season. These phones just came out in Europe, only a few months before an update would be way to short a lifecycle.

twoodcc

Nov 30, 2007, 05:46 PM

no surprise, I've been guessing a late summer / fall all along ..

yeah me too. that'd make it a year from the first one.

jayducharme

Nov 30, 2007, 08:22 PM

I wonder how significant this line is:

demand for NAND in 1H08 could weaken more than expected

If the demand weakens, I would expect the price to drop. Perhaps Apple is holding off until they can get a sweeter deal on NAND prices.

jericho53

Nov 30, 2007, 09:20 PM

3G iPhone confirmed.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/8945;_ylt=AhWpWUDcPn3Ww9FHBKytqDMWLZA5

Leo74

Nov 30, 2007, 09:58 PM

I agree with the 'year later' timeframe, but we should all remember two things. One, the iPhone was announced at MacWorld 07, so an announcment at the upcoming MacWorld 08 would put it squarely on that year later update timeframe. Two, now that Apple has entered the cell phone world, it will no longer benefit from surprise product launches, at least not in what concerns the iPhone. The FCC approval process is months long, and is also public, so secrets do not apply. That's why the original iPhone took so long between announcement and launch. So, yeah, it may be late Summer by the time it's released, but chances are, it wil be announced much sooner. I'm not sure I'd put money on MacWorld, but it shouldn't be too long after that.

nbs2

Nov 30, 2007, 10:23 PM

jnc

Nov 30, 2007, 10:36 PM

hmph. Never expected it before April anyway, figured it'd be something to announce around Apple's 31st.

My current n95 contract doesn't run out until Nov 08 anyway so... :D doesn't bother me

EagerDragon

Nov 30, 2007, 10:36 PM

Chucks, my current contract expires in April!!!!!!

I guess ill have to go month to month until the new one comes out.

As to the FCC, it should only take 6 weeks to get approval based on what I heard. A second gen phone takes a lot less to go thru the cycle. Hope that is correct.

mrparet

Dec 1, 2007, 01:15 AM

Are we talking a significant upgrade or just the addition of 3G? Like others have said, the iPhone was just released in Europe. It wouldn't make sense for Apple to update the phone so soon. Not to menion the fact that people in America would raise all hell if Apple did something so soon.

Drumjim85

Dec 1, 2007, 03:03 AM

JFreak

Dec 1, 2007, 03:35 AM

3G iPhone as soon as possible, please!

iWizzard

Dec 1, 2007, 04:41 AM

mrparet: offcourse it would make sense to release a new version in Europe soon sins the current version was a failure due to 4 year old technology (lack of 3G).

I really, really hope it comes with replaceable SD or similar so I´t can be upgraded cheaply, and GPS. After that it is mostly softwere uppgrades for atleast 3 years that is needed.

A replaceble batery would be nice, in the olden times you could chose to have a slim battery or a thick battery to your cell depending on the circumstances.

Leo74

Dec 1, 2007, 05:52 AM

I have no insider info at all. Matter of fact, this is just wild speculation. But it just seems to me something like this would make sense, considering the difference in release times between the US and Europe.

Bare with me for a second, and forgive me in advance for the long post: what happened when they decided to drop the price of the iPhone so soon after the US release? Apple "volunteered" a store credit. Now, consider that the iPhone is a much different animal than, for instance, an iPod. When a new iPod came out, you could upgrade and gift your old unit to a loved one, use it in the car, whatever. An iPhone isn't something you keep two of, since it's not functional without a contract. Neither is something you necessarily pass down, since it would tie someone else up with a contract. So, there's less of an incentive to upgrade. What would be a solution to keep people upgrading (shelling the same amount or more money for a new unit whose production costs will probably have come down, ensuring Apple more profitablility on the hardware) and keep that service fee shared income rolling for years to come? Well, what if they released, say, a 3G iPhone soon after its European release (it will always be soon after its release somewhere) and offered a trade-in program where your old iPhone would be worth $100 on an upgrade? They could even sweeten that deal for AT&T (and sour it for us) by making you re-sign for a contract extension starting at the new unit's activation date. At the same time, it would somehow appease the European "early adopters," since they'd get an excuse to not think they just got taken for a ride so much.

Like I said, wild speculation, but it seems like it would make everyone happy. And by everyone, I mean everyone Apple cares about lately: themselves and AT&T. The consumers, as it's become the norm lately, would be royally had.

boss1

Dec 1, 2007, 07:54 AM

I'm surprised we aren't hearing rumors of a minor bump in the meanwhile. Something like a capacity bump or more potent battery would have been a sales booster during that post-Christmas lull.

Rereading Leo's post, he has a good point. I just wonder what requires FCC approval and what doesn't. Could the battery/drive be boosted without notice? Or is every little change going to be public ahead of time?

I'm no expert on the matter, but I would imagine:
Something simple like a change of the color of the casing would not require FCC approval where as a change in the communication type of the device such as 3G would require FCC approval.

and on that note....anyone looking for a good price on a second hand 1st gen iPhone (condition: like new)? :rolleyes:

nbs2

Dec 1, 2007, 09:05 AM

I'm no expert on the matter, but I would imagine:
Something simple like a change of the color of the casing would not require FCC approval where as a change in the communication type of the device such as 3G would require FCC approval.

Those two ends of the spectrum make sense. My curiosity is directed towards points in the middle - change internal circuitry, but not changing anything having to do with communication. The battery is probably irrelevant, as others have reminded me of the old two battery option, which I presume didn't require two approvals (did it?). But, memory capacity is a stranger animal.

rdowns

Dec 1, 2007, 09:08 AM

3G iPhone has now joined PowerBook G5 and blackboard nail scratching in my book.

It will come when it comes. And if 3G is anything like I see it on friends "devices" you can keep it.

swingerofbirch

Dec 1, 2007, 09:58 AM

I don't understand the FCC thing, wouldn't any product Apple makes that uses airwaves (iPhone touch with wifi, all Macs since they all have bluetooth/wifi) undergo the same processes as the iPhone? I understand the iPhone has different frequencies for cell towers, but it seems in essence they're all just radio waves.

puckhead193

Dec 1, 2007, 04:14 PM

i'll wait till the summer, early fall for a new 3g iphone. I'm happy with my pearl:cool:

Analog Kid

Dec 1, 2007, 07:56 PM

As to the FCC, it should only take 6 weeks to get approval based on what I heard. A second gen phone takes a lot less to go thru the cycle. Hope that is correct.
There is no fixed number-- if there's a problem (such as out of band emission), you won't get approval until the problem is fixed. If second gen phone means 3G, then it won't be any faster aside from the efficiency boost that comes from Apple being more familiar with the process now.
Those two ends of the spectrum make sense. My curiosity is directed towards points in the middle - change internal circuitry, but not changing anything having to do with communication. The battery is probably irrelevant, as others have reminded me of the old two battery option, which I presume didn't require two approvals (did it?). But, memory capacity is a stranger animal.
There are many different approval types through the FCC. The simplest way to separate them are intentional and unintentional radiators. You only need to re-approve things that you expect to impact your radiation. If you change to 3G, you are clearly changing your intentional radiator and need new approval under that section. If you change memory or other circuitry you need to retest your unintentional radiation, but not your intentional radiation-- and this is an easier process. If you change the color of the case, but not anything that would effect shielding, you don't need to re-approve anything.
I don't understand the FCC thing, wouldn't any product Apple makes that uses airwaves (iPhone touch with wifi, all Macs since they all have bluetooth/wifi) undergo the same processes as the iPhone? I understand the iPhone has different frequencies for cell towers, but it seems in essence they're all just radio waves.
I was looking around the FCC sites to see what has to be published and what doesn't, and that's not an easy site to navigate... WiFi and GSM are covered under different sections of the FCC code, and require different testing. Since WiFi operates in an unlicensed band and is lower power, the testing is probably less intensive. In the GSM band you have the vested interests of the licensed carriers in that band to consider and the testing will be much more strict. I know from experience that there are different levels of type approval for WiFi radios and the products they are used in. If you build your own radio, the testing is quite strict, if you integrate a pre-approved radio then the testing is less strenuous. I would expect GSM to have similar rules, but what constitutes the radio in that case is broader-- and system level changes are more likely to affect your approval.

I don't know what information has to be published for each type, or when...

I do know that you can ask the FCC to hold off on publication for a limited time, but there are two things that Apple would have been concerned about, especially for the initial product release: not being able to ship the new product before the end of the confidentiality period and accidental publication by a government agency.

gkarris

Dec 3, 2007, 12:09 PM

It's a tradeoff, I guess. The longer they wait, the more features they can add and improve.

Yea, like good screens... :mad:

ClassicMac247

Dec 4, 2007, 06:09 PM

makes perfect sense

Octobot

Dec 4, 2007, 10:06 PM

They just want you to keep buying iphones.. ;)
I'm in no hurry.

Cheese

Dec 4, 2007, 10:34 PM

I've been a revision hold out since my mistake with the rev A G5 iMac. I guess it will give me more time to set funds aside...

Nitrocide

Dec 5, 2007, 05:14 AM

I've been a revision hold out since my mistake with the rev A G5 iMac. I guess it will give me more time to set funds aside...

As an effected 1st gen PM G5 and 1st gen MBP buyer, I totally agree.

I dont understand how apple gets products so wrong in the 1st gen sometimes. I shouldnt have to be self servicing parts. I think by next year my MBP will probabaly only be 10% original in parts!

biecacka

Dec 10, 2007, 03:04 PM

I'm no expert on the matter, but I would imagine:
Something simple like a change of the color of the casing would not require FCC approval where as a change in the communication type of the device such as 3G would require FCC approval.

and on that note....anyone looking for a good price on a second hand 1st gen iPhone (condition: like new)? :rolleyes:

yes i would be very intersted in the phone. what version of firmware does it have on it?

biecacka

Dec 10, 2007, 03:08 PM

someone at cingular told me you might be able to just buy an "upgrade kit" for your current iphone and get all the same features as iphone2. She also told me with confidence the new phone would be here no later than Feb. also though:confused:

ilanasaysrawr

Dec 11, 2007, 08:02 PM

What do you guys think will be some drastic improvements on the iPhone?
-software wise?
-memory wise?

biecacka

Dec 17, 2007, 11:35 AM

does anyone know if a nextel sim card will work in an unlocked iphone

t0mat0

Dec 19, 2007, 03:04 PM

I've been trying to find out about upgrade plans on O2. Basically, if you spend ~£100 a month, then you'll get an upgrade. But for that money, you're better off paying for the Carphone Warehouse insurance monthly, and then you can break contract 9 months in, and get a new contract, with a new iPhone.
9 months from now would be November, just in time for the Japanese launch / worldwide launch of a 3G version, with all new iWonderfulness.

Exchanging contract is also an option.

cheekybobcat

Dec 31, 2007, 06:50 PM

It's a tradeoff, I guess. The longer they wait, the more features they can add and improve.

Either that or build up "dramatic tension" that will make people want it more.
Basic marketing....:p

iDmitry

Jan 2, 2008, 03:18 AM

Honestly...I don't know about you guys but I am not going to keep buying new iPhones, it's stupid. All of you people who say I can't wait for this to come out or I can't wait for that to come out are probably rich and spoiled. If you own a iPhone now and are planning to just lay it down and buy the new one when it comes out are dumb. We should demand them to keep releasing updates for the one we've already got.

JFreak

Jan 2, 2008, 04:16 AM

All of you people who say I can't wait for this to come out or I can't wait for that to come out are probably rich and spoiled.

What a generalization and complete bull*hit. Did you know there is a whole big world outside US and not all of us have to be embarassed about having Bush as a leader? iPhone will never be a success in Europe until it has 3G, you can mark my words if you like; but if you think that all people outside US are rich and spoiled you can think again.

iDmitry

Jan 2, 2008, 04:28 AM

What a generalization and complete bull*hit. Did you know there is a whole big world outside US and not all of us have to be embarassed about having Bush as a leader? iPhone will never be a success in Europe until it has 3G, you can mark my words if you like; but if you think that all people outside US are rich and spoiled you can think again.
Are you serious? Did I even say anywhere about people outside of the US? Relax man. Doesn't matter where u are from, if u can afford to keep buying iPhones as soon as a new one is released you need to check yourself. It's just my opinion, agree to disagree.