More Confirmation of Apple iPod Phone?

[MacRumors]

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

Smarthouse.com.au reports (http://www.smarthouse.com.au/iPods_And_Portable_Players/iPods?Article=/iPods%20And%20Portable%20Players/iPods/W5C2N2D7) that according to insiders at a Taiwanese phone maker (BenQ), Apple has been talking to a number of Taiwanese phone makers in an effort to cut a manufacturing deal on an iPod Phone.

They say that Apple will launch an iPod with phone functions within the next few months. "An iPod phone is definitely coming. BenQ will not be making it as we are in competition with Apple however several of our suppliers have been approached to manufacture parts. Among manufacturers in Taiwan it is common knowledge.

Rumors of a new Apple-branded phone have recently been flooding analyst reports.

Historically, in 2003 Smarthouse previously claimed (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/09/20030901110558.shtml) that Apple would be moving to Intel-based Macs by January of 2004. The report was one of many Apple-moving-to-Intel rumors that appeared over the years, so its unclear if it was accurate (but premature) or simply coincidental. Apple, of course, did eventually announce that they would be transitioning to Intel based processors, but not until June of 2005.

[emaja]

Meh.

For all the time this rumor has been floating around, this had better be one heck of a phone.

[rockthecasbah]

BORING! I've heard enough about this stupid iPhone already. PEOPLE IT'S JUST A CELL PHONE! My God, all these rumors about a stupid cell phone that probably will be a disapointment. Integratation is great, but too much leaves just ugly PDA phones that do nothing else but take up space. Just cool your jets with the iPhone and see what happens with it, ok people :rolleyes:

[camomac]

i agree, i am not really all that excited about an "iphone"

but i'll just wait and see...

[deanbo]

I'm actually quite excited about the possibility of an Apple iPhone, especially if Apple is full control of the aesthetics let alone the feature set.

[yankeefan24]

another day, another iphone rumor.

GET OVER IT. A PHONE IS A PHONE. IF YOU CARE SO MUCH, WAIT. BUT UNLIKE WITH COMPUTERS, I AM NOT GOING TO WAIT MONTHS BECAUSE OF SPECULATION. some people may disagree, but that's how i feel.

it won't work with verizon so i really don't care that much anymore.

[d.perel]

BenQ, eh? I didn't know they made phones, I thought they made bad MP3 players- but then again, who knows?

[rye9]

another day, another iphone rumor.

lol..ain't it the truth

[kerbawya]

GET OVER IT. A PHONE IS A PHONE.
Really?

[alms]

What kind of phone will it be? I assume GSM, as that as the most public standard. Verizon, though, does not use GSM phones. They have their own technology.

Well, whatever kind of phone Apple comes out with, it could have a huge market pull. Now that phone numbers are portable and can be taken by a customer over to a new provider, an Apple iPhone could that was only available for certain networks could be hugely valuable as a switching catalyst. Customer acquisition cost in the cell phone market is a couple of hundred dollars. There's lots of potential in this.

I'm currently a very happy customer of Verizon wireless, but this would be enough to get me to switch.

[gilleszeimet]

Imagine the possible quality of this phone. We all saw what happens if another company than Apple itself tries to impliment parts of Apple technologies. I want this mobile because of its perfect integration with OS X and it might be the final reason why I want to get a .mac account, as I am sure that a future Apple phone will integrate perfectly with .mac. No phone on the market at the moment integrates well enough into OS X that I could say I change from my old phone to a new one. I think that Apple has the potential to take mobile phone a step further by advancing their usability. Apple will only enter this overcrowded market of its product is perfect and a new experience. Their are valid reasons why the iPod is the number one mp3 player and there will possibly be reasons why the new Apple phone will be highly successful. Apple will have to face a very tough competition. Only a revolutionary product, simple to use and perfectly integrated with a wide range of services will be a success. The phone will have to be a perfect mobile extension of the user's desktop or notebook. I could even see that it will have WiFi integration and all that. If Apple will only create a better designed Rockr, i will be deeply disappointed.

[yankeefan24]

Really?

but those to phones do the same thing. they allow you to talk to another person on another phone. sure, the new nokia cell phone has more features and allows you to talk anywhere, but they do the same basic function.


I'm currently a very happy customer of Verizon wireless, but this would be enough to get me to switch.

i love verizon and would hold out as long as possible. even if verizon was about to go bankrupt i would stay with them. The best service where i have to be.

[freeny]

Doesnt it seem odd that this leak is from BenQ? a competitor of Apple....


Rumors rumors rumors......????

[1macker1]

Umm, I'd get rid of my Motorola Smartphone Mpx220 if Apple can match it. This better be good.

[gilleszeimet]

BenQ, eh? I didn't know they made phones, I thought they made bad MP3 players- but then again, who knows?

BanQ bought the mobile phone part of the German company Siemens. Siemens was never very successful on the mobile phone market, but BenQ recently showed some very intersting new phone under the 'BenQ-Siemens' label. The double name is comparable to SonyEricsson.

[Ayre]

I'm pretty tired about the iPhone rumors as well. It's not something Apple should be pursuing.

[Seasought]

I still can't believe how excited people get over being able to pay for a downloadable television show, or yet another iPod clone or accessory, but barely bat an eye over a possible Apple cell phone (something that has never been made by Apple before...right?).

Is it because most people are already happy with their cell phones?

[1macker1]

I think that most people haven't used a smartphone. If they have, they'd know how impressive they are and would be doing backflips over the possibility of a Apple phone.
I still can't believe how excited people get over being able to pay for a downloadable television show, or yet another iPod clone or accessory, but barely bat an eye over a possible Apple cell phone (something that has never been made by Apple before...right?).

Is it because most people are already happy with their cell phones?

[Doctor Q]

Intersting that smarthouse calls it "an iPod with phone functions" rather than "a phone with iTunes".

[lonepilgrim]

I'm pretty tired about the iPhone rumors as well. It's not something Apple should be pursuing.
I think it should be written into the FAQ of this forum that before even considering writing a post like the one above, a potential contributor must read thread 500. :p

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500

[SeaFox]

Maybe we'll finally have a phone that can sync with a .Mac account without a computer!

[mtzmtz]

another day, another iphone rumor.

GET OVER IT. A PHONE IS A PHONE. IF YOU CARE SO MUCH, WAIT. BUT UNLIKE WITH COMPUTERS, I AM NOT GOING TO WAIT MONTHS BECAUSE OF SPECULATION. some people may disagree, but that's how i feel.

it won't work with verizon so i really don't care that much anymore.

The key is to NOT think of it as (yet another) cellphone, but as something like a portable .Mac account (which happens to also function as a cellphone).

[iMeowbot]

Intersting that smarthouse calls it "an iPod with phone functions" rather than "a phone with iTunes".
Sorry, the song you have reached, 'Mandy' by Barry Manilow, is lame. Please check your sensibilities and try again. *click*

[FaasNat]

Really?
I think the first one is the phone and the second is a mobile communication device...

;)

:D

[nicksoper]

I thought a nano with a decent size screen, with phone capability would be pretty handy. Perhaps even a little camera like sony put in the k750i.

That would be something to get excited about.

[Mac Fly (film)]

I want one so I hope they come out soon!

[dashiel]

i for one am very interested in an apple designed cell phone. i've not had a cell phone since the nokia t610 days (for all you whippersnappers that's like 98/99 timeframe), but needs must when the devil drives and i've got to get a new phone.

unfortunately 99% of the phones out there are horrible. they look terrible, the UIs are atrocious, the feature sets are absurd. even the bang & olufsen cell phone is a joke.

i'm looking for an elegant, minimal design with some very basic features. i mean really add a speaker, mic and bluetooth to the nano and i'm in. ok well not really, but close enough. really though what i hope for is a an iphone that does for cell phones what the ipod did for mp3 players - simplify the core functionality to idiot levels. all the other stuff is just gravy.

[treblah]

Sorry, the song you have reached, 'Mandy' by Barry Manilow, is lame.…

I heard that song was about his dog.

Anyway, I would love an iPhone as long as it has UMTS.

Also, if Apple has the engineering capability to create a cell phone maybe they should use some of their people to make a ExpressCard for UMTS/HSDPA and EVDO.

[Doctor Q]

thread 500
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500You might as well start with the MacRumors story (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2001/10/20011023140537.shtml) that day.

[FaasNat]

Meh.

For all the time this rumor has been floating around, this had better be one heck of a phone.
Well, it may be able to access a SlingBox device with the SlingBox's media player for mobile phones (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=180838). :p

Man, I had no love on my forum post.... :(

[Macnoviz]

What kind of phone will it be? I assume GSM, as that as the most public standard. Verizon, though, does not use GSM phones. They have their own technology.

Well, whatever kind of phone Apple comes out with, it could have a huge market pull. Now that phone numbers are portable and can be taken by a customer over to a new provider, an Apple iPhone could that was only available for certain networks could be hugely valuable as a switching catalyst. Customer acquisition cost in the cell phone market is a couple of hundred dollars. There's lots of potential in this.

I'm currently a very happy customer of Verizon wireless, but this would be enough to get me to switch.

If they want to sell phones in Europe, they better use GSM. In Belgium, we don't have to worry about coverage (we don't have rural regions), and GSM is the standard. In fact, we call a cellphone a GSM, so using anything other would really piss off some people around here.

[lonepilgrim]

I was just thinking, if they squeezed phone functions on to the iPod, what size and shape would it have to be in order to fit the functionality, or to make it comfortable to use next to your ear. But then I thought, could they just add an attachment and do a software update? Along the lines of the radio remote, but incorporating a microphone somewhere on the trailing headphone lead. Would that be possible? They could just say: you already own an iPod, now buy this attachment and boom it's a phone.

[anonicon]

Pardon the long post.

For now it's all rumors, but I'm interested in seeing what Apple does with this if they actually decide to do it. Most critically, the term iPod phone is good because my 30gb iPod Photo averages about 10 hours of mp3 playback between recharges, while my 8gb Dell Axim X51V (520mhz) averages about 3 hours.

However, the Axim supports Wi-Fi, which allows me to use it as a cordless phone in my home and friends' homes with Skype (my phone service). *That,* plus its PDA capabilities, 4-8GB of add-on storage, and simple Internet interface make it a wonderful tool.

Yet, if Apple decided to come out with an iPhone with an 8-10 hour battery life that supported simple PDA capabilities, had 30-60gb, supported Wi-Fi, and allowed both phone and data traffic over the Wi-Fi, it would be uber cool, and would allow me to ditch both my iPod and Axim for a single killer device.

Still, I'm in no rush, so we'll see what Apple does.

Chuck

[Neil4512]

I would love a mac phone, something that seemlessly sync's with my pb through BT would awesome. I wonder if any of the Canadian moble providers would pick it up...

[Electro Funk]

God i hope it does NOT look like this:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=981

Ewwwwww....

[Swatchman]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?

[yankeefan24]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?


unfortunately, very few people will believe that you are an executive at apple. apple employee's would not reveal that. they would be fired by the steve on the spot for revealing what you are revealing. UNLESS YOU ARE STEVE OR HAVE PERMISSION. so until you can give us release dates and specs, etc. and let us wait and see, very few people will believe what you are saying. we know new macbooks are coming soon, but this idea of a mobile me sounds promising.

sorry, but that's how things work around here.

If you do work for apple, when are 13.3 inch MBPs coming out. really want one. also, are there any plans for a new design soon?

EDIT: i do remember telling this to you before and i don't want you to take this personally against me. someone would tell you this and it is a coincidence it is me.

[m-dogg]

Meh.

For all the time this rumor has been floating around, this had better be one heck of a phone.

I second your meh.

This poor little cell phone is gonna be doomed from the start. I doubt whatever gets released will ever be able to live up to the rumor hype.

Bring me the macbooks...

[savar]

I think it should be written into the FAQ of this forum that before even considering writing a post like the one above, a potential contributor must read thread 500. :p

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500

Hilarious...I never saw that thread before...guess it was before my time. Similar to the "Apple will never switch to Intel" threads -- to which I was a contributor.

[thejadedmonkey]

Execs can't post here...why not? because even the lowest employees at the apple stores can't even LOOK here. There's no way that you'd be telling us about a tablet due in 6 months if you were a real exec.

[MacRonin]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?

Yeah...

Post some pictures and then we might start believing you...

And going on about how you are an Apple exec, better brush off that resumé...

Because once the Apple Ninjas see you post, well, remember Worker Bee...?!?

;^p

[iMeowbot]

I heard that song was about his dog.
Nah, he didn't even write that one. I think the story came from Paul McCartney's "Martha My Dear" which really was about his dog.

[revjay]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?

Dear Swatchman,
I'm Steve Jobs...I know when you've been naughty and nice...you have been very naughty.
By the way, you should know that I'm your boss...er...make that I was your boss. Do you have any skills flipping burgers?
SJ

[Porchland]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?

Yeah, I've read your posts. I've read all four of them. Thaaaaat's right! You've made four whole posts on macrumors.com!

[iMeowbot]

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?
As Seen On TV did this better.

[macit]

I was just wondering - are there any predictions of capacity? I mean a nanoPhone (< If you will :p ) would hold a considerable amount. If all this is really going to happen the main issue for me will be capacity (I'm not buying a phone that has a small limit of songs - I think it's a little pointless :confused: )

- besides I *just* bought the new iPod and a razr - :mad: :mad: :rolleyes:
Apple should really slow down... ;)

[Multimedia]

I care more about the carrier (Verizon) and Tri-Mode (2 digital and 1 analog) than I do what the phone can do. Until I know that, the rest doesn't matter. :confused:

[emaja]

I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening.

RIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!

By the way, bring a box to work tomorrow to clean out your desk. If your post is even remotely true, you would have enough sense not to post that here.

If it is true, you are a moron and deserve to be unemployed due to sheer stupidity.

As The Donald might say - y'fired.

[bigandy]

drum roll, continuation of... :rolleyes:

[jaredbbauer]

I'm pretty tired about the iPhone rumors as well. It's not something Apple should be pursuing.


At least your comments make me laugh =)

[treblah]

Nah, he didn't even write that one. I think the story came from Paul McCartney's "Martha My Dear" which really was about his dog.

That line was an obscure reference from the teen comedy Can't Hardly Wait where Ethan Embry's character is pining over a girl named Amanda and 'Mandy' comes on the radio and he thinks it is fate. His pessimist friend then tell him that she heard he wrote it about his dog. :D

[twoodcc]

i'm actually looking forward to an Apple phone. i hate my current cell phone, i need a new one. i hope it works with Cingular

[d_saum]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?


Hahahahahah...HAHAHAHAHA.....Aaaaaahhhhh hAhaahaha... Oh my god, my sides hurt!!! Too funny....


Ok moving on.....


Seriously... I do not understand how soo many people are not excited about this iPhone??? I for one think most of todays cell phones are HORRIBLE, whereas most of Apples products (both hardware and software) are phenominal!!! I think they are going to make a SEVERE dent in the cell phone industry. Oh and the inscription on my iPod nano says "This is my iHoldover until my iPhone" :D (Im serious about that!!!)

[iMeowbot]

That line was an obscure reference from the teen comedy Can't Hardly Wait where Ethan Embry's character is pining over a girl named Amanda and 'Mandy' comes on the radio and he thinks it is fate. His pessimist friend then tell him that she heard he wrote it about his dog. :D
Oh, the story's been circulating forever, though! There's an interview (http://www.richmond.com/news/output.aspx?Article_ID=1890047&Vertical_ID=2&tier=1&position=5) with Manilow where he even discusses it:

RC: I remember hearing that "Mandy" was a dog's name. Is that an urban legend?

BM: I didn't write "Mandy," it was written by Richard Kerr and Scott English. And Scott English was being bugged by the press when it came out. They kept asking him, "Who is Mandy?"

He tells the story that they woke him up one morning at 6:30 a.m. He picked up the phone and it was a member of the British tabloid. And they asked him once again, "Who's Mandy?"

And he said, "It was my dog, and I sent her away. Now you go away." And he hung up. And of course, the British tabloids are so horrendous and they're so disgusting, that they actually printed it as if it was the truth.

[Teer]

Intersting that smarthouse calls it "an iPod with phone functions" rather than "a phone with iTunes".

There's nothing wrong ... in fact, that, IMHO, is just the right concept.

A good smartphone should be a "PDA with phone function" but not "a phone with PDA function" ....

While on the road, 99.99% of the time I will be listening to MP3 but only ocassionally I receive phone call, i.e. less than 1% of my time on the road I will be using the phone function ...

So I think all other manufacturers are wrong in producing "phones with MP3 function" ... such as SonyEricsson ...

It would be great to have an "iPod with phone function" !!!

I imaging it is something just looks like an ordinary iPod (i.e. just a few buttons, no 0-9, *# keypad, no speaker, no mic !), have bluetooth for bluetooth headset for voice call, have touch screen for virtual keyboard for dialling ....

Of course, it will notify me of call while I am listening to music, so I will never miss call again.

If I prefer to enjoy better quality music with headphone of my choice, there will be a 'thumbnail' size bluetooth microphone for voice call, i.e. listen on wired earphone, speak on wireless microphone .....

That's what I need, as simple as that !!!

[daysleeper]

I want to see a photoshopped picture of some dude holding a 5th gen ipod up to his ear before I believe this.

I'm fine with my current phone, thank you very much.

[CoMpX]

It would be great to have an "iPod with phone function" !!!


I agree. I think Apple should focus mostly on making the iPod part of it perfect. Just think of the phone capability as an extra feature they threw in there. I can't decide whether I want it to replace the current iPod and be called iPod, or become a totally new produced and be called iPhone. :confused:

[rockthecasbah]

I want to see a photoshopped picture of some dude holding a 5th gen ipod up to his ear before I believe this.

I'm fine with my current phone, thank you very much.
haha its funny to see them, i had a toy phone that looked like that when i was little and i never knew until i was like 10 that cell phones actually looked like that back in the day haha. ever see the movie Wall Street with the convo on the beach? :rolleyes:

[myshoeshurt]

I for one would be interested in an Apple cell phone. I'm not a cell phone guy at all, but can forsee one being useful within a few months (job promotion). Apple releasing a cell phone would definately persuade me to buy one. I just love the look and feel of everything Apple designs. It would undoubtedly be a beautiful cell phone.

[gregarious119]

I think it should be written into the FAQ of this forum that before even considering writing a post like the one above, a potential contributor must read thread 500. :p

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500

Awesome. Absolutely a riot to read.

[Neil4512]

In the unlikely event that apple doesn't release a phone, what phones on the market have the best intergration with a mac computer?

[iandesign]

this is a little old but the concept is still perfectly workable...

[MattyMac]

You know what would be totally awesome??

If Apple made a car...just imagine how great it would be.

White or Black
Amazing Stereo
Navigation System Out of this World with mac 0S
Apple Logos in the head rests and a glowing apple for the hood ornament
Obviously Ipod integration
.....

Just imagine the possibilities!



Im totally up for great new apple products and I cant wait for the new phone.

[MattyMac]

I want one so I hope they come out soon!

im with you man

[bketchum]

Doesnt it seem odd that this leak is from BenQ? a competitor of Apple....

Rumors rumors rumors......????

Pushing aside the idea that this may be all made up... The article states that the information is from an insider at BenQ. Perhaps it's just one loose-lipped employee as apposed to a company tactic to expose Apple's future business plans.

[peharri]

It doesn't say cellphone. It just says it's an iPod with "phone functions"

That could mean it's a full blown Quad Band UMTS communicator.
It could also mean it's an 802.11 device intended to be a node on a VoIP network.

I remain skeptical that Apple intends to do anything with mobile telephony. I'm not ruling it out completely, largely because BRLawyer has ruled it out completely. I think Apple has neglected its Airport, Bonjour, and iTunes library technologies of late, and I can see a wireless iPod making up for that (and being relatively popular.) I think the current rumours are compatable with the existance of such a device.

Oh, and Swatchman - give it up already.

[edenwaith]

Ah, !%@$. I've dealt with BenQ before, and their service certainly didn't impress me. :mad:

[Analog Kid]

If Apple will only create a better designed Rockr, i will be deeply disappointed.
But, I'd presume, not as disappointed as you were with the lesser designed ROKR...

[Doctor Q]

A good smartphone should be a "PDA with phone function" but not "a phone with PDA function" ....Rather than muting your music if you get a phone call, it should mute your phone call because it has music to play!

[macintel4me]

I'd bet we'd see a iPod with VoIP functionality and .mac sync'ing. Motorola already has a phone that will use VoIP when in a Wi-Fi hot spot and then will seamlessly change to a cell service provider when out of Wi-Fi range.

[stephenli]

please~~~~WCDMA + GSM + Multi language + iSight + 3.2MP camera
2.4 inch VGA display (just like vodafone 904SH by sharp) + bluetooth

[stephenli]

I'd bet we'd see a iPod with VoIP functionality and .mac sync'ing. Motorola already has a phone that will use VoIP when in a Wi-Fi hot spot and then will seamlessly change to a cell service provider when out of Wi-Fi range.

PSP will have VoIP and TV call......as announced last week....

[Analog Kid]

I'm kind of surprised by how negative some of the views are here. I also noticed that most of the really negative stuff comes first, followed by the longer and more positive posts-- almost like there are some folks just hovering and waiting to stomp on this one. Is this just rumor fatigue?

I can see why it would be a big deal to Apple as a company. The iPod has shown they have some sense of mass market appeal, and the phone market has obvious parallels. There's a bunch of Virtual Network carriers springing up now helping to take up the excess capacity now that the big carriers aren't willing to pay the customer acquisition costs. Music on the phone is gaining favor, and I can't help but think that Apple scuttled the ROKR because they want control of the iTunes over the air downloads.

Financially it could be big enough to make a material impact.

Can't say much either way on the success of the phone though-- don't know anything about it. I think the big dreams people are coming up with are going to lead to disappointment, though... It'll be a phone, with one or two gimmicks-- if they do it.

[bketchum]

I still can't believe how excited people get over being able to pay for a downloadable television show, or yet another iPod clone or accessory, but barely bat an eye over a possible Apple cell phone (something that has never been made by Apple before...right?).

Is it because most people are already happy with their cell phones?

I agree! I'm surprised by the sentiment of contributors who are not interested in an Apple cell phone. Nothing cranks me more. I become rabid when I see "iPhone" and "rumor" in the same sentence. Look at what Apple did to the mp3 player. Look at how the iPod boosted the company on many levels - mind share and sales, to name two. Imagine what they can do to a cell phone....or an iPod with cell phone technology....or (gasp) introduce a technology that would make current cell phones obsolete?

Apple invented the PC and the PDA, gave us a very useable object-oriented GUI. They reinvented the mp3 and put the iconic Walkman to shame.

Doubting Thomases, you're being very un-Apple to pooh-pooh the idea of an Apple iPhone.

[Staffroomer]

I think it should be written into the FAQ of this forum that before even considering writing a post like the one above, a potential contributor must read thread 500. :p

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500

Ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaa..

That's hilarious. Love it! Glad my name isn't next to any of those posts. :D

[GrannySmith_G5]

My chest hair groomer told me it was going to be a satellite phone and as thin as piece of paper.

[Elrond39]

God i hope it does NOT look like this:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=981

Ewwwwww....

Are you trying to insult my Sony-Ericsson T610 ?! :D:D That mock-up is OOOOOOOOOOOLD.

I'm thinking more along the line of design similar to the iPod Mini... http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=43643&d=1143085759
(Already posted earlier in this thread)

[(L)]

Hey, iPod goes video, I can understand that. Apple makes a phone in a competitive field it has not pursued before, a bit iffy, but possible. Maybe American cell phones are really that bad? (In Japan Apple stands no chance, sorry to say.)

But the iPod going phone? No way in hell Jobs would be so inane. It does music, with video on the side. 6G might do video well enough not to call it "on the side," but the idea is still a portable media device. Putting a phone function into it doesn't beat competition...people can use an iPod for music and photos and video, but people will be just fine with a separate phone. Think about it - the whole convergence notion makes little sense in a situation like this one, when marrying a media player and a phone could easily make for a lousy phone and *interesting* if geeky and awkward music player.

If Microsoft is for convergence (functionitis), Apple is for streamlining, perfecting, and completing. Completing as in not leaving a music player without an interface that covers all the bases well. Completing as in, adding to the quality of the experience, if not so much to the quantity. Imagine if Nokia or whatever made cell phones the same way - would there be any competition from an iPod phone version? An iPhone, perhaps, but not an iPod phone, which would be a two headed monster. And an iPod phone would not sell internationally, as even an iPhone would have difficulty. If they're going to upgrade the iPod, they should upgrade the experience, like adding wireless, touch funcitionality, etc.

[MacQuest]

I think it should be written into the FAQ of this forum that... a potential contributor must read thread 500. :p

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500

I was reading through that thread for fun when I ran across post #63 by (guest). While most of the posts are extremely negative about Apple's "inferior, overpriced, and destined to fail" newly introduced iPod mp3 player, there are a few who saw the bigger picture.

But I believe I found the origin of the HALO EFFECT - post #63 by (guest) on that thread:

"Cant wait to get one. And while it's been pointed out that the flaw is that it doesnt work with PCs... well..... look at it as an opportunity. Now I have to get the Ti powerbook i've been lusting after."

That thread is absolutely hilarious though. Really makes me want Apple to show the mobile phone manufacturers, and possibly service providers [if Apple goes MVNO] how to do that whole industry RIGHT!

A LOT OF PEOPLE ATE A WHOLE LOT OF CROW AFTER THEIR POSTS IN THAT THREAD.

Almost makes me want to send some PM's to some of those people... :p

So beware all of you "Apple shouldn't get into the mobile phone market" nay-sayers.

[MacQuest]

Ah, !%@$. I've dealt with BenQ before, and their service certainly didn't impress me. :mad:

Yeah, on the hardware side I remember seeing their LCD displays at CompUSA a couple of years ago... cheap and uuuuuugly. :(

[mackeeper]

Possibly the most ergonomic phone and iPod ever.

[lonepilgrim]

Possibly the most ergonomic phone and iPod ever.
But wait, the next gen iPod is going to have a touch screen, right? So the whole screen could turn into a keypad.

Plus, you wouldn't need to build a speaker or microphone into the iPod itself. The headphones would be the speaker, and there could a microphone dangling on the headphone lead, which is very common for mobile phones, at least in this country.

As some others have said, if this is going to be an iPod with phone functions, music will still be the priority - which makes sense. Most people would use the phone functions a minimal amount compared to the music functions. A call comes through and it pauses the music. Then you end the call and the music instantly resumes -- like the Motorola Rokr was supposed to do on stage when Jobs unveiled it. But this time, you don't need to press any buttons or even take the iPod out of your pocket.

[Alasta]

It's interesting that the article implies that Apple has held talks with numerous Taiwanese phone manufacturers, but BenQ and Asus are the only Taiwanese companies that I know of who currently manufacture phones. Is there a whole industry in Taiwan that is unknown to those of us in the rest of the world?

[Dunepilot]

Yeah, on the hardware side I remember seeing their LCD displays at CompUSA a couple of years ago... cheap and uuuuuugly. :(

I bought one of their projectors for work, and I've found it really good. Easy to use and it comes with lots of good accessories.

My main thinking about an iPhone is that I'd buy one in a heartbeat if Apple came up with a way of it using Airport functionality to use Skype or a similar service when in-range of a wireless access point, then using GSM elsewhere. Combine this with really good .Mac syncing, obviously, to make a compelling product.

British Telecom recently started offering a service along these lines using a RAZR and an adsl modem set up for telephony.

[bentoms]

It'll probably be a TouchScreen iPod with an onscreen keypad & VoIP:cool:

To me that would "fit" with apples designs

[Bonte]

Intersting that smarthouse calls it "an iPod with phone functions" rather than "a phone with iTunes".

I still think its an add-on to a normal iPod, not a standalone phone. A bit the same concept as the FM tuner or wireless earphones.

[Dunepilot]

I still think its an add-on to a normal iPod, not a standalone phone. A bit the same concept as the FM tuner or wireless earphones.

I doubt apple would want to do that for battery reasons. You'd end up having a separate second item to have to charge and carry with you. It just strikes me as unelegant, and therefore unlikely.

I have an IBM Workpad C3 (a rebranded Palm Vx) and I have several add-ons for it that work just that way, like the TDK Blue5 bluetooth adaptor (http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=TDKBLUE501) and an Ubinetics GA100 phone adaptor (http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=UBIN-GA100). I've hardly ever used either.

[d_saum]

Hey, iPod goes video, I can understand that. Apple makes a phone in a competitive field it has not pursued before, a bit iffy, but possible. Maybe American cell phones are really that bad? (In Japan Apple stands no chance, sorry to say.)

But the iPod going phone? No way in hell Jobs would be so inane. It does music, with video on the side. 6G might do video well enough not to call it "on the side," but the idea is still a portable media device. Putting a phone function into it doesn't beat competition...people can use an iPod for music and photos and video, but people will be just fine with a separate phone. Think about it - the whole convergence notion makes little sense in a situation like this one, when marrying a media player and a phone could easily make for a lousy phone and *interesting* if geeky and awkward music player.

If Microsoft is for convergence (functionitis), Apple is for streamlining, perfecting, and completing. Completing as in not leaving a music player without an interface that covers all the bases well. Completing as in, adding to the quality of the experience, if not so much to the quantity. Imagine if Nokia or whatever made cell phones the same way - would there be any competition from an iPod phone version? An iPhone, perhaps, but not an iPod phone, which would be a two headed monster. And an iPod phone would not sell internationally, as even an iPhone would have difficulty. If they're going to upgrade the iPod, they should upgrade the experience, like adding wireless, touch funcitionality, etc.

How do you know? How can you be soooo sure? I cant stand when people sound so positive about a rumored product. "Stands no chance in Japan"? Are you prepared to be proven wrong if it is successful? Look at that "thread 500" about the iPod when it was first introduced. How many people were positive that the iPod would fail?

Also, if Apple does not get into the cell phone market now, companies will just keep getting better at making phones with mp3 functions until one of them gets it right, the other companies copy it, and it makes a severe dent in the iPod market. SO what would you do? Wait and see? well, Im glad you're not in charge of apple. I'd be bored out of my mind with your products that dont evolve and just keep adding functions like wireless and touch functionality to "upgrade the experience" :rolleyes:

[BoyBach]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?


Well (deep breath)...

I work at Intel, and my brother works at Microsoft, and his friend works at Sony, whose uncle runs Panasonic, and his wife is an exec at IBM, and she's having an affair with with the lead designer at Nintendo, whose cousin works at Adobe, and he said that there's a 75% chance that Swatchman is talking through his...

Now, is this face the face of liar? :rolleyes:

[4np]

Ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaa..

That's hilarious. Love it! Glad my name isn't next to any of those posts. :D

ROTFL, Ecellent! :D Are any of these people still on macrumors? We should cross-reference the recent threads with that thread ;)

[MacMosher]

Intersting that smarthouse calls it "an iPod with phone functions" rather than "a phone with iTunes".
Yeah thats what Imlooking forward to it...

But as of right now Im starting to care less and less. Come on just get the flippin ibook out already my god ahaha :p

[g21]

I think there's clearly every reason to want Apple to make a phone. Pretty much all phones that currently exist are either too big, too ugly, or more crucially have really unbelievably badly deisnged operating systems and GUIs - yes, I'm looking at you Sony-Erricson and Motorola. Texting on the Moto V3 is cruel and unusual punishment. It's like the thing hates you and wants you to suffer... Reminds me of using, yes, Windows somehow. I find it amazing that after all this time, no one has built a phone that ticks these three simple boxes, and generally they are still compteing to have more features with yet more complicated interfaces.

I would love to have a phone that looks like a nano or else an ultra thin flip-phone with a proper titanium / aluminium case (mac book style), or something completely new and wantable, simple minimal design, and an OS that works and is a pleasure to use. It may or may not be a good market for Apple to break into, but music didn't seem that obvious either and that desparately needed Apple's clear thinking and good design too. Bring it on, I say.

Maybe it's like the Mighty Mouse - three button mouse needed and rumoured for years, but they don't want to do it until they can come out with something that clearly and obviously does something differently and better.

[naderby]

I think it could have gone like this...

Apple wants a WIFI enabled iPod so that it can download iTunes content without a computer. It builds one.

Apple notices that VoIP is gaining momentum, but is poorly implemented into computers.

Apple realises that a WIFI iPod and earbuds are already very near what would be needed to give the iPod VoIP. All it needs adding is a new set of ear buds with a mic built in and the necessary software.

We end up with a new iPod that has internet access via WIFI for downloading content and for chatting to your friends. It is rumoured that VoIP will be coming to the PSP soon.

[Sunrunner]

Intersting that smarthouse calls it "an iPod with phone functions" rather than "a phone with iTunes".

Technical analysis of this and other rumor's taken in aggregation would seem to indicate that the most likely candidate is an "iPod phone" that utilizes BT technology to integrate an ear-set as main phone interface element (see the Motorola (http://motorola.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayCategoryListPage&SiteID=motostor&Locale=en_US&Env=BASE&parentCategoryID=&categoryID=972000) example) combined with a on-iPod touch screen interface to allow extended phone functionality; iPod would simply change its interface to a cell-phone-centric one when prompted by the user. This would enable the cell phone funtionality while simutaneously combining both the BT and touchscreen iPod rumors. Considering the size of modern cell phone devices, (for example the RAZR) integration of cell circutry into the iPod form factor should be relatively easy. This hybrid iPod would not suffer from the typical funtionality loss seen in "combined" devices.

Addtional points to consider: BT would allow the kind of syncing already seen in equipped cellular devices, coupled with Apples typical tight integration. Also, the cellular funcunality would allow for almost limitless possibilities when the ability to connect wirelessly to the internet is taken into account (such as net surfing, mobile iTMS...the "MobileMe" Apple has reserved for use). The screen real-estate of the much-rumored full screen iPod would make such activities relatively painless, as oppoed to surfing on the typical cell phone. If Apple were to integrate an addtional solid-state memory chip into this hybrid iPod, (similar to that used in current cellular offerings) the battery drain from these activities would be relatively minor, with the screen and wireless transmission being the main draining factors.

Current state-of-the-art battery technology should allow such a device to both allow a useable amount of "talk time" and allow users enough time to watch whatever the latest movie is that they have downloaded to their iPod from the iTunes Movie store.

This is what Apple will ship. You heard it here first. ;)


How will Apple mitigate the increased power drain? How about making charging more simple and convenient. Apple "splashpads" (http://splashpower.com/) anyone?

[sartinsauce]

Hhhhmmmm...

Should this happen, I'm thinking it's going to be based on a Nano. As someone previously specualted, current form factors such as Motorola's RAZR and SLVR are very small. If it was a 4GB Nano with phone functions built in I expect it would still be very small. Also, 4GB would is 8x more internal memory than any phone I'm aware of here in the US. None of the other company's has gotten the phone/media player right yet, Apple should take a crack at it.

So maybe a candybar phone, 4GB storage, twice as thick and half again tall and wide (say 5" x 2" x .5"), GSM with SIM card, storage usable as external drive (with USB 2.0 connection), seamless synching and integration with OS X, and an Apple interface and exterior design. Priced at say, $349 (US$).

That's bad @$$! I'd buy one immeadiately, as would many others I expect.

Still, I think it's all a mixed up rumor.

[duffman9000]

Has BT reception improved? Maybe its just my Motorola earpiece + my cell that results in poor reception. I would love to put my Nokia 7610 in my pocket and get good reception with my BT earpiece. Ironically, i can put my cell phone anywhere else and get good reception.
No, i don't carry buckshot in my pockets.

If it happens, please, please make it a flip-flop. I'm close to throwing my phone into a trash compactor. I hate candy bar phones and can't wait to chuck this one.

EDIT: Flip-Phone... got circuits on the brain.

[g21]

Actually, I think if they were going to go into this market, they'd have to at least work towards having a range, as they do with iPods. Maybe just one initially to get the ball rolling, but there's a need for something like the nano that's just as small and minimal as possible, and a need for something more complex that integrates with iCal, or has video, or makes video calls, emails and so on. There's not much point in just dipping a toe into phones / PDAs / portable entertainment, you need to cover the angles.

[socamx]

The whole 'iPhone' thing is so uninteresting to me, I probably won't care much for it if/when it comes out.

Then again, I thought the same exact thing when I saw the first iPod, few months later I found myself with a second generation iPod and taking it with me everywhere.

[Seasought]

I for one would be interested in an Apple cell phone. I'm not a cell phone guy at all, but can forsee one being useful within a few months (job promotion). Apple releasing a cell phone would definately persuade me to buy one. I just love the look and feel of everything Apple designs. It would undoubtedly be a beautiful cell phone.

Congratulations on the job promotion! :D

[peharri]

Has BT reception improved? Maybe its just my Motorola earpiece + my cell that results in poor reception. I would love to put my Nokia 7610 in my pocket and get good reception with my BT earpiece. Ironically, i can put my cell phone anywhere else and get good reception.
No, i don't carry buckshot in my pockets.

If it happens, please, please make it a flip-flop. I'm close to throwing my phone into a trash compactor. I hate candy bar phones and can't wait to chuck this one.

EDIT: Flip-Phone... got circuits on the brain.
Probably a problem with your specific phone and/or headset. I regularly connect to the Internet using my Powerbook (cheap BT dongle sticking out of a USB port) and my Motorola V635 (imported, using it on T-Mobile USA's network), and have had the phone across the room (several yards away) without any problems. On the other hand, I've had other dongles that, frankly, could barely hold a connection for more than a minute or two, even if the phone was right next to the laptop.

There's some crappy BT hardware out there. I'd advise trying with something else (a different headset perhaps) as an enormous number of people use BT in exactly the way to describe without problems.

[Macnoviz]

An add-on like the FM-tuner would certainly be nice and technically genial, and about the power, couldn't it take power from the iPod through the connection?

Also, having read the infamous thread 500, I think we shouldn't be too rough on a thing like this, and just wait and see

[lonepilgrim]

If it happens, please, please make it a flip-flop. I'm close to throwing my phone into a trash compactor. I hate candy bar phones and can't wait to chuck this one.
I think if this thing does appear, and especially if it's based on the iPod, it is very unlikely it would be a flip.

[xUKHCx]

If it happens, please, please make it a flip-flop. I'm close to throwing my phone into a trash compactor. I hate candy bar phones and can't wait to chuck this one.

I hate flip phones, especially the ultra crappy motorola ones. The V3 is a shocking phone both design wise and user interface. I recently had the chance to use a motorola phone, so backwards, crippled, and buggy to say the least. (It would totally lock when trying to send or recieve anything via bluetooth).

Anyway you hate candy bar i hate flip phones. Who knows they could release both types

[Xgreed]

THERE IS NO PHONE FROM APPLE COMING READ THIS:

I work AT Apple. One of my buddies is the lead designer for BenQ-Siemens.

1. (side note) BenQ will DROP Siemens name next year and will be just BenQ but will stay in Germany for R&D. If ANYBODY knows something it would be him BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

2. ME. I work at Apple as an executive. This is simply not happening. The analysts are getting the info on Nokia's new music phones and somehow this is relating back to (and getting scrambled out there) Apple and a cellular phone.

The Mobile Me project is NOT a phone. It is a entertainment tablet of sorts. It will be out third quarter. NEW Macbooks are coming soon too and aim to please.

Damn...does ANYBODY read my posts on here?

I just hope that not going in the direction of mobile phones will be the right decision for Apple.

The mobile phone is THE companion device of our time and music will be as much a standard feature of the next generation phones (incl. BenQ-Siemens) as it is the camera today. Unfortunately for you, all of these will use 'PlaysForSure' as their DRM.

The same will happen to music as can be observed today with pictures. With +2MPixel sensors inside phones many people start leaving their digital cameras at home even when making their holiday trip of the year - the quality difference for most people is just not big enough to warrant carrying a second device around - and a second power adapter to charge it...

So, very soon, most people will use their phones to listen to music when on the go and the iPods will increasingly get dusty in their corners.

Regarding the Mobile Me Tablet, well I hope it gets much better then the Nokia 770 - which I bought last year but am disappointed with: too little screen, too weak processor, too little software.
Also, any Tablet comming out this year should better have a DVB-H included. Thats at least something that people will not want to do on their phones: watching TV. A different kind of device is needed for this.

[me_flay]

Dun know, I don't see any iPhone unless Apple is having at least a minor change in their general product design. The current design (to my opinion) leaves no compatible style for an adequate product that does not exclude the professional crowd. Or who wants to walk around with an iPod-alike mobile gadget?? Naaa, well not me. Neither a shiny white nor a shiny black go with a classical business suit, to dainty. So, if there is going to be a mobile/PDA I think it might announce a slightly modified design era. Maybe matt-finishes, silver, black or titanium... Well just a thought anyway.

[mangis]

Personally, I am sick and tired of carrying both my phone and my ipod everywhere. Now I have to keep two devices in my pockets, and have to have them both charged. The digital lifestyle has added work and weight to my life.

I would welcome an apple phone with a 4 Gb flash memory for iTunes. That supposed "iTunes phone" held only 100 songs, and cingular service blows anyway. Motorola design is of similar ilk. That product is a joke.

There should be several kinds of the phone available so it can be used with any carriers, and even in Asia and Europe. The same body, but different insides.

[xUKHCx]

The same body, but different insides.

How about same insides different body.

[duffman9000]

I hate flip phones, especially the ultra crappy motorola ones. The V3 is a shocking phone both design wise and user interface. I recently had the chance to use a motorola phone, so backwards, crippled, and buggy to say the least. (It would totally lock when trying to send or recieve anything via bluetooth).

Anyway you hate candy bar i hate flip phones. Who knows they could release both types

Yeah, i hear ya. So they gotta me two styles then huh...lol.

I've tried different bar phones and i cant get used to them. I like the feel of a regular phone. Still, i cant figure out why i cant put my phone into my pant pockets without getting static. I can leave it out for a good distance and still get good reception, but the minute it goes into my pocket i get static through the ear piece. Argh... and its a motocrapo earpiece.

[yeoldwizard1]

You know, the more that an Apple product is rumored, the worse it turns out to be. Example: iPod nano and the RCKR phone. That phone sucked and was one of the most rumored-of products today. And yet, no one knew of the nano until the day before until it came out and it ruled the roost.

Personally, I dont give a crap. I mean, its a cellphone. What can they do to make it a better cell phone than whats out there? Bluetooth, 2 MP camera, iTunes w/HDD. And for what? Apple would prob charge some $300 for the phone, which is hardly worth switching over for from my RAZR. Also, if Apple is going to charge for service, expect outrageous prices in the same way that AirPort Extreme is a waste of money that no one buys anymore.

[bketchum]

But wait, the next gen iPod is going to have a touch screen, right? So the whole screen could turn into a keypad.

Plus, you wouldn't need to build a speaker or microphone into the iPod itself. The headphones would be the speaker, and there could a microphone dangling on the headphone lead, which is very common for mobile phones, at least in this country.

As some others have said, if this is going to be an iPod with phone functions, music will still be the priority - which makes sense. Most people would use the phone functions a minimal amount compared to the music functions. A call comes through and it pauses the music. Then you end the call and the music instantly resumes -- like the Motorola Rokr was supposed to do on stage when Jobs unveiled it. But this time, you don't need to press any buttons or even take the iPod out of your pocket.

Further to that...

You can choose any song you want on your iPod phone's playlist as your ringtone. I wonder how that might attract users? It seems very expensive to me to buy a ringtone.

I also like the idea of rapidly scrolling through an any-size phone list with the iPod scroll wheel and pressing it to phone a contact.

[aWannabeMacUser]

:o Actually I did a similar design few weeks before the news emerged, this design is obviously imaginary, but I'd like to show it to you.
http://static.flickr.com/53/117009601_09b448458b.jpg?v=0

[xUKHCx]

Apple would prob charge some $300 for the phone, which is hardly worth switching over for from my RAZR. Also, if Apple is going to charge for service, expect outrageous prices in the same way that AirPort Extreme is a waste of money that no one buys anymore.

But buy having the RAZR you are alradgy proving you are willing to pay outrageous prices for something that is not very good. The interface is heavily crippled compard to a nokia, or sony ericsson or samsung. Also the apple phone will properly work with your computer. IF they do it right it would be worth it, but no one pays the full price for a phone. So get it cheaper on 02 or orange.

[Dr.Gargoyle]

So, very soon, most people will use their phones to listen to music when on the go and the iPods will increasingly get dusty in their corners.
Couldnt agree more. The convergence of cellphone/mp3 player/GPS/PDA/camera will happen... period. It is just a question of when. Apple needs to get into the race. Sublime design and a smarter GUI will just go that far, when the number of "vital" gadgets becomes too many.

[MLM]

If Apple where to release a device like that, they would have to depend on another big company, like cingular. I really don't think that would work out...

[bagleyb]

Until then, you can make your Windows Smartphone look like OS/X.

You can get it from here.

http://www.modaco.com/index.php?act=dscript&CODE=showdetails&f_id=221

Must create an ID to download it.