Apple, Motorola, Cingular, and iTunes Phone... Ready?

[MacRumors]

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Businessweek provides an excellent roundup of the players involved in Apple and Motorola's move to provide iTunes enabled cell phones.

The much publicized announcement has seen multiple delays over the past year. Some have speculated that wireless providers have been a major hurdle in the adoption of an iTunes-enabled phone. Recent rumors have pinpointed Cingular as the likely carrier of the new phones.

The deal with Cingular appears not to be in stone as of yet, but may represent Apple's only US carrier option:

Afraid that Apple would take a potentially new source of revenue (music downloads) for itself, all other major U.S. wireless carriers have refused Jobs's overtures outright, says Andrew Cole, an analyst with consultancy A.T. Kearney

Analysts expect that a family of iTunes phones will be available by Christmas ranging from low to high end phones.

[runplaysleeprun]

excellent. I have cingular. i suppose the razr i was going to get can wait a few weeks till this plays out.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

If they come out with a low-end phone, capable of making calls and sending text-messages which I can sync with iCal and Address Book I will be very happy...

Don't really care for camera, MMS, Java games, etc. but the ability to use iTunes melodies for ring tones might be fun (for a while).

[CubaTBird]

apple and cingular really seem to be pushing this phone for a christmas release.. or thats what seems to be gathering... i say bring it on now.. for back to school season.. who knows though.. maybe they know something we don't.... NEW IBOOKS NEXT TUESDAY!!

[Stella]

I wonder what inflated price you'll have to pay tunes wirelessly now that the carriers want their cut.

Additionally I wonder how long it will be until the carriers insist on users paying to upload songs on to their phones? ( I understand some carriers disable bluetooth etc on their branded phones so users have to pay to upload content such as ring tones etc).

I cannot understand why Apple doesn't release an iTunes client for all major phones - its not that difficult, instead of just Moto.

Lastly, I hope apple get carriers in Europe where the potential revenue for iTunes phones significantly dwarf the north american market.

[Punkwaffle]

Well, just some more speculative info.
I "know someone" who manages for Cingular, and apparently there is a big manager's meeting on July 7th, same day as Apple's Mystery Event.

Who knows?
We'll find out next week.

[DavidLeblond]

I hate this carrier specific BS. I have Verizon. I guess I can get an iTunes enabled phone when my contract runs out in, what, 2013?

[jblodgett]

I doubt there will be that big of a price -- I have cingular - and any time you get on their network you have to pay for each byte of information transferred.

A song is likely going to require quite a bit of bandwidth to transfer -- so I am sure cingular would make a pretty good penny.

[iGary]

I anyone actually interested in one ofthese things?

[ericdano]

Originally Posted by Mitthrawnuruodo

If they come out with a low-end phone, capable of making calls and sending text-messages which I can sync with iCal and Address Book I will be very happy...

Don't really care for camera, MMS, Java games, etc. but the ability to use iTunes melodies for ring tones might be fun (for a while).

Um, the RAZR phones sync with iCal and Address. Over bluetooth even.

I'd never pay those fees that the Cell Carriers want for a ring tone. It's insane. And the quality blows.

[Demon Hunter]

I've been waiting for this phone a long time, if it doesn't come out in July I may just have to pass, this is ridiculous.

[jblodgett]

Originally Posted by iGary

I anyone actually interested in one ofthese things?

I, too, am somewhat baffled by all the craze of the "iTunes phone."

What's the big deal??? Someone please enlighten me!

[sillycybin]

bub-bye verizon. can you hear me now?

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Originally Posted by ericdano

Um, the RAZR phones sync with iCal and Address. Over bluetooth even.

Lots of phones does this. I use my Sony Ericsson T68i, but it has gotten old and unreliable and in need of a replacement.

And I'm not sure the RAZR can be counted as a low-end phone...

[sillycybin]

Originally Posted by jblodgett

I, too, am somewhat baffled by all the craze of the "iTunes phone."

What's the big deal??? Someone please enlighten me!

To many devices, not enough pockets. I just need a days worth of music with me, not my whole music collection.

I have an original 5gb iPod and a broken LG phone, both need replacement. The stars are aligning.

[skipjakk]

Apple should set up there own cell phone service!

[Dokter_Mac]

For two years i am waiting to buy a new mobilephone , i think the moment is there to buy one
BTW:I work at Alcatel , don't tell anyone

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[Warbrain]

I can honestly say that I prefer that Cingular is getting the phone than, say, Verizon. I've had no problems with Cingular and I rarely hear complaints about their service, but I always hear about problems with other carriers.

And I've got a bit of a Motorola bias, too, considering that HQ's only a stone's throw from where I live.

[Noiseboy]

I must say the idea of these devices leave me cold. I need to listen to music on my phone why??? I have an iPod, I have my laptop with me continually and the greed of mobile phone carriers is legendary. When it finally gets around to being downloadable direct to the phone it will be pricey especially here in the US where the phone companies greed even has us paying to receive calls and yet remains years behind europe in cell phone technology. I know of knowhere else worldwide where you have to pay for incoming calls (except when roaming obviously) and my european 3G phone sees no 3G service in New York.
I think I'll leave my battery life for making calls.

[rdowns]

Originally Posted by CubaTBird

NEW IBOOKS NEXT TUESDAY!!

Don't be THAT guy.

[Typolad]

If my wife didn't already have an iPod, I'd consider getting her one.

I think the problem with this product is the gadget-addicted types who would buy something like this most likely already have an iPod. I mean, yes I'm currently carring a Smartphone and an iPod, but that's because the iPod was free and I don't have the cash for a large SD card. As soon as I get it, bye bye iPod.

[Brian0523]

You're all missing the point. It's not about downloading songs from iTunes Music Store directly to the phone - you would still use your Mac for that like you do with the iPod. You would connect the "iPhone" to your Mac and upload songs from iTunes. The "iPhone" eliminates the need to carry around a cell phone and an iPod.

[jblodgett]

Originally Posted by Brian0523

You're all missing the point. It's not about downloading songs from iTunes Music Store directly to the phone - you would still use your Mac for that like you do with the iPod. You would connect the "iPhone" to your Mac and upload songs from iTunes. The "iPhone" eliminates the need to carry around a cell phone and an iPod.

So how are you going to use both at the same time???

Is the phone going to come with stereo headphones AND a microphone???

[Mord]

if it comes in the form of a small phone like the razr but not so expencive i'll buy one, as much as i hate mobile phones i really need to get one.

[~Shard~]

Nice to hear some more news on this - looking forward to seeing what the announcement brings. Personally, I don't even have a cell phone, so this won't really affect me at all, but it's still neat to see the latest developments like this.

So, what then, you're listening to a tune on your cell phone, then a call comes in, so the tune pauses automatically so you can answer your call, or how does that work?