iPhone Contracts, Different Outer Design?

[MacRumors]

The Commercial Times reports that Quanta Computer has received orders to assemble approximately 5 million Apple iPhones for shipment in September. It appears this is an additional order beyond the first batch which was originally placed with Foxconn (Hon Hai). The initial shipment is presumably due in late-June to meet Apple's target date.

Forbes was unable to get any further commentary about the report from the newspaper, but Digitimes provides some curious details from the report, indicating the September order is meant to fill a different market:

The iPhone produced by Foxconn is designated for the US market, and those manufactured by Quanta will be similar in function to those from Foxconn but with a different outer design to fit different markets, the paper quoted sources at Taiwan-based component makers as saying.

The iPhone's U.S. launch is expected in late June, while the European launch has been said to be in the 4th Quarter of this year.

[mathilda]

well a early european lauch would be great. Remains to be seen with which carrier and what conditions...

[cwedl]

I'm hoping this means that the phone will be available on the 3g network

[screensaver400]

Originally Posted by Digitimes

The iPhone produced by Foxconn is designated for the US market, and those manufactured by Quanta will be similar in function to those from Foxconn but with a different outer design to fit different markets, the paper quoted sources at Taiwan-based component makers as saying.

Wow, revealing. We can conclude, based on the source, that the Foxconn order is not designated for the US market. Those manufactured by Quanta will not be similar in function to those from Foxconn, but will have the same outer design. The Quanta devices will target the same markets as the Foxconn units. The sources for these tidbits are Thailand-based.

[Zillatron]

If this is true, its interesting...seems unlikely that they would have different designs for different markets (iPod? no. any Mac? no.)...why would this be any different?

More likely the innards (and software) will be different.

Z

[iHerzeleid]

White face?

[unsolvedmistere]

It looks like my new iPhone will be outdated by september and I don't even have it yet...

[furious]

European model?

Hopefully I want an iPhone in Australia stat.

[Peace]

Originally Posted by screensaver400

Wow, revealing. We can conclude, based on the source, that the Foxconn order is not designated for the US market. Those manufactured by Quanta will not be similar in function to those from Foxconn, but will have the same outer design. The Quanta devices will target the same markets as the Foxconn units. The sources for these tidbits are Thailand-based.

Think you have it a bit backwards.Digitimes says the Foxconn is for the US market and the Quanta has a different outer design specifically for other markets.

[aristotle]

Those must be for the Canadian market through Rogers.

[LimeiBook86]

Two different designs? I guess this could have to do with standards or something between countries but, we all know what this will cause... people wanting to collect both iPhones.

[samh004]

This is good that they've got the ball rolling already for other markets. I can't wait till it comes to Asia myself.

I can only imagine this will be a different color, as mentioned above, white instead of black, or similar.

I can't see them changing the design to be thicker or slimmer before the current versions are even on the market.

Originally Posted by LimeiBook86

we all know what this will cause... people wanting to collect both iPhones.

You mean all 4 don't you

[hawken king]

lets hope its the 3G model for Japan.

no?

just me then.

My contract runs out in september...

[Project]

Anybody with a knowledge of the logistical process of consumer electronics?

Basically, if an order is put in for production in September, when would you usually expect to see it in stores (provided there are no artificial delays, to meet a product launch data for instance)?

[screensaver400]

Originally Posted by Peace

Think you have it a bit backwards.Digitimes says the Foxconn is for the US market and the Quanta has a different outer design specifically for other markets.

Nope, I said what I meant.

http://www.macrumors.com/2005/01/14/...-g5-contracts/

http://www.macrumors.com/2006/11/27/...idescreen-lcd/

http://www.macrumors.com/2005/04/08/...book-unlikely/

http://www.macrumors.com/2003/01/14/...ch-powerbooks/

http://www.macrumors.com/2003/04/14/...5-inch-tablet/

http://www.macrumors.com/2002/05/31/17-19inch-imacs/

[wildmannz]

I can't imagine that they would change the exterior for appearances sake.
I CAN imagine that they would make a different form-factor like the nano-esque version that has been mentioned.
Could this possibly be it?

As with all rumors - taken with more than just a grain of salt.

[Belly-laughs]

It´s not another iphone, it´s the 6G iPod. The numbers are wrong too, not 5M but 50M.

I could be wrong, though…

[belovedmonster]

Wooooaoh wait a minute.... !!!!!

What if this rumour is ever so slightly off the mark, and this other "iPhone" is actually the true widescreen iPod?

Plausible? I would have thought so.

[neutrino23]

Originally Posted by Belly-laughs

It´s not another iphone, it´s the 6G iPod. The numbers are wrong too, not 5M but 50M.

I could be wrong, though…

Beat me to it. Not that the Asian papers have been that accurate in the details.

[TeddyBlack]

Is it not possible that, if this is for the european market, at least for the UK, the different casing design could be to incorporate access to the sim card, as opposed to the US version where it is supposed to be welded in?(http://www.beforeview.info/iphone/2.html). As from previous posts, the mobile phone market in the UK is different from the US, in that people are very used to being able to take pretty much any sim card and put it into any phone. People are just used to a lot more freedom when it comes to taking their phone to another service provider. I still can't believe Apple are thinking of having the iphone tied to just one provider in the UK; as far as I know, there isn't a phone on the UK market that is tied solely to one.
I just think, if true, the more likely reason for a slightly different designed casing would be for something like this, rather than a different model?. But then, what do I know......

[nubero]

Originally Posted by LimeiBook86

Two different designs? I guess this could have to do with standards or something between countries but, we all know what this will cause... people wanting to collect both iPhones.

i don't think so. there''s no reason for that here in europe.
the only thing i can imagine is hard branding. great. i can't wait to see the blue and red carrier logo on my iphone here... *pukes*

[Raveny]

In January I thought Apple will increase capacity up to 16GB... why is there still a 100$ difference between both iPhone models when the 4GB nano and 8GB nano have a 50$ difference? It's the same NAND memory
But very unlikely...

[DrFrankTM]

Originally Posted by TeddyBlack

Is it not possible that, if this is for the european market, at least for the UK, the different casing design could be to incorporate access to the sim card, as opposed to the US version where it is supposed to be welded in?(http://www.beforeview.info/iphone/2.html). As from previous posts, the mobile phone market in the UK is different from the US, in that people are very used to being able to take pretty much any sim card and put it into any phone. People are just used to a lot more freedom when it comes to taking their phone to another service provider. I still can't believe Apple are thinking of having the iphone tied to just one provider in the UK; as far as I know, there isn't a phone on the UK market that is tied solely to one.
I just think, if true, the more likely reason for a slightly different designed casing would be for something like this, rather than a different model?. But then, what do I know......

Does anyone know the reliability of beforeview? Does the iPhone really have a welded SIM card? The iPhone seems like a pretty good little machine, but I'll be in Asia all of 2008 and I was hoping I could get one before leaving Canada.

[Evangelion]

Originally Posted by TeddyBlack

Is it not possible that, if this is for the european market, at least for the UK, the different casing design could be to incorporate access to the sim card, as opposed to the US version where it is supposed to be welded in?

It's not welded in. There's a tray for the SIM-card. It was clearly shown during the keynote.

[Evangelion]

Originally Posted by belovedmonster

Wooooaoh wait a minute.... !!!!!

What if this rumour is ever so slightly off the mark, and this other "iPhone" is actually the true widescreen iPod?

Plausible? I would have thought so.

I really, really, really hope so. I'm getting the urge for a new iPod. The money is burning a hole in my pocket, and I feel it's time to move on from my iPod Mini. And I _want_ the fullscreen iPod with touch-controls. I really, really want it. I can't really get an iPhone and it's not suitable for my needs.

Apple: Please give us iPhone based iPod, and soon. I'm begging you. The iPod video is getting a bit old, and your competitors are gaining on you. Please: give us a device that is jaw-droppingly awesome. You did that with the iPhone, and you can do it with the iPod. I have the money ready.