3G iPhone with GPS, Video Conferences, TV?

[MacRumors]

LeMatin.ch (French) reports that based on a source in Swisscom, Switzerland will be getting the iPhone this summer.

By itself, this news is not that surprising, as there have been a growing number of reports of the iPhone being delivered internationally in the coming months. Unique to this source, however, is the report that the iPhone would come with GPS, Video Conferencing and Mobile TV functionality.

GPS and video conferencing (with front-sided camera) have both been rumored for the next generation iPhone, but the addition of mobile television is new.

Article Link

[arn]

MrCrowbar provided this translation

iPhone coming to Switzerland this summer

Apple's new generation of 3G phone to be sold at Swisscom soon

Only a few more weeks to go...
If everything goes right the Swiss will be able to get their hands on all beautiful, brand new, iPhones in Swisscom stores starting this summer. Apple and Switzerland's number one tele-communications company indeed just signed a deal to collaborate according to a Swisscom Source.

And surprise; the upcoming phone rom the fruity brand has 3G—the new standard for multimedia. Fitted with a more powerful chip, the fashinable device will offer more functionality like video conference, mobile television and GPS. It should start selling in the USA in june.

Rendering the "old" iPhone obsolete
"The new iPhone version will put the first generation, which sold more than 5.5 million times, to shame", according to a specialized analyst who thinks Swisscom's patience for this deal has payed off. "After one year of service in the USA and just a little more than 9 months in Europe, the 'old' iPhone has become obsolete." Measnwhile, telephone operators like T-Mobile in Germany are trying to get rid of the current multimedia swiss army knife, just like AT&T in the US who cut the price in half to $170 (170 swiss francs).

Not to mention that the secret transaction with the California based company is well kept at Swisscom. Spokesperson Christian Neuhaus insists that "nothing has been sealed yet". Same tight-lipp-ness from Apple. "But the clues aren't wrong" an observator adds. The blue giant [translator's note: Swisscom has a blue logo] just launched a mobile television service.

Another clue: Apple has signed an allience with Vodaphone of England. The world's number one in telephony will distribute iPhones in a few ten countries, and above all, will develop content delivery services for Apple's machine. Swisscom who is a partner of the english giant [translator's note: Vodaphone] since 2003 will profit from this. And no one doubts that the 40,000 owners of black market iPones will be seduces by the new offers.

Indeed, who could resist a soccer match live on his 3G phone?

[RustyM]

Does it have to be into English?

[edesignuk]

Originally Posted by RustyM

Does it have to be into English?

This is an English language site. So yes, translation in to English might be useful.

[Bentov]

Unique to this source, however, is the report that the iPhone would come with GPS, Video Conferencing, Mobile TV functionality, and 38 minutes of usable battery time.

Sorry for leaving that out

[Shasterball]

I hear it can unlock your car. But that takes 45% of the battery.

[muncyweb]

Originally Posted by Shasterball

I hear it can unlock your car. But that takes 45% of the battery.

I heard it could morph into a tiny lawn mower. The GPS helps guide it around the yard. I'm looking forward to that.

[lazyrighteye]

WWDC couldnt feel further away!


Ok.
I guess it could.

[macFabri]

Great ! This could means iPhone is coming to Japan ! Here all cellphones already have TV and many features. APple will have to make a very attractive iPhone to sell in Japan and TV is one of the top list !

[Buschmaster]

I think GPS and live TV would be much bigger selling points to me than 3G.

[Shasterball]

Originally Posted by Buschmaster

I think GPS and live TV would be much bigger selling points to me than 3G.

Well, wouldn't live TV be hard without 3G?

[matperk]

Originally Posted by Shasterball

Well, wouldn't live TV be hard without 3G?

Only if you like watching more than 6 frames per second.

[mark34]

Originally Posted by Shasterball

Well, wouldn't live TV be hard without 3G?

Exactly!! Seems there are more and more people saying that 3G is not the top need. I just don't get that. It's like saying I like my slingbox more than having broadband internet.

[edesignuk]

Originally Posted by Shasterball

Well, wouldn't live TV be hard without 3G?

DVB-H (the preferred method for mobile TV broadcasting in EU) is not something that runs on top of a 3G data connection. It's it's own technology on it's own frequency.

DVB-H.

Having one feature does not equal the other.

[Buschmaster]

Originally Posted by Shasterball

Well, wouldn't live TV be hard without 3G?

3G is slower than wifi....?

[kis]

Originally Posted by Buschmaster

3G is slower than wifi....?

uhm - yes

[Eidorian]

I could try but I'm only a Spanish major.

[Zukum]

I wonder if 3G is fast enough to support iChat. That would be amazing indeed, and save allot of minutes!

[gcmexico]

Originally Posted by Zukum

I wonder if 3G is fast enough to support iChat. That would be amazing indeed, and save allot of minutes!

**
hope they have the ichat function! I will buy it in a heart beat if they do...I wonder if that will work with skype? I'm assuming skype will have 3rd party app

[wakerider017]

Originally Posted by Zukum

I wonder if 3G is fast enough to support iChat. That would be amazing indeed, and save allot of minutes!

iChat takes VERY LITTLE bandwidth (If using regular chat feature) and could easily have been implemented on the older EDGE network.

Video chat on the other hand does require more resources.

[teleromeo]

iPhone ready for take-off this summer in Switserland.

The new generation of apple's 3G iPhone soon for sale at swisscom.

Only a couple of weeks to hold...
If everything comes as planned, the Swiss will be able to cuddle real beautifull and all new iPhones in Swisscom shops this summer. According to a source from within Swisscom Apple and the leading swiss telecom company have reached a deal for cooperation.

The good surprise : it will be the 3G version, the new version of the multimedia telephone of the brand with the apple, that takes off in Switserland. Equipped with a more performant chip, the toy will offer more functionalities like videoconferencing, mobile television and GPS. It should become on sale in the states in june.

Makes the 'old' iPhone obvsolete.

"The new generation will make us forget the first generation that sold more than 5,5 pieces" is the analysis of a specialist who thinks that the patience of swisscom will be in the company's profit. "After a year of service in the United States and a little more than 7 months in Europe, the 'old' model has become obsolete." All of a sudden, operators like T-mobile in Germany are selling this swiss knife of multimedia at discount prices. Just like AT&T in USA that cut his price in half at 170$.

Lips are still very sealed at swisscom concerning the deal with the californian company. "Nothing is done" is the comment of Christian Neuhaus, spokesman of swisscom. Apple also remains silent. "But the signs are obvious" continues an observator. The blue giant has been launching a mobile television service.

Another indicator : Apple signed an alliance with the english Vodafone. The worlds number one telephone company will distribute the iPhone in ten or more countries and will develop services with content for apple's machine. Swisscom, that is a partner of the English coloss since 2003, will take profit of that. There is also no doubt that the 40000 owners of a hacked iPhone in Switserland will be seduced by those new offers.

As a matter of fact who could resist to a live football match on his 3G.

[Sky Blue]

I think believe it's coming with an app called iKitchenSink

[The Phazer]

One would assume that by television it means DVB-H support. Interesting.

Phazer

[sassenach74]

wouldn't this be much like the service offered by t-mobile (uk), I don't think it's anything hardware for the iPhone, just a service the carrier is providing.
I might be wrong.

[pixelbart]

Originally Posted by The Phazer

One would assume that by television it means DVB-H support. Interesting.

Phazer

If they can cram so many receivers into an iPhone (WiFi/GSM/3G/GPS/DVB-H), then what is the reason why the MacBook Air only has WiFi?