3G iPhone Arriving in 2nd Quarter 2008?

[Komiksulo]

Looking at the Wikipedia article on UMTS frequency bands, it looks like the frequency situation for the 3G iPhone is even more confused than that of GSM phones.

On the linked page, look under the subheading "UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA frequency bands deployment":

• Canada, Brazil, Europe and Asia will have 3G on the 2100-MHz band.
• Canada, the US, and Argentina will have 3G on the 1900-MHz band.
• The US will have 3G on the 1700-MHz band (T-Mobile)
• Europe will have 3G on the 900-MHz band.
• Canada, Australia and Brazil will have 3G on the 850-MHz band.

And I'm sure that's just the barest beginnings of any sort of list of deployments.

In other words, you'll need at least 850, 1700, and 1900 for the iPhone to work on any carrier in the States. You'll need 850, 1700, 1900, and 2100 for it to work on any carrier in the States and Canada. Add 900 for going overseas.

Right now, I'm holding off on getting a 3G phone of any sort until they start making more multiband models. The ones my Canadian carrier sells are 850/1900 only, and I know I can't use them for 3G in Europe or Asia.

I want at a minimum 850, 900, and 1900, like many tri-band GSM phones. It would seem that 2100 and 1700 would be a good idea as well. Either Apple is going to have to make 3G iPhone models for specific sets of frequencies (which will piss off roamers no end), or they're going to have to make at least a 5-band model (which will take longer).

 

[kasei]

I'll believe it when I hold it in my hand!

 

[Rot'nApple]

t-mo doesn't have a fully functional 3G network yet.

But eventually getting there...

http://www.mobilecomms-technology.com/projects/tmobileusa/

 

[drb6]

Huh? That was the position *before* the iphone. The iPhone is the one that's tied permanently to a single carrier.

To be honest I really hope it hasn't given the Nokia/Motorola any ideas.. the last thing I want is to have to choose a phone based on which carrier I want to be with - they're independent choices dammit!

Yeah true. I should have been more clear, I'm hoping that the more companies will innovate on their own rather than be hindered by carrier restrictions. iPhone is currently tied to one carrier but once 5 years is up I have a feeling they will be more open.

So when we buy phones, we're not just perusing through the options the carrier has but can find a phone that fits our needs and then a carrier that does as well. I've only ever had CDMA carriers so don't know if the GSM folks have had more flexibility but I am kind of restricted by what carrier I need/can afford and once that choice is made I pick my phones.

 

[MacFly123]

The only reason why I care about Thursday...your right by the way he'll announce it I suspect. Right, the only reason I care is because we will be just THAT much closer to the mactouch announcement.

Why would Steve announce that and literally CRIPPLE current sales for the next 4 months??? I don't think they will do that.

 

[cameronjpu]

That's good to hear, I will still get the 3G iPhone when it comes out even if 3G isn't up and running here yet just incase they do offer it here at a later date.

Yes, that's wise, in case they run out of new iPhones and never restock them Better get it at the first chance you have!

 

[cameronjpu]

You know what would be cool? And what would make me buy a 3G iPhone instantly?

A mode where the phone acts as a WiFi access point, using the 3G connection for Internet access.

So you basically turn on that mode, and you can access the net trivially through your phone from any WiFi enabled computer.

THAT would be a killer app for the iPhone. Imagine Internet access for your computer anywhere in 3G coverage area. No dealing with bluetooth or cables, just use WiFi.

Since the iPhone already has a WiFi chipset, this would be trivial to implement, and incredibly useful to boot.

Come on, Apple. Do it.

ATT would LOVE that! Get me some of whatever you're smoking!

 

[w00master]

Seriously. I actually have been bypassing 3G altogether and keeping my eye on those 700mhz auctions. The bigshots are trampling over themselves trying to be the first to setup a nationwide wifi/LTE or "4G" network. THATS when we will really be living in a wireless world!

We all want the 700mhz, but seriously all of this won't be ready for at least another 2 to 3 years.

w00master

 

[fluidedge]

3G is sooooooo 2 years ago, get with the times Apple - HSDPA is where its at. Heck we'll even be looking at 4G implementations like WiMax soon

 

[Golfhog44]

Are you serious? Apple would never let you get away with something that simple. Those who want 3G will have to pay, plain and simple. Those who don't want it wouldn't upgrade anyway.

I wasn't saying I wanted it for free, I would pay the difference, maybe even a little more as to avoid paying full price for the 3G phone. I can see them possibly doing something along these lines since it has only been about a year and a half assuming the 2nd quarter release.

 

[jds4300]

About the Elusive 3G Iphone

I'll keep it simple. Until the 3G IPhone hits the shelves and is thoroughly reviewed, I WILL KEEP USING MY PIECE OF CRAP TREO 755P and I will save my $500! Buy a version 1.0 2G IPhone, NEVER! PLEASE APPLE, bring the version 2.0 IPhone into the 21st century!

 

[Sijmen]

Maybe the whole 3G is hyped up a bit, but personally I'm pretty interested. There's no way an EDGE iPhone would be released in the Netherlands, that network is dead and gone here. 3G all over the place.

England, Ireland, France and Germany all have the iPhone. The Netherlands is right in between them. Come on, and give us the phone

 

[cameronjpu]

I was also hoping all the hype around the iPhone would call the attention of regular folks to the abysmal wireless technology in the US compared to almost everywhere else, and hopefully bring forth the momentum to bring the US carriers up to par.

But other than us dorks on places like MR, the populous as usual does not seem to notice. Let the evil reign of the wireless carriers continue.

"Whenever you think that you are facing a contradiction, check your premises."

Maybe the abysmal wireless technology in the US isn't that bad for most people?

 

[cnagra]

Hey guys,

New to the forum, (first post). Been reading this for a while, i got an iphone, had it for a few months here in the UK.

I read on another article on the home page, that SJ is still expecting to sell 10m iphones in 2008.

Wouldnt announcing a new 3G version effect sales big time? especially if v2 will be released in q2.

In the UK, people sign up to a 18month contract. If v2 is released by the end of the year, people will hold out for the new version.

Forgive me if i got it wrong here....

 

[SilentLoner]

Do you think that the 3g version will be announced on thursday? Will it be released in the UK at the same time as the US? I wouldn't mind it in april/june as I would have money to buy it on day one then

 

[cameronjpu]

Anyone think there is any possibility of a trade-in program or a chip replacement program where we would send our Edge phones in to Apple and have them either set up to use 3G or replaced with a 3G phone at a discounted price?

Nope

 

[buymeaniphone]

I wonder what the odds are of them changing the look and style of the iPhone when they add 3G. Something tells me that they are going to keep the current look for a while. You can look at the mac lineup right now and not much has changed since Apple did the major redesign on the iMac (I'm not talking about the white plastic to aluminum redesign)

 

[cameronjpu]

If the leaked pics from a few days ago with the multiple antenna covers turns out to be real, then I would guess that this phone may also up the wireless speed to N.

Boy would that be pointless. I sure hope they don't waste any time with that.

 

[cantthinkofone]

oh... quit your whining.

Im not! lol. I would love to have one. Alas i would have it broken in two within a week. I just broke my beloved D807 AGAIN this weekend

All over America, grateful wives gathered to praise Steve Jobs for rolling out 3G iphones so that their husbands could quickly scarf up the new models and pass on the slower EDGE ones to the womenfolk.

Soon after Ms. Clinton received her EDGE, she called up Barack Obama.

"Hey baby, I got my own cellphone now."

"You're kidding," Mr. Obama said. "Who gave you the money?"

"Oh my husband let me have his EDGE iPhone when he got a 3G one."

There was a brief silence while Mr. Obama considered his options.

"Barack?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here. I'm thinking whether to try that routine out on Michelle or she'd have enough sense to realize an EDGE is not as good as a 3G-capable one."

"Good for what?" Ms. Clinton asked. "I turned my EDGE model into cash on eBay and bought a refurb iPod touch, it's like totally way cool."

"So if you have your own cellphone now, where'd that come from?" Obama asked, thoroughly confused by the complexity of the several transactions Ms. Clinton had apparently conducted in a short period of time.

"Oh, that," she responded. "I bought a new 3G iPhone this morning, with the money I saved out of the grocery budget last year plus the change from selling Bill's EDGE and buying the refurb iPod touch."

"You pinched the grocery budget??!! Didn't Bill notice the food wasn't as good as before?"

"I have no idea," Ms. Clinton said. "I'm not usually home when he gets the stuff out of the freezer."

Wow

I would say something in regards to today's primaries, but don't want to start a political argument

 

[t0mat0]

Currently it seems Richard Gardner (analyst) is being named but I can't find an actual article or quote. Hell, a fair few of us have been predicting 2Q/Juneish for a while, with a lot more proof than mysterious "sources":

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/438408/

I wouldn't think they'd announce it before having it ready (hence large shipments of touch screens, large shipments of Broadcom/Infineon chips (no, not Atom - it's an energy whore in comparison to ARM currently, maybe 2009) etc.,

Another thing to note is that 3G= better camera capability, better video, better battery life (if you're not using 3G, and it'll be an efficient 3G chip), and a host of other things. Apple are also likely to throw in a software update. The 3G version will inherently have more capabilities, and more options/applications due to the 3G chips and other parts that will go with it.

AFAIK, Apple hasn't been silently upgrading hardware in the current iPhone as the year has been going on, so that may be another sign the 3G would be the next hardware bump (altered battery, changed chipset, more battery efficiencies).

 

[TheManOfSilver]

do not forget GPS and internet tethering!

Ah yes ... GPS ... good point. Good point also on the post below yours about the headphone jack.

 

[cameronjpu]

Unfortunately you bought an EDGE phone and there's no obligation on Apple to provide free upgrades. I recently bought an iPhone too and don't particularly care if its 3G or not. However, if it had made a difference to me I'd never have bought an EDGE phone to start with.

You misunderstood him/her. He bought his iPhone for the same reason I did. I bought mine after the Euro launch, figuring that if they launched it in Euro without 3G, it was going to be a while.

The OP doesn't expect a 3G upgrade for his phone, be broke down and bought one because the light at the end of the tunnel (3G) got further away from his perspective when they did an upgrade and didn't include 3G, and because they haven't announced anything for the FCC yet.

 

[cameronjpu]

I wasn't saying I wanted it for free, I would pay the difference, maybe even a little more as to avoid paying full price for the 3G phone. I can see them possibly doing something along these lines since it has only been about a year and a half assuming the 2nd quarter release.

The "difference"?

You're giving them a year old used phone, how much do you expect them to give you for it? Are you assuming they'd go and resell it on Apple.com? I guess they could give you $50 and sell it for $150, but I get the feeling you expect more like $200. If you want $150, sell it to a sucker locally. That's what I'll be doing. You'll have zero trouble selling an undamaged iPhone for $150 after the 3G comes out. Why not just do that and stop worrying about what Apple's going to do?

 

[brad.c]

I'm so very much looking forward to the day when the next generation iPhone comes to Canada, and I can overspend, overcommit, wear out the novelty and realize that it's just a phone.

Albeit a very sexy phone.

 

[cameronjpu]

Hey guys,

New to the forum, (first post). Been reading this for a while, i got an iphone, had it for a few months here in the UK.

I read on another article on the home page, that SJ is still expecting to sell 10m iphones in 2008.

Wouldnt announcing a new 3G version effect sales big time? especially if v2 will be released in q2.

Yeah - people act like they're crazy when they say that, but think about it - European prices are sure to be chopped before 3G comes out, and that will push a LOT of phones out to clear stock before 3G. Then 3G comes and a whole new cohort of people buy. Finally, each and every month, a good chunk of peoples' Verizon contracts expire and they buy an iPhone. The addressable market for the iPhone renews itself every month because of that.

10 million will be a snap.