3G iPhone Arriving in 2nd Quarter 2008?

[cameronjpu]

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)

I think there will be an easily visible difference between the two versions. Apple is very PR-aware, and they want the world to know that you have the newest hottest version.

I think maybe that it will get a little longer and a little thiner. The color scheme might not change, but the specific colors on specific parts might.

Anyway I expect that you'll be able to tell pretty easily when someone has a new version rather than an old one.

 

[SilentLoner]

Whats the predicted price point for the 3g version in the UK?

 

[t0mat0]

Anyway I expect that you'll be able to tell pretty easily when someone has a new version rather than an old one.

I'd imagine a range of colors, and a slight shape change will help. There will be a lot of changes on the inside in terms of capability too hopefully.

 

[4np]

Release this and bump capacity to 32GB and I am there day one, Apple. Add a wifi iChat application and I'm there day negative one.

Yeah, count me in 32Gb, 3G, SDK... sounds good

 

[t0mat0]

Gonna be a long wait to June...
The painful part being that Infineon, Balda or equivalent have been rumored to already have geared up for shipments for assembly of them. Who knows, maybe the SDK roadmap will explain some things.
With Nokia going ahead with Silverlight, Apple has got to make a move sometime soon about it's response to this. It's blocking Flash/Java for now, but it's got to make its mind up about what the 3G iPhone will play nice with. AIR, Prism, Flash, Java, Silverlight?

 

[4np]

Looking at the
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.

My Nokia N73 is already quadband... what makes you think there are not enough multiband models?

The touch also has two 16GB chips inside it, while the iPhone only has space internally for one. So you won't see the 32GB iPhone until Samsung's 32GB chips are affordable, and you'll probably see a 64GB touch at the same time.

Is that really the case? Where did you read this?

 

[Eraserhead]

My Nokia N73 is already quadband... what makes you think there are not enough multiband models?

Even my 2 year old Nokia 6230i is Quadband. And it wasn't a new phone when I got it.

 

[Mac Rules]

Right, I've got huge hoes for this thing. My current contract runs out in june, so should be perfect.
Two things though:
1) Hope they release a 32Gb version
2) If they make it 3G, wouldn't that be slightly wasteful. For example, in the UK and much of Europe, most networks provide HSDPA, or 3.5G, so couldn't Apple use a chip with that functionality instead of lessening the capabilities?
Any thoughts people?

PS Really hope they include full MMS, a file browser (with the ability to transfer files via Bluetooth), and video recording. A slightly better camera with an LED for low light would be nice, but really not important.

Cheers

 

[tringo]

Don't you think that all these 3G fanboys are forgetting one very important thing: the iPhone is a PHONE. Not a laptop or a PC. Essentially the most important consideration in a phone should be battery life and reliability.

Apple correctly decided that these were the 2 most important parts of a phone. So if this 3G phone would have one minute shorter battery life compared to the already minimal iPhone then it would be a waste!

EDIT; addition. Do you guys think Apple couldn't make a HSDPA phone? Of course they could, easily. But would anyone buy a phone with a 3 minute battery life that lost signal every 5 minutes?

 

[compuguy1088]

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.

I would guess in a hypothetical situation, that you would pay something for it to be updated. Though I would doubt Apple would do either.

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

I still think that Apple may initially launch the 3g phone in Europe first, based on the fact that 3g has way better coverage, than the US has (from what I've been reading).

 

[Eraserhead]

EDIT; addition. Do you guys think Apple couldn't make a HSDPA phone? Of course they could, easily. But would anyone buy a phone with a 3 minute battery life that lost signal every 5 minutes?

I'm sure they'll go for whatever's sensible, to be honest I didn't realise there were different types of 3G, but I don't see any reason they wouldn't support HSDPA if its the fastest available, unless it offers reduced battery life.

 

[Justinerator]

Don't you think that all these 3G fanboys are forgetting one very important thing: the iPhone is a PHONE. Not a laptop or a PC. Essentially the most important consideration in a phone should be battery life and reliability.

Apple correctly decided that these were the 2 most important parts of a phone. So if this 3G phone would have one minute shorter battery life compared to the already minimal iPhone then it would be a waste!

YES, it IS a phone first and foremost to many people, but apple promises a full internet in your pocket, but in this regard the iphone is currently lacking (not just due to lack of 3G either - flash?, etc.). It is still one of, if not, the best mobile internet on a mobile device, but because EDGE delivers data MUCH slower than 3G, we are not getting our FULL experience, are we? Sure, many people are content with EDGE, and more power to them, but as for me, 3G is important to have, whether for internet surfing, or multitasking while on a phone call, or even for speedier data transfers.

Apple always offers reliability, no matter what. And as for battery life, I doubt apple would do anything to hinder it further.

 

[Rot'nApple]

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




Wow

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

Your late! Political arguments have been going on for over a year now.

You don't have to express your entire political manifesto, but a few sentences of your political opinion and thought would never hurt anyone! Would it? Anyone??

Beside's it's the "Big Time" version of the political season!!! Presidential politics and associated jibes and friendly ribbing only come once every four years. I know it's MR, but political junkies buy and love Macs too. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't think MR would mind if you express yourself, albeit tastefully and brevity being the wit of humor (or something like that) AND throw in a Mac wish, dream, hope, "Change, you can believe in" (ha ha - see I slipped in a Political thought), etc. to keep with the forum's content unless MR specifically asks that political opinions and such be taken to the appropriate forums and post there, to which I am sure we would all abide and get back to our demands of a Apple 3G iPhone.

 

[Rot'nApple]

I'd imagine a range of colors, and a slight shape change will help. There will be a lot of changes on the inside in terms of capability too hopefully.

Does anyone think Apple will experiment with colors for the iPhone as it did with the iPod Nano or iPod Shuffle?

If not, besides the black and silver theme, what are some other color choices people out there prefer?

 

[macrockbuddy]

is 3G available in Idaho? Namely Boise area. If not does the phone retreat to EDGE? I hate EDGE!!!

 

[Sardukar]

This is NOT true... 3G is not the next generation wireless data, it was already there when the iPhone came out (true, for a shorter time and to a lesser extend in the US). The next generation are its even higher speed declinations (HSDPA is already there, now heading to HSUPA).

I believe (and actually hope) this is the main reason for the iPhone poor success in Europe (UK excepted), where 3G is the de factor standard in most countries since more than 3 years; and that is will teach a lesson to our beloved : you can tell us a product is great...but you can't make a technology like Edge revive from the dead, even with marketing and a great interface.

(OK, I'm done with the negative stuff )

You talk a LOAD of crap. GSM = 2G, GPRS/EDGE = 2.5G, CDMA/UTMS = 3G. HSPDA etc are 3G, not new generations - just protocols sitting on top of underlying 3G (CDMA/UTMS) technology.

EDIT; addition. Do you guys think Apple couldn't make a HSDPA phone? Of course they could, easily. But would anyone buy a phone with a 3 minute battery life that lost signal every 5 minutes?

If you don't understand 3G or HSPDA, don't post about it. It really gets me annoyed with people posting about 3G when they don't understand what it is at all.

A 3G phone IS a HSPDA phone, that is why my Palm Treo 750 only needed a software update to support HSPDA links.

Just like GRPS and Edge sat on top of GSM (2G), HSPDA etc. sit on top of UTMS (3G).

 

[Sardukar]

==

 

[Sardukar]

I'm sure they'll go for whatever's sensible, to be honest I didn't realise there were different types of 3G, but I don't see any reason they wouldn't support HSDPA if its the fastest available, unless it offers reduced battery life.

HSPDA eats battery very fast - that is why 3G phones that support HSPDA seamlessly switch to HSPDA link when the demand on bandwidth is high, and then immediately switch back 'down' to regular UTMS (3G) when demand is lower.

 

[rlreif]

You talk a LOAD of crap. GSM = 2G, GPRS/EDGE = 2.5G, CDMA/UTMS = 3G. HSPDA etc are 3G, not new generations - just protocols sitting on top of underlying 3G (CDMA/UTMS) technology.


If you don't understand 3G or HSPDA, don't post about it. It really gets me annoyed with people posting about 3G when they don't understand what it is at all.

A 3G phone IS a HSPDA phone, that is why my Palm Treo 750 only needed a software update to support HSPDA links.

Just like GRPS and Edge sat on top of GSM (2G), HSPDA etc. sit on top of UTMS (3G).

you're wrong

 

[Sardukar]

you're wrong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Mobile_Telecommunications_System
GSM (2G)

* GPRS
* EDGE (EGPRS)

o EDGE Evolution
​

* CSD

o HSCSD​

UMTS (3G)

* HSPA

o HSDPA
o HSUPA
o HSPA+
​

* UMTS-TDD

o TD-CDMA
o TD-SCDMA
​

* FOMA​

 

[theBB]

Just like GRPS and Edge sat on top of GSM (2G), HSPDA etc. sit on top of UTMS (3G).

EDGE requires substantial hardware changes compared to GSM or GPRS. It is not a simple matter of firmware upgrade. HSDPA is much easier to support for a 3G phone.

 

[Sardukar]

EDGE requires substantial hardware changes compared to GSM or GPRS. It is not a simple matter of firmware upgrade. HSDPA is much easier to support for a 3G phone.

Very little.. actually - hardware and software changes are indeed needed (I never said otherwise), but EDGE is a bolt-on and superset to GPRS. I am not sure why you are comparing EDGE to GSM or GPRS... without GSM, GPRS does not exist and without GPRS, EDGE does not exist.

EDGE is not an independent network, unlike '3G' (UTMS).

 

[LizKat]

<snip> Presidential politics and associated jibes and friendly ribbing only come once every four years.

Yeah and anyway i didn't mean that bit as political, more like just joshing at the idea of handing down a slow phone to one's wife. The pols I mentioned just happened to be handy characters for the role-playing exercise...

As for a 3G iPhone, sounds great if the network will actually be deployed to enough markets. Not holding breath out here in the sticks, but then what's a mobile phone for if not to be taken somewhere ELSE. So I'd definitely buy one, but not until I recover from the budgetary thrill of buying my Air.

 

[Okram23]

hopefully the announce something soon abuot it coming out in a few months.

same design just a hair thinner. Call it iPhone Pro. and keep the edge model for people who just don't care about the other stuff.

add gps, 3g and stereo bluetooth to the new one.

the one thing i hope they do is introduce a stereo bluetooth dock adapter. something made by apple that just plugs into all your ipod accessories and on your iphone it just pops up asking if you want to listen through your accessory or headphone jack. They might sneek the feature in but wait till the standard ipod announcement later this year when they announce more bluetooth ipods.

i just can't wait to get rid of the wires. It will be nice for when you get in and out of your car.

 

[MattInOz]

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?

The iPhone does use the Two card design so if they don't offer refurb to 3G then someone else will.

It would offer them a nice PR smack down to GreenPeace to be able to say that all iPhones are in the first instance where Refurbish (ie. mobo swap) and where possible replaced parts recycled. There is enough scope in future models by colour finish and slimness to highlight the difference for the fashion conscience, or even to change the refurbed ones to look different.

After all Apple don't just money from selling but also using, so having as many in use (both phone company and as platform for media sales) for the smallest amount of money and time could be a big winner.