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3G iPhone Arriving in 2nd Quarter 2008?

coverage vs. capacity

The problem isn't the 3G network coverage, it's the capacity. If AT&T doesn't have the bandwidth on its network to deal with the vastly increased traffic that a 3G iPhone will bring, it's not going to be very fast. My father tried an AT&T 3G device for his computer, just to use in his house, and found the speeds to be not much better than dialup most of the time, though occasionally he would get periods of high speed. This despite living in an area with 3G coverage.
 
cameronjpu said:
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.
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Think of this. When has Apple ever cut prices down in anticipation of a new model? They don't do that very often, if at all (I can't think of anytime).

3G is nice, yes, but it won't make the iPhone sell like hotcakes again. Most people who wanted an iPhone have one.
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.
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Huh?... You must've meant Sprint. Verizon has had a steady increase of customers every quarter. The iPhone hasn't phased Verizon's subscribers. Sprint, on the other hand... Also, Verizon is set to announce plans for its open network next month, and the sales of the Voyager aren't too shabby.

10 million will be a snap.
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Good thing you aren't a market analysis. :rolleyes:
 
Hmm, being that I just bought a 16GB iPhone, the 3G phone will need to rock. Not only 3G, but I'll need at least 32GB plus some other feature to wow the crap out of me. If I do get a 3G, at least the future wife can have the 16GB one. :)
 
tirerim said:
The problem isn't the 3G network coverage, it's the capacity. If AT&T doesn't have the bandwidth on its network to deal with the vastly increased traffic that a 3G iPhone will bring, it's not going to be very fast. My father tried an AT&T 3G device for his computer, just to use in his house, and found the speeds to be not much better than dialup most of the time, though occasionally he would get periods of high speed. This despite living in an area with 3G coverage.
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It would be worse if he wasnt in a 3G area!

I would love to have a 3G iphone. I did have an unlocked grey import iPhone which I sold just before T-Mobile introduced them in Germany. I had planned to get an authorized one, but the cost of the plan put me off. One with 3G (and a better plan) would change that ... perhaps.
 
Syrus28 said:
Think of this. When has Apple ever cut prices down in anticipation of a new model? They don't do that very often, if at all (I can't think of anytime).
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Maybe not right before a new intro, but Apple dropped prices on the iPhone in the US after a few months and demand spiked. If Apple was worried about their goals, they would do the same thing in Eu. And I expect they will drop prices in Eu. They make tons of money on the iPhone there and will be happy to drop the price soon.

Syrus28 said:
Huh?... You must've meant Sprint. Verizon has had a steady increase of customers every quarter. The iPhone hasn't phased Verizon's subscribers. Sprint, on the other hand... Also, Verizon is set to announce plans for its open network next month, and the sales of the Voyager aren't too shabby.
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No, I meant Verizon. I talk to people almost daily who are just waiting for their Verizon contract to expire. People who want the iPhone but their family is a Verizon family and they can't change until all the contracts are up. I am an independent IT consultant and help people with these decisions almost daily. You'd be lucky to find a sprint customer in the same square mile as you here (DC area).

While Verizon has seen subscribers grow, that doesn't mean people aren't leaving Verizon for ATT. Do you need me to explain how that can happen?

Syrus28 said:
Good thing you aren't a market analysis. :rolleyes:
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That's 'analyst'. And good thing you aren't smarmy.
 
cameronjpu said:
Maybe not right before a new intro, but Apple dropped prices on the iPhone in the US after a few months and demand spiked. If Apple was worried about their goals, they would do the same thing in Eu. And I expect they will drop prices in Eu. They make tons of money on the iPhone there and will be happy to drop the price soon.

No, I meant Verizon. I talk to people almost daily who are just waiting for their Verizon contract to expire. People who want the iPhone but their family is a Verizon family and they can't change until all the contracts are up. I am an independent IT consultant and help people with these decisions almost daily. You'd be lucky to find a sprint customer in the same square mile as you here (DC area).

While Verizon has seen subscribers grow, that doesn't mean people aren't leaving Verizon for ATT. Do you need me to explain how that can happen?
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I understand where you are coming from but I think you are taking a lot of variables in the Euro market for granted. The price alone isn't an encumbrance for Eu iphone adoption, there is the high monthly tariff, long contract and slow data speed. Offering 3G on a cutting edge device when HSDPA is available will leave apple in the same place they were with edge.

When I was in DC verizon was king because it could be used in the metro and had consistent service on Acela for the northeast corridor. I hate both Verizon and ATT, but Verizon isnt exactly suffering from the iphone. Actually when you consider that they arent sharing profits with any of their manufacturers and sell subpar devices, they are doing REALLY well. Verizon and Tmobile are steadily gaining new subscribers. Tmobile has little to fear because many just unlock and run w/o VV.

I think the iphone is an amazing device but even within the confines of our archaic telecom infrastructure it's impact hasnt been detrimental to ATT's competitors
 
cameronjpu said:
Maybe not right before a new intro, but Apple dropped prices on the iPhone in the US after a few months and demand spiked. If Apple was worried about their goals, they would do the same thing in Eu. And I expect they will drop prices in Eu. They make tons of money on the iPhone there and will be happy to drop the price soon.
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Well your original point was that they would clear the stock by dropping the price, which I can't remember Apple ever doing.


No, I meant Verizon. I talk to people almost daily who are just waiting for their Verizon contract to expire. People who want the iPhone but their family is a Verizon family and they can't change until all the contracts are up. I am an independent IT consultant and help people with these decisions almost daily. You'd be lucky to find a sprint customer in the same square mile as you here (DC area).

While Verizon has seen subscribers grow, that doesn't mean people aren't leaving Verizon for ATT. Do you need me to explain how that can happen?
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So you are saying that...
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.
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...will happen because of the people you talk to on a daily basis? Its nonsense to think that Verizon, of all people, will be a viable source for AT&T to renew their addressable iPhone market every month.What all of a sudden will make the number of people who's contract are ending now run to the iPhone? They certainly haven't did that in the last 6 months when the iPhone hype was unreal.

Also, for people buying $400 phones, I can't imagine an EFT holding them back too much, especially since they are now prorated.

That's 'analyst'. And good thing you aren't smarmy.
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Good thing, indeed. ;)
 
Eraserhead said:
I get the impression that it uses less battery, so for the US which has an extensive EDGE network it makes sense.
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But Edge is just "so last century" in other more developed cell phone areas of the world though.

And now that they're selling iPhone in other well-developed cell phone nations they need to have an up-to-date technology in it.

Canada on the other hand is a different story altogether... oh my...
 
Yay... I might get to see one in Australia finally.

I just hope this 3G chip is capable of using the 3.5G now available here (AKA "Telstra's Next G"). My current phone [Nokia 6100 Navigator] boasts only 3G but picks of 3.5G at times...

Anyways, release it here, no matter what (except on Egde, since it doesnt exist here anymore) you've got yourself a guaranteed four sales on this household alone!
 
the reason why I didn't buy an Iphone is because:

1) No 3G
2) Can't work well between Hong Kong and USA.

I am studying in the US for college at the moment, and I'll graduate in probably 2009...then most likely, I'll be back in HK working....
If I have an iphone now, do you think I have to unlock it back in HK?

I wonder if having a 3G iphone will allow me to use it in HK freely.
In HK, 3G phones are extremely common. And there are tons of 3G networks.
 
compuguy1088 said:
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.



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).
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You may be right about the coverage, but I HIGHLY doubt Apple would ever do something like that. If anything they would release it in the US and Europe at the same time, but not somewhere else before the US.
 
I've been waiting

As soon as the second generation iPhone comes out, I'll have a new iPhone! Hopefully all of the shortcomings of the current iPhone will have been addressed. I just don't know how Apple could could outdo themselves with the new iPhone, although they always do! :rolleyes: 3G would be awesome!
 
zorinlynx said:
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.
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macduke said:
Are you serious? That sounds cool and all, but that would DESTROY the battery. Running wifi AND 3g at the same time? That's just crazy. That thing would burn a hole in your pocket!
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That has already been implemented, Nokia phones only: http://www.joikuspot.com/

And yes, using 3G and WiFi at the same time eats your battery in hour or two.
Anyways, it's very handy i.e. if used with iPod Touch.
 
Fully expected news, but good news all the same. Now that the tariffs are reasonable, and with 3G, the iPhone may start to become worth it's initial outlay cost (£269!).

Colour me tempted later this year :)
 
Eraserhead said:
Well they do need a 3G phone to roll out to some places (Japan) and really to help it sell in Europe.

I was expecting them to wait until September, but it's probably worth getting out before that so the worldwide rollout can begin.
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It's what I've been waiting for.

Just in time for my birthday too!
 
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