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You can bet your arse that if video calling is implemented it's usage won't fall under your unlimited iPhone data plan, but rather you'll be billed separately for a video call.
Right, but hopefullly there would be an "unlimited TV" fee, just like there's an "unlimited text message" extra fee now.

So although you have to pay more to get it, once you do you don't have to watch you're usage ammount.
TV has absolutely nothing to do with video calling, as video would use 3G, where the TV would be using DVB-H (or equivalent).

:confused:
 
People seem to always compare the new iPhone with phones that will be coming out, instead of looking at phones that are already on the market. And while they may not be able to compete with every upcoming product, I can't imagine they'll release something that's not as good as something that's been out for months.

Helio phones have been on a 3G network since they were released. They have Garmin Mobile navigation capabilities as well as Google Maps GPS, Helio Video has many stations, including Fox Mobile, Fox Sports, ESPN, Discovery Channel, ABC Mobile and more (although I'm not sure if you can view live TV yet). You can use AIM, MSN messenger and Yahoo! messenger, and I believe MMS messaging. And there's a MySpace interface application, with a possible Facebook application coming. Their most expensive phone is $199 for new members (and they currently have a $100 back promo for it) and their unlimited everything plan is $99/month. And the talk time is listed as up to 5.1 hours. I don't have one but a friend of mine does and he never complains about lack of battery life. And I know he uses a lot of the features on the phone, and his AIM name is almost always online.

I'm not trying to promote the phone, I'd considered getting one but decided to wait and see what the new iPhone brought. The point is that even though few consumers know about these phones right now I doubt it has slipped past Apple's radar. So if they don't put out something that at least matches, if not exceeds, what Helio's done, I know what I'm getting in June.

As for the mobile TV streaming, like someone else said, having access to live television isn't going to deter from people buying shows on iTunes. The only way that would happen would be if they made the iPhone into a DVR device, and I definitely don't see that happening. But just think how popular mobile TV would be on a big game day if you're stuck somewhere without a television. Highlights are nice, but people want to see the action as it happens. Having that option would attract a lot of customers.
 
Well for it to succeed in Japan this is quite a major feature over there. I guess video conferencing and GPS will help the business side of things. And they'd pretty much knock companies like TomTom down for GPS navigation - unless TomTom are doing the software!

??? Why do so many posters worry about it succeeding in Japan? They have fewer subscribers than the US (almost 120 million), and about the same % of the population has a mobile. [link]

Apple needs to target the likes of China and India, who have the fastest mobile growth rates in the world. Last time I checked China had imported the largest amount of unlocked iPhones...

I believe Apple only entered the market with one carrier so that they could careful monitor the progress of their fledgling device. Now that they know everyone wants to get their hands on one, selling unlocked mobiles in these untapped markets are going to make Apple more minted than they've ever been.
 
Matrix edit

Tank to Neo: "I got to tell you I'm fairly excited to see what [the new iPhone is] capable of. I mean if [Macrumors] is right and all. We're not supposed to talk about any of that, but if [it does], well then this is an exciting time. We got a lot to do so let's get to it."
 
This is an extremely nice feature if it turns out to be true - DVB-H might even be a success if there's a high profile phone that supports it.

Typically Iran has 10 DVB-H TV channels now, whereas the UK has ... none. Awesome.
 
...Helio phones have been on a 3G network since they were released. They have Garmin Mobile navigation capabilities as well as Google Maps GPS, Helio Video has many stations, including Fox Mobile, Fox Sports, ESPN, Discovery Channel, ABC Mobile and more...

And that's what I thought too, so back in december I saw a promotion on American Express where I got a brand new Helio Ocean, and 6 months of unlimited everything for $400.

While the Helio might seem "ahead" thats only on paper, the build quality and user experience is nowhere close to the iPhone. I would gladly take an iPhone with "fewer features" just because of how well integrated everything was as well as the fact that its a smartphone (no helios are smartphones yet) It was almost a chore to use the phone, most functions requiring navigating through several menus, and waiting for the lag on the phone to catch up with my input. Never had that complaint on the iPhone.

Just goes to show you how important software is in addition to the hardware. You could have everything you want in a phone, but if its not implemented right, its useless. Check the helio forums before you buy, all are begging for firmware updates to fix freezes and white screen issues. They all hacked an Opera browser because the one the phone comes with is a joke. (So much for 3G right?)

I could go on, but from my 6 month experience with it, I CANT WAIT until the new iPhone comes out. Heck, if I didn't know a new one was coming out soon, I'd GLADLY go get the current iPhone. :)
 
Apple needs this...

Apple needs to start listening to customers and rumor sites like this one.
Raising the bar is what Apple always did but lately PC's and other SmartPhones are catching up and sometimes beating the iphone in actual usable features... Some other phones might have more to offer but even limited as it is, no one can touch the iphone. Apple needs to realize what they have and give us all what WE want. Japan is a huge market and 3G is already old news over there, so Apple needs to give us the first video conference phone in the US with GPS and 3G, video capture, better camera but the TV seems useless to me.
 
Two things related to the Mobile TV. The LG Vu (in US atleast) is the first real live TV that I am aware of. I am not sure how the Tech works, but it is supposed to be like Cable on your phone. Oh yeah, there is a big antenna that pulls out for the TV.

Second, it would have to all be digital since in the US you cannot broadcast over analog after Feb 2009. Any thoughts on this one if it is going to be true live TV? EDIT: Read up on DVB and it is Digital.
 
I do not think I would be interested in the TV service. Besides it probably cost extra as it is a carrier service.

You can always go to CNN or you local TV station web site with the browser to get the news and some offer RSS.

Not watching much TV lately anyway.
 
Unlocking the 3G iphone

Do you guys think it will be unlockable? If so, How long after the iphone release will a software unlock be available? Days? Weeks? Months? Never!?!?
 
Do you guys think it will be unlockable? If so, How long after the iphone release will a software unlock be available? Days? Weeks? Months? Never!?!?
It'll be unlocked, I don't think there is any question. How long it will take though, that's anyone's guess.
 
I'm not trying to promote the phone, I'd considered getting one but decided to wait and see what the new iPhone brought. The point is that even though few consumers know about these phones right now I doubt it has slipped past Apple's radar. So if they don't put out something that at least matches, if not exceeds, what Helio's done, I know what I'm getting in June.

Much of the focus recently has been on the hardware aspects of the upcoming iPhone revision. Don't forget about the software side. Whether Apple matches all of the hardware options on every other phone out there may not ultimately matter. I think the software available through the app store will ultimately be what distinguishes the iPhone from everything else. As a medical professional, I am drooling to get my hands on the iPhone version of Epocrates. It's the only thing I miss from my old Treo.

Don't want to downplay the hardware side of things. But before you buy your Helio I'd wait and see what apps become available in the store in the months following it's release. It might make that Helio not so attractive after all. Have to see. Who really knows at this point?
 
LeMatin has been spreading rumors about the immediate advent of the iPhone in Switzerland for more than a year.

Seriously people: this article is total bogus.

Also, Mobile TV is nothing new on 3G handsets - Vodafone and Swisscom have been offering that for about 18 months now. Nobody uses it.

Another Swiss newspaper (20min.ch) also quoted an "inside source" on the iPhone a week ago. Strangely, that "insider" told us that the iPhone wouldn't arrive in Switzerland until 2009: http://www.20min.ch/tools/suchen/story/24300689
 
No real Mobile TV functionality

I live in Switzerland. Our mobile carrier (Swisscom) has announced last week a new very high mobile TV definition with 3,5G capacity. The journalist has meant that the new iPhone will be able to receive this type of content because it will be 3G, but it does not mean that the iPhone will have a DAB receiver.
 
iPhone 2

Don't want to downplay the hardware side of things. But before you buy your Helio I'd wait and see what apps become available in the store in the months following it's release. It might make that Helio not so attractive after all. Have to see. Who really knows at this point?

The iPhone 2 capabilities and apps presented in June will represent the very tip or the iceberg in terms of capabilities, potential, and ongoing releases for a world class hand-held smartphone running a true UNIX OS. Quantum leaps forward from here on in.
 
Can't say I'm worried about live TV when I've got BBC iPlayer. If C4 also made their 4oD service compatible with Macs and the iPhone, then I wouldn't bother with TV anymore, and just use these services. Come on C4, even ITV have managed to get a Mac version going!!
 
Orb released OrbLive which is Live TV in every sense of the word. What ever my cable is showing at home, I will see on my phone. Any channel i want.
 
I live in Switzerland. Our mobile carrier (Swisscom) has announced last week a new very high mobile TV definition with 3,5G capacity. The journalist has meant that the new iPhone will be able to receive this type of content because it will be 3G, but it does not mean that the iPhone will have a DAB receiver.

DAB is digital radio, not video. However, you're wrong about the 3G part as well: http://www.swisscom.ch/res/tv/bluewintv_mobile/index.htm?languageId=de

the new TV service indeed does use DVB-H and not 3.5G
 
The vast majority of people that will be using video conferencing surely won't be doing it walking down a street. They will be sitting in an espresso place or some other place that has WIFI so 3G won't come into play for that in most circumstances.

Battery life will be about the same as it is now if you're using WIFI.
 
The vast majority of people that will be using video conferencing surely won't be doing it walking down a street. They will be sitting in an espresso place or some other place that has WIFI so 3G won't come into play for that in most circumstances.

Battery life will be about the same as it is now if you're using WIFI.

If by video conferencing they mean video calls then they need to be connected to a 3G network and its done though the phone company, not the internet, video conferencing over the net is different from video calling with 3G.
 
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