3G iPhones and the FCC Myth

[havenhamilton]

I see both models still being sold. Either the 2.5 version will be discounted (though not less than the iPod Touch with the same capacity) or they will keep it at the same pricepoint but make it factory unlocked. I'm guessing it'll be the former, but we'll see. While I know many people who are waiting for a 3G version, I know just as many people who are aware of the lackluster support of 3G networks in the US and would be very happy with a cheaper iPhone running EDGE and WiFi.

that would never happen. first of all when has apple ever kept the old product for sale once the new one has come out? second why would they want to sell a dated product when their trying to convince you to buy the new one? the 3G will be able to work on EDGE when there isnt 3G around so whats the point?

 

[sanford]

To clarify, on 17 May 2007 the FCC approved the iPhone but Apple had requested a 45 day period of silence on the FCC's part beginning with the day of approval. Just read the letters in the link:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/...ame=N&application_id=268052&fcc_id='BCGA1203'

Yeah, Jobs remark was not really a myth. You can request a period of confidentiality. The FCC may decline your request; but at the point the cat is already out of the bag. FCC has the application. Also, I'm not positive, but unless periods of confidentiality with FCC applications are covered by fairly detailed statutory law, a request for release pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act would probably immediately yield the approval application and other documents not revealing specific trade secrets. If FCC contested the request -- Apple would have no grounds to contest it -- I believe a federal judge makes the decision, and if he or she chose, for whatever reason, to hear arguments in a hurry, the FCC could be compelled to divulge the information in a matter of days or a couple weeks after they FIA request..

I doubt the FCC would fight a valid FIA request. The problem here is, companies make devices that operate on certain bands, carriers lease the bands from the government for a fee, but the bands are not a resource of and are not owned by the federal government. They're not like federal land, which is indeed owned by the federal government as an entity (although there are various statutes covering this area). The citizens of the United States own the radio spectrum. Should one of those citizens push the FCC to divulge information related to a company seeking approval to operate a device on a band which he in part owns, they're probably going to cough it up straight away.

Jobs and Co. were probably aware that someone avidly chasing an iPhone rumor with the know-how to get the application information out of FCC, well, they'd get it.

 

[Shadowriver]

that would never happen. first of all when has apple ever kept the old product for sale once the new one has come out? second why would they want to sell a dated product when their trying to convince you to buy the new one? the 3G will be able to work on EDGE when there isnt 3G around so whats the point?

Or iPhone Pro rumor gonna be true or even upgrade EDGE one ;p who knows ;>
Remember about iPod Touch, 3G iPhone release gonna touch him too somehow, capacity is main point here ;> iPod Touch is always one step ahead then iPhone in this aspect ;> and if you think about 32GB so... they need to do something about iPod Touch ;p

 

[joejoejoe]

A forthcoming 3G iPhone isn't a secret. Unless there were something about it that made it significantly different from the current iPhone (other than 3G), I see no reason for Apple to wait until they announce it before filing with the FCC.

They want to keep when it is coming a secret because they want the current iPhone sales to remain strong. If they announced the 3G iPhone a few months before its release, you can expect very little iPhone sales for those months.

Thanks for the article, I've been really curious about this issue as well.

P.S. note about the Mossberg video: as someone else pointed out in another discussion, the camera shakes out of frame at precisely the moment when he says the iPhone is coming in 60 days. This fact takes away from the vid's reliability.

 

[mcnaugha]

Monday not Tuesday

we could see the 3G iPhone shipping by late July if Apple announces it (for example) at WWDC on June 10th.

June 9th, would it not be? It's not MacWorld. The keynote is the first event on the Monday, not Tuesday like a MacWorld.

 

[havenhamilton]

i really dont think it will be 32 gb. i think that would really steal a lot of thunder away from the ipod touch. i think when bigger touches come out, a bigger iphone will too

 

[sleepingworker]

i really dont think it will be 32 gb. i think that would really steal a lot of thunder away from the ipod touch. i think when bigger touches come out, a bigger iphone will too

IMHO I think the iPhone will double to 32 GB and the iPod Touch to 64 GB to stay one step ahead. SSD's will continue to get larger and cheaper until a 4 GB iPhone will seem as old and cute as the original cigarette sized 5 GB iPod.