Apple Limiting Retail Store Staff Vacations Ahead of Verizon iPhone Launch?

[optophobia]

It wasn't the iPhone 3G that couldn't do data and voice simultaneously. It was the original iPhone. This was because of the limitations of Edge.

w00master

So have you ever tried switching your iPhone 4 to edge only and using data while on a call?

 

[cvaldes]

Why?

Because the current handset is a GSM/UTMS based device. T-Mobile USA runs a GSM/UTMS network. The changes Apple would need to make the iPhone fully functional on T-Mobile's AWS band (for 3G data) are very minimal.

Of the three nationwide mobile operators in the United States, Apple would have to do the least amount of engineering to adapt their iDevices for T-Mobile USA. To get the iPhone to Sprint or Verizon would take Apple a lot more effort and money.

Also, it's worth pointing out that T-Mobile is an official carrier of the iPhone is something like 7-8 European markets. The two companies already have a strong business partnership.

Note that recently leaked video of what presumably were iPhone parts showed a SIM card slot, something that a Verizon/Sprint iPhone would not have. The videos showed what appeared to be a slightly tweaked antenna design, which is possibly to accommodate the AWS 1700/2100MHz frequencies.

 

[wjlafrance]

No to everything you posted...a new iPhone with old a$$ iOS....no sir

iOS 4.2, which I consider a very major version over 4.1, came out in November. If you consider 3 months to be "old a$$", I really hope you're not still on Snow Leopard.

 

[mefck]

Because the current handset is a GSM/UTMS based device. T-Mobile USA runs a GSM/UTMS network. The changes Apple would need to make the iPhone fully functional on T-Mobile's AWS band (for 3G data) are very minimal. Of the three nationwide mobile operators in the United States, Apple would have to do the least amount of engineering to adapt their iDevices for T-Mobile USA.

Also, it's worth pointing out that T-Mobile is an official carrier of the iPhone is something like 7-8 European markets. The two companies already have a strong business partnership.

I don't think that would make Apple less/more likely to choose the right carrier since Verizon would probably bring a lot more revenue to Apple than T-Mobile in the US. Also Apple and Verizon have shown a willingness to work together, albeit on a smaller scale, with the iPad.

There is nothing to say that Apple wouldn't announce the iPhone for multiple carriers if there is an announcement on Tuesday.

 

[cvaldes]

I don't think that would make Apple less/more likely to choose the right carrier since Verizon would probably bring a lot more revenue to Apple than T-Mobile in the US. Also Apple and Verizon have shown a willingness to work together, albeit on a smaller scale, with the iPad.

There is nothing to say that Apple wouldn't announce the iPhone for multiple carriers if there is an announcement on Tuesday.

I'm not ruling it out, I'm just pointing out that the least amount of work to go to a second U.S. carrier is to alter the handset to work on T-Mobile USA's network.

I'm simply applying Occam's razor.

 

[mefck]

I'm not ruling it out, I'm just pointing out that the least amount of work to go to a second U.S. carrier is to alter the handset to work on T-Mobile USA's network.

I'm simply applying Occam's razor.

Sorry, I wasn't saying you're technically wrong-just hypothesizing that Verizon would be more attractive to Apple even with the barrier costs based on the higher potential sales/revenues.

 

[JeremyWesley]

its both

Its probably Both iPad 2 and CDMA iPhone ( not ness VZ)
Why have an event to say the iPhone is now on VZ network.
An event to say here is the iPad 2, and btw iPhone is now on CDMA networks in US, makes more sense.


I have little faith that VZ is capable of negotiating for an exclusive on the CDMA iPhone. They know they have a good network, and they don't want to give up $ like AT&T did. It really can be that simple.


But I'm not Steve so who really knows.

 

[cmichaelb]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

It's the iPad 2 on Verizon and AT&T. Apple wants steal some CES thunder from all of the competing products that were announced at CES.

Also within the last few months my software developers have shown me Apple job postings for Verizon Network engineers for iPad.

All signs point to iPad 2 CDMA version as well as the AT&T GSM version.

 

[LagunaSol]

This year there IS an iPad already in the market. To announce in January a new iPad 2 coming months down the road would kill the market, and that would be stupid. This could only be an iPad 2 announcement if they were ready to ship them immediately. And since there is no need for extra employee training or extra employee time, there's no need for Apple to cancel vacation plans for just the next version of an existing product they are already selling.

And why pre-announce the iPad 2 when all these so-called "iPad-killers" (LOL) won't be launching until March/April/May/later anyway? Apple will simply come out with an "iPad 2 available next week!" announcement in April and throw a big bucket of cold water on all these wannabes and pretenders just in time for their own whimpering launches.

 

[NebulaClash]

It's the iPad 2 on Verizon and AT&T. Apple wants steal some CES thunder from all of the competing products that were announced at CES.

Also within the last few months my software developers have shown me Apple job postings for Verizon Network engineers for iPad.

All signs point to iPad 2 CDMA version as well as the AT&T GSM version.

Ah, another person who wants to categorically state this is going to be an iPad 2 announcement next week. Well, we won't have to wait long to find out if you are right or wrong.

As for Apple job postings, naturally. The iPad is already on Verizon.

 

[shandyman]

Yeah, I think a lot of people are posting here about what they WANT it to be instead of what MAKES SENSE for it to be. And you've hit on why people do it. They either want an iPad 2 (in which case "Dude, it's gonna be the iPad 2!!!!!!"), or, like you, they would rather it not be the iPad 2.

But this isn't about what we want.

What makes sense? What product would require extra time from the store employees? When in the past has Apple done this? Does it take more of their time to sell an iPad 2 than it did to sell an iPad 1 during the holidays? No. Apple can move iPads and iPods like crazy, either at the store or online.

No, the only thing that would affect employee time is something like a new phone. Even a Verizon iPad would not require extra time because on the iPad you buy your cell coverage yourself at home, with no contract required, no credit check at the store, etc. It's only the phone that requires more time from the employees.

The iPad makes sense, look at when they had the event for the original last year, in January, and with iOS they tend to have yearly lifecycles, iPad 2 makes sense to have something to do with the event on 11/01/11. Simple. i'm not saying it's going to be released in february tho, this event is probably more than just iPad. Mind you, i wouldn't be surprised if they moved the release to feb tho.

 

[Syo1632]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8C148)

At least I can be on the phone and read an email or do anything online. Verizon can't...and don't knock it til you rock it because it's a sweet feature. 30 minutes "on hold" can go by real fast...so bring it on big V. Free up my Att network and push apple market share!

 

[quizdogg]

Sure. Allow even more potential AT&T customers to sit on their money and wait. Only this time, it won't be for a rumor.

Like that won't piss off AT&T... who will always be a major partner for Apple.

You guys really don't understand business politics and relationships do you?

Thank you... somebody had to say it.

Im getting annoyed with all of these posters merely writing up wish lists rather than judging what is possible, or more importantly, logical from a financial stand point.

 

[NumbBits150]

I could be wrong, but isn't it possible that they will talk about new macbooks instead? If you look at the history, January seemed to be the month they announced new power books and macbooks (unless I'm reading it wrong)

 

[troop231]

I could be wrong, but isn't it possible that they will talk about new macbooks instead?

I hope so, all of this iPad Rev. 2 and VZW iPhone stuff can wait lol.

 

[HLdan]

No, but if Macy's limited their employee vacations after the busy holiday shopping season was OVER, then you'd have an interesting story that would make you wonder what's up.

That's what this is.

Oh, yeah yeah, I see now. Just didn't grasp that in the beginning.

 

[cvaldes]

Sorry, I wasn't saying you're technically wrong-just hypothesizing that Verizon would be more attractive to Apple even with the barrier costs based on the higher potential sales/revenues.

That's the inherent problem with the notion of a CDMA iPhone: increased cost with a much smaller audience in regard to the worldwide market.

Sure, T-Mobile USA has about 40% of the subscribers as Verizon's share. However, the engineering costs should be nominal.

If Apple is to market a CDMA iPhone, it would have to be for multiple markets. I think there are a few left in South America and Asia. Would these be sufficient to justify a CDMA handset? That's up to Apple, but so far, the answer appears to be no.

 

[cvaldes]

I could be wrong, but isn't it possible that they will talk about new macbooks instead? If you look at the history, January seemed to be the month they announced new power books and macbooks (unless I'm reading it wrong)

No, you're not reading it wrong. A January hardware product announcement by Apple would likely be MacBooks and MacBook Pros.

Anything else would be less likely.

In descending order of likeliness:
1.) iPhone on T-Mobile USA
2.) iPhone on Sprint
3.) iPhone on Verizon
4.) iPad 2

 

[atom-ant]

Does anyone think that the coincidence of AT&T reducing their prices on the 3GS iPhones and Apple's special announcement dovetail to suggest a Verizon iPhone announcement?

 

[alupo790]

That's the inherent problem with the notion of a CDMA iPhone: increased cost with a much smaller audience in regard to the worldwide market.

Sure, T-Mobile USA has about 40% of the subscribers as Verizon's share. However, the engineering costs should be nominal.

If Apple is to market a CDMA iPhone, it would have to be for multiple markets. I think there are a few left in South America and Asia. Would these be sufficient to justify a CDMA handset? That's up to Apple, but so far, the answer appears to be no.

so why not release the cmda iphone for verizon in the us but also for any cdma carriers overseas? similar to how other carriers have the gsm model but none other then att have it in the us now

 

[cmichaelb]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

It's the iPad 2 on Verizon and AT&T. Apple wants steal some CES thunder from all of the competing products that were announced at CES.

Also within the last few months my software developers have shown me Apple job postings for Verizon Network engineers for iPad.

All signs point to iPad 2 CDMA version as well as the AT&T GSM version.

Ah, another person who wants to categorically state this is going to be an iPad 2 announcement next week. Well, we won't have to wait long to find out if you are right or wrong.

As for Apple job postings, naturally. The iPad is already on Verizon.

Verizon stocks the wifi only models. There is no native 3G Verizon iPad.

iPad 2 will introduce a Verizon native 3G iPad.

 

[cmichaelb]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

Does anyone think that the coincidence of AT&T reducing their prices on the 3GS iPhones and Apple's special announcement dovetail to suggest a Verizon iPhone announcement?

That is the one item that makes question whether this is about a CDMA iPhone. Also wasn't the first iPhone introduced at a press event in Janurary?

I still say iPad 2 native to Verizon and AT&T will be announced, but the two things above do introduce some doubt in my mind.

 

[charlituna]

Why would this be news that Apple is limiting their employee vacations? Does the internet get updates when Macy's limits the employee vacations during the busy holiday shopping season?

Every retail company does blackouts during the holidays.

But this is not the holidays. That is why it is news

However on several other sites, folks claiming to be Apple store employees have said there is no blackout. That they have received approval for time off during the period in question. In some cases after AI broke their big story

Stop with the iPad 2 speculation. That CANNOT be the reason for restricting employee vacations. Those can be sold in seconds at the store, no problem. It's only a new phone on a new network that takes time to handle in the store.

Of course it can be the new iPad. Because it takes more than seconds. And when they have huge lines that need to be managed etc, they need staff for that. And after last year they would have reason to expect long lines over several days, larger than normal shipments requiring more staff to help open them etc

 

[cvaldes]

so why not release the cmda iphone for verizon in the us but also for any cdma carriers overseas? similar to how other carriers have the gsm model but none other then att have it in the us now

It's possible, but however the main issue is that GSM/UTMS occupies about 90% of the worldwide cellular marketplace, a percentage that is growning. Is the ten percent that is CDMA worth it to Apple?

Note that while the number of CDMA subscribers might be edging up annually, the actual marketshare percentage is dropping.

I'm willing to bet that there are multiple CDMA iPhone prototypes sitting in a lab in Cupertino. Apple knows they can build it, they probably know that they would have various carriers around the world would be happy to carry the handset, and yet they choose not to. My guess is that Apple has analyzed their costs to bring a CDMA iPhone to market and concluded that it isn't worth it.

 

[charlituna]

Okay I give, I know the truth

I know what is going on. Apple is in fact limiting vacations for the next month.

Because in Jan 11, Steve jobs is going to take over all tvs, computers and phones to announce himself as supreme ruler of the universe. And with a push of his magic iButton all computers, phones etc will magically become MacBooks, iMacs, iPhones etc, all copies of windows etc will become Mac OS and so all. Apple will control all media, all cell towers. Everything. The retail staff will become the new Apple Police. And anyone that protests will be shipped off to the Foxconn prison camps to live out their lives building Apple products

You have been warned