Apple Ordered 4 Million New iPhones for Q2 2009?

[DELLsFan]

... As for the special “for China” iPhone … It will NOT support TD-SCDMA (China Mobile’s 3G network). Rather it will be W-CDMA 3G (China Unicom’s network). All signs point to Apple and China Unicom having concluded (past tense) a “3G” exclusive. The special iPhone 3G for China will likely come pre-loaded with several “for China” apps (e.g. Youku vs. Youtube) and may not have WiFi. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) currently prohibits 3G handsets from including WiFi (although this policy is now under review). More here > http://idannyb.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/china’s-ban-on-wifi-enabled-handsets-needs-to-be-lifted/

Yeah - I predict the iPhone manufactured for Communist China use will definitely be more restrictive and operate different than its Western counterparts. For one, Wi-Fi will likely be disabled and choice of apps far more limited and monitored than those available in the US. I'm sure Apple hates concessions like these - all the way to the bank.

 

[michael.lauden]

sounds like Apple is getting ready for a blowout

 

[jayducharme]

how much longer will edge be around?

Hasn't AT&T begun phasing out EDGE in certain markets? Why would Apple release a phone for a technology that's being discontinued (at least in parts of the US)?

 

[sam10685]

What if 4,000,001 people want an iphone?

 

[milani]

sounds like Apple is getting ready for a blowout

Which would put them right on track for the 2010 iPhone hardware refresh.

 

[iMacoo7]

It all sounds good, but I do agree with most of the comments on using an edge network only.
I have complained about the edge only problem within my area before I ever had an iPhone.
I do think it is unfair to pay for a service that is more than 1 1/2 hours from where a person lives.
However , I do welcome a new version of the iPhone , I used to upgrade cellphones every 6 months, but since the iphone its been yearly.

 

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

It looks like Apple is following the iPod model by putting out a new ihone every year. I wonder if they will be increasing storage capacity on the iPhone with the next release.

 

[MacFly123]

A cheaper edge only version makes more sense than a smaller nano. How much smaller could they make it and still have it keep its usability?

If they do bring the EDGEphone back, its got to be cheap. Not only that, but if they can make it as thin as an iPod touch, I think it'll be a hit.

You people don't understand!!! PRICE of the phone has never really been a problem, it is as cheap as an iPod for crying out loud! The PROBLEM is the PRICE of the data plan!!! THAT is what people can't afford! Making the phone cheaper and still having a phone bill around $100+ every month is NOT going to push further adoption PERIOD!

I know AT&T and Apple have been working on changes to plans, which goes to show that they understand this, especially among less wealthy demographics in an economy like this!

 

[jqc]

You people don't understand!!! PRICE of the phone has never really been a problem, it is as cheap as an iPod for crying out loud! The PROBLEM is the PRICE of the data plan!!! THAT is what people can't afford! Making the phone cheaper and still having a phone bill around $100+ every month is NOT going to push further adoption PERIOD!

I know AT&T and Apple have been working on changes to plans, which goes to show that they understand this, especially among less wealthy demographics in an economy like this!

My point EXACTLY.

AT&T/Apple, you want to add more subs? come out with different and cheaper plans.

 

[jons]

How much can the 3G chip actually cost compared to the edge chip? Or would it be one of those "arbitrary" limitations?

 

[Saladinos]

You people don't understand!!! PRICE of the phone has never really been a problem, it is as cheap as an iPod for crying out loud! The PROBLEM is the PRICE of the data plan!!! THAT is what people can't afford! Making the phone cheaper and still having a phone bill around $100+ every month is NOT going to push further adoption PERIOD!

I know AT&T and Apple have been working on changes to plans, which goes to show that they understand this, especially among less wealthy demographics in an economy like this!

The plan includes the price of the phone. Hence cheaper phone = cheaper plan

 

[coma]

If they do bring the EDGEphone back, its got to be cheap. Not only that, but if they can make it as thin as an iPod touch, I think it'll be a hit.

and "cheap" don't mix...

 

[GregA]

Who claims 3.6Mbps or 7.2Mbps? if its AT&T then Im really disappointed because in countless speed tests in Manhattan, i never got above 350kps or so.

Are you saying 350 kiloBYTES per second? Or kiloBITS? 350KBps is 2.8Mbps...

my phone can only be set to 3G or Both which is annoying because I have spotty 3g areas and unless I'm browsing the internet I only want Edge coverage because it's so consistent and I get full bars all over Melbourne and beyond.

So unless the 3G can be setup to be an edge only phone,

Yes, the iPhone has an option for 3G - On or Off. Turn off 3G, you're on Edge only. I often switch my wife to this as she works in a borderline Optus 3G area and usually has wifi from home or office anyway. The firmware upgrade did help significantly, but still occasional problems.

PRICE of the phone has never really been a problem, it is as cheap as an iPod for crying out loud! The PROBLEM is the PRICE of the data plan!!!

The 16GB iPhone costs $699 outright, which is more than an iPod. The phone is cheaper because the contract pays off the phone.

In Australia we're very lucky. Having 3 competitors selling the iPhone led to Optus making VERY good deals. Converted to US dollars, my wife got the 16GB iPhone for US$80, on a US$50/mth plan. For that she gets roughly 300mins of calls and 500MB data. My father got a Telstra plan - paid about US$800 for the phone and contracted to $50/mth (for less minutes and 150MB data)

 

[Alisstar]

Who claims 3.6Mbps or 7.2Mbps? if its AT&T then Im really disappointed because in countless speed tests in Manhattan, i never got above 350kps or so. As far as "one day it got faster" stories, i bought/returned the phone beginning of this month, so if the 350kps (and that’s MAX I got, I usually got in the low 200s) is the upgraded speed, again, disappointed. In terms of NYC being a congested area, that is a weak excuse, AT&T should have more towers/infrastructure in their biggest markets so this doesn’t happen! In the end, it doesn’t matter whos fault it is. My point is, having the option to purchase an EDGE phone with the corresponding lower EDGE data pricing would be appealing to many people who get spotty/no 3G coverage, myself included.

Yeah the 3G signal in NYC is very weak at best. I went to NYC back in January and I had low 3G signal and my GPS was pretty much useless. It would place me all over map. For example, it would put me in the middle of Central Park when I was actually closer to 34th and Broadway. This after waiting a few minutes to try to get a lock on the GPS signal.

AT&T definitely needs to upgrade their signal there.

 

[eastercat]

What I want (and I know I don't necessarily speak for anyone else here) is an iPhone I can use on a CDMA network simply because I don't like GSM, and also because I don't like AT&T, either.

If you believe in jeebus, pray that the negotiations to renew exclusivity (you know AT&T is going to try) die between Apple and AT&T. Also, you might want to pray that talks between Apple and Verizon don't fall apart--like they did before.

 

[Inside Man]

Release Date

iPhone release date is June 9th. I'm doubting the 3types named. It will 80% be more likely to be 8gb, 16gb, 32gb

 

[Inside Man]

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It looks like Apple is following the iPod model by putting out a new ihone every year. I wonder if they will be increasing storage capacity on the iPhone with the next release.

32gb will be out don't you worry

 

[MacFly123]

The 16GB iPhone costs $699 outright, which is more than an iPod. The phone is cheaper because the contract pays off the phone.

The plan includes the price of the phone. Hence cheaper phone = cheaper plan

I understand, but when people are talking about a cheaper phone, they are almost always not referring to it that way. They are simply referring to the hardware. Most people don't even understand how much a phone really costs and how subsidizing works with contracts etc.

 

[mikeinternet]

how would anything being mass produced on this level not got leaked?

 

[jamesryanbell]

This article is 100% bogus. Need I say more?

Yeah. Fill us in on "why".

 

[Eso]

Yeah. Fill us in on "why".

Ok, here we go.

Article Link: Apple Ordered 4 Million New iPhones for Q2 2009?

The article ends in a question mark. Seriously.

Per Slashphone's summary:China Times
"These iPhones might be a combination of 3 new models..."

It Might be, huh? In that case it just might be only 2 models. Or it just might be a tablet. Or 3. It is clear they have no idea what the actual order is - if there is an order at all.

Per Slashphone's summary:China Times
"...with one only supports EDGE wireless data connection, another one for 3G wireless data connection..."

When will people learn that EDGE/3G ≠ data plan. An EDGE-only phone doesn't mean a cheaper data plan, it just means slower connection and worse voice quality than 3G. The only non-3G phones AT&T sell were initially released almost 2 years ago. There is just no point in releasing a non-3G phone anymore.

Per Slashphone's summary:China Times
"..and one model made for China market (for China’s TD-SCDMA network?)."

What happens in China, stays in China. Oh and look, another guess.

Per Slashphone's summary:China Times
"There will not be iPhone Nano and the new iPhone 2009 will be similar to the current iPhone 3G, according to the report."

If they don't even know what the order is, how do they know it's not an iPhone Nano or even the new 2009 model? It will be similar to the iPhone 3G - you don't say! I was expecting a flip iPhone with a slide out QWERTY keyboard *rolls eyes*.

This article says nothing of substance and any points of speculation are stupid ones at that. It should have a disclaimer like you see in the movies, "Based on a True Story", which is probably that Apple has 4 million iPhones ready for the upcoming China launch, simple as that.

 

[timp123]

Ok, here we go.



The article ends in a question mark. Seriously.

The question marks are just from the interpretation of it, the original article/s don't have any, and state everything in a matter of fact way.

 

[DELLsFan]

If you believe in jeebus, pray that the negotiations to renew exclusivity (you know AT&T is going to try) die between Apple and AT&T. Also, you might want to pray that talks between Apple and Verizon don't fall apart--like they did before.

You know, I was initially very sour about the exclusivity AT&T enjoys with the iPhone. However, as I wander about to and from the places I routinely travel the most, I notice stronger signals and fewer dropped calls on AT&T's network vs. Verizon. I was a Verizon customer for years, but I had made my mind up that I wanted the iPhone long ago and was NOT going to pay the goofball termination fees to get one. So finally ... this year - out with the old - in with the new!

I remember reading somewhere that CDMA is a tired, aged technology and that GSM was better anyway. So far, my experience with GSM supports this premise, but if CDMA is petering out, what's next for Sprint and Verizon? And will it be viable compared to GSM?

All this said, I hate exclusivity contracts. They stifle competition, and therefore, innovation it seems to me. It's just bad for consumers if there is only one bully on the block. I hold no great love for any of the wireless carriers considering their abhorrent SMS texting pricing, for example, but I hope when AT&T's 5 years are up, someone will come around and really compete to get Apple's business.

 

[Aqueus]

lets hope they have a decent amount of stock.. for outside the US too.. whip those slaves more, work harder or we cut your pay!

 

[thisrocks]

Yes, the iPhone has an option for 3G - On or Off. Turn off 3G, you're on Edge only. I often switch my wife to this as she works in a borderline Optus 3G area and usually has wifi from home or office anyway. The firmware upgrade did help significantly, but still occasional problems.

Thanks Greg! I live in Melbourne (now clear c/o profile edit) just outside of 3G coverage, and down my train line there are often patchy spots so I need to wait for it to go from 3G..to nothing...to Edge..then BAM back to 3g, and if I'm browsing it can be a nightmare because I get owned for roaming data (so I always just set it to 3G only, even for a second of browsing) That's all pretty useless information but I'm glad to have it vented, that's for sure.

Bring on the new iPhone I say!!