Apple's iPhone Not Likely Soon?

[MacRumors]

ThinkSecret reports that Apple's cell phone project has been placed on hold due to "significant technical hurdles" in developing the product.

According to the rumor site, Apple had wanted to develop the cell phone "from the ground up" rather than improving on existing designs. The process, however, was met with technical problems in interfacing the various cell components.

ThinkSecret predicts that the Apple cell phone will not likely come until at least 2007, if not later. This is in the face of numerous predictions by analysts that an Apple iPhone is expected in the next 12 months.

 

[EricNau]

I'm not surprised. I never really expected one that soon (if at all).

 

[Leoff]

I'd rather have them late to the party and have it done up right than throw some crap out there in a hurry.

 

[Ayre]

Good riddance. The iPhone concept was horrible to begin with.

 

[bluebomberman]

Yeah. No more ROKRs, please.

The first Apple phone needs to blow everybody else away.

 

[hyperpasta]

I think Apple will probably NOT introduce an iPhone... but I don't really trust ThinkSecret either way...

 

[Atlasland]

Let them take their time, so that they can produce a great product.

 

[wkhahn]

guess I'll be keeping my ROKR for a while yet.

 

[supermacdesign]

iPhone

I just don't see any reason Apple needs to produce a phone. How does this sell more iMacs or Computers. Can anyone think of a reason?

 

[SaddY]

THE ROKR WAS NOT BY APPLE !!! ITUNES WAS !

having that said.. I didn't expect a Apple Phone any time soon...
I do however hope to see a Blackberry killer announced for the pro market by apple as I posted before.. RIM is in trouble.. (even though they settled), Palm is taking advantage right now.. and Apple could jump in..

Besides all that I could buy the motivation of this story but let's not forget that none of the things ThinkSecret predicted past year have come true.. Almost like Apple is pulling the strings upthere.. or maybe it's just stock manipulation..

 

[Peyton]

Well, I guess I'll get a razr... and wait it out.

 

[Peyton]

I just don't see any reason Apple needs to produce a phone. How does this sell more iMacs or Computers. Can anyone think of a reason?

Actually I don't know either. I think anything that makes money and that gets Apple's name out there and familiar (as a strong brand even among PC users) may make it even easier for switchers.

There are so many people I know that will never used an Apple because of how they 'were'. (Always incompatable, always shutting down, pre OSX) that's THEIR opinion by the way so don't burn me.

I think the iPod has brought on switchers, why not a phone?

 

[p0intblank]

Eh, not a big deal... if they need to take their time, then that is what they'll do. The whole iPhone concept never had me that excited from the start anyway.

 

[JZ Wire]

Hmm, too bad because I would love to see a cell phone from Apple but its just a rumor right? Maybe hes dead wrong but if he is not id like for Apple to take all the time they need to make that phone perfect.

 

[fabsgwu]

Buy, Buy, Buy!

Apple should just buy some Korean phone maker and be done with it. Hire some bi-lingual engineers and have a phone within 6 months. Easy

 

[waveman216]

Who cares?

Cell phones have been around for a while now and unless Apple can figure out some "revolutionary" new way for us to use the PHONE, not play music on it cause I doubt most people want to do that, than honestly, who gives a crap?

 

[sinisterdesign]

meh, i would love to see apple do something really innovative (b/c i haven't seen anything innovative in the mobile market in a while), but i honestly won't be broken if they never get into that market. it's a crowded, crazy market.

 

[EGT]

As much as I'd love to see an Apple produced phone, I think they should concentrate on the Mac and OS X for now.

Maybe next year.

 

[shigzeo]

not a user

well, it is an interesting idea, but i cannot really even figure why i would use one. im not a user here in north america at least so... but it just seems that apple may be spreading themselves out a bit too much. id rather a much better macbook or powermac or something than a decent phone and a decent computer. now, if dell made phones, then apple needs to do it too!

 

[Billy_ca]

Don't they already have an iTunes Phone? I see ads for them on the subway.

How is this not already an "iPhone"?

 

[sam10685]

I just don't see any reason Apple needs to produce a phone. How does this sell more iMacs or Computers. Can anyone think of a reason?

i'm sure Apple will figure out a way.

 

[sam10685]

Don't they already have an iTunes Phone? I see ads for them on the subway.

How is this not already an "iPhone"?

Motorola makes it.

 

[cafc:mac]

Digital Hub strategy

For people who don't see how an Apple phone connects to the Mac strategy, what if the phone was a mobile phone that could do all of the things 'regular' mobiles do, but run iTunes (Music, video clips), sync with Mail (send/receive email?) and Address Book, control Front Row (remote) and, most innovative of all, connect with iChat to provide VOIP services.

 

[Krevnik]

I just don't see any reason Apple needs to produce a phone. How does this sell more iMacs or Computers. Can anyone think of a reason?

There doesn't need to be a link between an iPhone and selling computers. The iPod did not start out as something to sell Macs with (considering it was Mac only)... and an iPhone could be the same thing. It could be that Apple sees what other companies see that the phone is potentially where your PDA/etc converge in the future. PDAs replaced by smaller devices in a phone-ish form factor, designed to let you access your PC's data remotely via cellular networks. I actually agree that this is a possible direction for the market to take, and if Apple has been waiting for a chance to get back into the mobile market after the Newton, this would be THE chance to make the same sort of splash that the iPod did.

 

[interlard]

Not iPhone, wireless iPod!

The iPhone is indeed a horrible idea. I'm convinced that Apple's intention was to make the iPod wireless. Voice capability is just a simple add-on.

And yes, the way cellphones work here on Earth, it's WAY too hard to pop out a new product in a short time. The service providers have a strangle-hold on the entire market.

If the service providers just made the infrastructure (and competed to provide the easiest in-roads to separate phone providers), the whole thing would move much more quickly.

Perhaps Apple can shake things up, like they did with iTunes.