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Apple's iPhone Not Likely Soon?

bretm said:
One could say the same about the iPod but since they're approaching doubling their market share since the iPod came out...

Brand name recognition and marketing. I like my iPhone. Wait, they make a computer too? And it runs windows? 🙂
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Check mate 😎
 
BWhaler said:
I strongly agree.

After just going through the "buy a new cell phone" experience and dealing with poorly designed products and the scumbags at the carrier stores and their Machiavellian deals and terms, I think the market is ripe for Apple to enter and make a huge dent.

I think the problem before was the carriers. But now Apple has good relationships with Cingular and Orange, the environment has changed.

I think the cell phone market is a smart next move for Apple. Here's why:

1. It's an enormous market.

2. The products that exist today are poorly designed (in general)

3. The products today are overly complex and hide their functionality

4. MS plans on attacking the iPod via the phone. This could be some basic risk mitigation.

5. A re-think of what is possible with a phone is entirely possible and enables Apple to once again change the game with a "why didn't we think of that" moment." Carriers dictate too much functionality to handset manufacturers, and the manufacturers don't control the OS. But by Apple having the power to look at the picture holistically, I think we will see some exciting innovations.

I for one think Apple can cause a major re-birth of the mobile phone market, and, while I would like something now, I am excited to read Apple is taking their time and re-thinking everything.
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Yes contracts are horrible. But did you know it takes about a year to a year and a half before cingular, verizon, etc. makes ANY money off a new customer?

First they give you a couple hundred dollar phone for free. They may get the phone for $200 and it may retail for $300, but you get it for free with your contract.

Then they charge you say $50 a month. It'd pay for that phone pretty quick if that was all profit, but obviously it isn't. There's stores, advertising, network, employess, etc. of course. What's a good margin? 5 or 10%? Ok, so say they make $10 a month profit. That's fair. It takes them over 18 months to pay for that free phone. And if they're only making $5 a month, which is probably more realistic, it takes years.

Of course some people ring up enough texting and or overages in their first month to pay for it. But others never pay at all or break their contract.
 
The only surprising aspect to this entire thing is that Apple even considered (supposedly) creating the phone in the first place.

They'd have been better off getting Nokia or Motorola to put together the innards, and just put their own case and software on it. For a company with no experience in the area to think, right now, just as your average mobile phone needs to support GSM, GPRS, UMTS WCDMA, EDGE, and a whole other bunch of convoluted standards, is a great time to enter the market, is remarkable. If mainstream mobile phone manufacturers who've been in this business for eons are having problems with just the implementation of the standards (forget UIs/user-experiences, which is about the only area Apple can bring its skill set to the table), how on Earth can Apple do it?

They'd have found it easier to design their own PowerPCs, to be honest.
 
Well, I really do hope apple broadens its horizons, and comes out with a nice PDA/Phone. And as posted above, I use my windows mobile phone ALL the time, grab news, catch up on posting, play some games, watch some movies / tv shows, listen to music.

Really, I love OS X. And apple has some damn nice hardware, in the looks, fit/finish department. I have an ibook, which I use frequently just to "Knock about on the web" meaning internet / email / work (Which mostly involves internet and email 😛)

BUT:::::

Microsoft is still where the vast majority of my daily life lies. I wake up, courtesy of the alarm in my windows mobile phone. Sit down at the pc, and check out some stuff online. Use the 360 to stream media in HD to my bigscreen. Listen to streaming music, and play some halo. Setup some shows to record, all from the 360. Go to someplace, bored in line, so I jump on the forums to check out the news on my phone.

This is the kind of integration I want to see from apple one day. Bring it all together, and make it work with other devices. Its a wholistic approach. Having one device work with the others. Between my home pc, xbox 360, and smartphone, I am always connected, and able to have the best of what I want. Whether its a southpark episode on the smartphone, or the latest movie in HD streamed from the 360, I have what I want where i want.


I do love os x though, its just so stable, and I like competition, makes microsoft work harder 😀
 
Smoke screen

Macrumors said:
ThinkSecret predicts that the Apple cell phone will not likely come until at least 2007, if not later.
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When they start babbling like that, it can only mean that iPhone is just around the corner. Typical smoke screen, to cover the real intentions.
Plus, ThinkSecret works for Apple's sake -- it's not a rumor site anymore. Apple bribed them well, ages ago.
 
(L) said:
-snip-
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I like what you said about business. If Apple can successfully lure in business oritented markets, their market share will go up significantly. Disregarding the fact that this is a Windows world, I still can't grasp why business haven't jumped ship and gotten ahold of Xserve. Tons of jobs would be lost however.

mugwump said:
-snip-
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You made some good points here. Remember back when Jobs announced the switch? He did say that they still had some "great, amazing" PowerPC products up their sleeve. Perhaps this iPhone or even an iPod cell phone PDA is what he meant. Of course, my eyes have been taken to hell and back with all the rumors and speculation of an Apple branded cell phone. D:<
 
Peyton said:
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?
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It is one of the 100 different was to milk the already loyal customer base (read screw the fanatics who willingly will throw money at them!). Starting from scratch is totally stupid. THere are tens of platforms on which they can start. THis is just apple being apple!
🙄
 
smart phone threat?

Peyton said:
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?
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Good point, a reason for the iPhone that I've read could be because of the threat that all these analysts say that come from the continued evolution of smart phones. How these smarts phone will one day have improved audio and video playback that might provide a "real" challenge to the iPod. And the iPhone would be Apple's hedge against this supposedly. Although I'm sure Apple wouldn't approach a phone in a reactive way, but more of an proactive innovative way.
 
thejedipunk said:
You made some good points here. Remember back when Jobs announced the switch? He did say that they still had some "great, amazing" PowerPC products up their sleeve. Perhaps this iPhone or even an iPod cell phone PDA is what he meant. Of course, my eyes have been taken to hell and back with all the rumors and speculation of an Apple branded cell phone. D:<
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Alas, no, I don't think this is the case.

There were some "great, amazing" PowerPC products launched after that keynote. Chief among them were the last G5 based iMac, which included home media integration, and the dual-core G5-based PowerMacs. I don't think anything Steve said about PowerPC products refered to the long term.

Which is a crying shame.
 
rockthecasbah said:
honestly, ITS JUST A CELL PHONE! It's like the one tech product that Apple shouldn't have to venture into
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With apple something is never JUST a computer or JUST anything...

How the hell do you know ? As I said many times before maybe it's the PDA Phone and tablet rumors all in one ?
 
The iPhone could be a fantastic idea..

People that think it is dumb, just wait until it comes out before you think that.

Total OSX and iLife integration....front row remote.....the possiblities are looking great imo.

I for one really want them to build it, and build it well. So I don't mind if they take there time. I still got a year and half of contract time on my razr to kill....
 
Phone maker vs. Carrier

I know that a lot of people's top complaints with their cellphones has to do more with their cell phone service than their actual phone.

Even if the Apple released an iPhone, is there any reason to think that they would become a wireless telephone company? It would be more likely that Apple branded phones were designed exclusively for Cingular (with whom Apple already has a relationship). I don't think many people would switch carriers just for a new phone. I know that were I live I get good reception on my Verizon phone, but people who live on the same block and have Cingular have trouble getting a signal at their homes. That isn't going to change because the phone is made my Apple vs. Motorola.
 
waveman216 said:
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?
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Ummm...I think that is the point for Apple, to introduce something that significantly improves on existing products. Worked pretty good for the Mac and the iPod...

Now maybe they can and maybe they can't. Maybe they're not even really working on a phone (but I think they are.) But you think SJ knows enough that if Apple releases a phone, it will be something they are convinced is significantly better?
 
Yes!! One difference is that the cell phone market has achieved far greater penetration than what the mp3 player market might have reached without the iPod.

But...regardless of what people think of today's cell phones. Apple's not going to release their own unless it is significantly different. It's NOT going to be just a phone + iPod, the Motorola phones with iTunes basically accomplished that already.

bluebomberman said:
The cell phone market looks to me like what the MP3 player market would be right now if the iPod was never introduced: crowded, filled with crappy inferior products, and competing for pocket space with other digital devices.

There is definitely opportunity. Just look at how many people get a Treo and then grow to hate it afterwards due to hardware and interface problems.

I also don't see what's all the whining about how phones have nothing to do with computers. Playing music and videos, sending text messages, sending email, using Internet hotspots, syncing with your computer's contacts, even using VoIP: this is all where cell phones are heading. The day may come in the distant future when a separate MP3 player like the iPod is laughable.
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In one hour it's April one in Western Europe...

I was just wondering how an apple phone would ring. The boot up apple chime is too short and get unnoticed when you work in a place with lots of Macs around (...well, I guess you don't hear that sound so often since most people reboot once every 2 months or so...). Apple ringtones (I mean the record label here) are off limits, too 😀
Most Likely you would be able to play songs from your iTunes Library.

I'd love to see Steve show off the video iPod talking about the specs of the thing and then at the end of th specs list:
"rrrring" Steve looks on the screen
"Oh, it's Phil!" He turns the device to the audience and you can see Steve waving on the display. Then Steve adds the last item on the specs list:
"Full featured phone and iChat"

That would be so awesome. Truly worth a 30th anniversary 🙂
 
I largely agree. I mean some people might switch, but not THAT many.

OTOH, let's say it is Cingular. I think after buying ATT Wireless they are the nation's largeless wireless provider. That's a huge potential market as-is. If the phone is successful, I would expect it to gradually become available on other carriers as well.

The arguments regarding wireless carriers (not yours, but in general) would also apply to a company like Palm, who is not only successful selling Treos, but is basically migrating their entire company to smartphones. Obviously it hasn't stopped them.

pjkelnhofer said:
I know that a lot of people's top complaints with their cellphones has to do more with their cell phone service than their actual phone.

Even if the Apple released an iPhone, is there any reason to think that they would become a wireless telephone company? It would be more likely that Apple branded phones were designed exclusively for Cingular (with whom Apple already has a relationship). I don't think many people would switch carriers just for a new phone.
Click to expand...
 
MrCrowbar said:
...

I'd love to see Steve show off the video iPod talking about the specs of the thing and then at the end of th specs list:
"rrrring" Steve looks on the screen
"Oh, it's Phil!" He turns the device to the audience and you can see Steve waving on the display. Then Steve adds the last item on the specs list:
"Full featured phone and iChat"

That would be so awesome. Truly worth a 30th anniversary 🙂
Click to expand...

The only problem here is that there has not been any news to suggest that there will be a 30th anniversary event.

Peak101 said:
Nokia has predicted that the mp3 players will fade away in a few years because of everyone buying mobile phones with music players. A few years ago Nokia predicted that nobody will soon buy cameras any moore, since every phone has one. And indeed Agfa an Konica Minolta have reported that they will withdraw from the camera markets.

It may be that Nokia is wrong and the mp3 players are here to stay, but if they are right it would be quite stupid from Apple to not enter the mobile markets.
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Wouldn't it just be easier to partner with someone like Nokia on a new, from the gound up, phone rather than trying to reinvent it themselves. They could brand them as "Apple-Nokia" phones. Nokia has already done some work with WebKit and has the expertise in incorporating standards. It also has the distribution channels already.
 
supermacdesign said:
I just don't see any reason Apple needs to produce a phone. How does this sell more iMacs or Computers.
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A lot of people have cell phones that are pretty good MP3 players as well. None of these people can use iTunes to buy music, and Apple currently is not making any money off of them because they aren't buying iPods either.

If Apple releases a really good iPhone, these people will have an option to switch to Apple products for their music. Theoretically, this could expand the "halo effect" where people who own and like Apple music products give Apple's computers another look too.
 
can we have some news about the 30th aniversary now,... lol sorry but this post about the iphone is really boring.

c'mon, give us som news 😀
 
I agree theat thread is getting boring. Let's just talk about more interesting stuff. I just noticed the battery status function of the iPod Shuffle is not very accurate. When I press it multiple times in a row, it lights up orange (half full) and red (nearly empty) randomly 🙄
 
MrCrowbar said:
PS: Is the time in this forum Cupertino (California) time?
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Speaking of time zones etc, I just thought I'd check out the Apple Australia website in case of an early surprise and... THERE'S A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ON THERE!!!

Why didn't anyone spot this earlier?!
 
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