MorphingDragon
macrumors 603
But the GSM markets Apple has yet entered is larger than the CDMA markets and it is more cost efficient for apple to go after existing markets.
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CDMA-Based iPhone 4 at 'Engineering Verification Test' Stage?
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But the GSM markets Apple has yet entered is larger than the CDMA markets and it is more cost efficient for apple to go after existing markets.
I think it is essential that Apple have a broader reach in order to compete in the handset market. It is just not that big a deal to make handsets for different networks. Yes, we are dealing with speculative reports from financial analysts who are right some of the time and wrong some of the time, but they do have sources that are probably correct more often than not.
Would you mind citing a source? I don't believe that China Telecom operates a GSM network. PHS perhaps, but GSM I don't think that they do.
Dude, what is it off of your back if Apple makes a phone for the carrier that has the best overall coverage in the USA? Get off your little GSM soapbox already.
kdarling
Contributor
First, that ignores the reasons why other manufacturer make CDMA models, which is to get more sales and to build brand loyalty.
More importantly, actual sales tell a different story. Outside of a handful of wealthier countries, iPhone uptake has been very low, with many countries clocking in at under 1% of a carrier's customers buying an iPhone... compared to well over 10% in the USA (more like 16% by sales if we count upgrades).
The reason is, it doesn't matter if there are even a billion people living in a GSM country, if they can't afford to buy the iPhone or pay a monthly data contract. An example I give is India, where 110 million users of one carrier were offered iPhones. Under 60,000 were sold (0.04% uptake) because of the cost compared to people's low income.
So the huge GSM world market that people claim is left to be entered, seems a myth when it comes to expensive smartphones. CDMA sales would eclipse them easily.
The USA is still the largest iPhone market (45% of world sales) , and by sticking with ATT so far, Apple has made it available to only about 1/3 of potential customers here.
Imagine if the iPhone were available on every US carrier. US sales could easily double or more, becoming 2/3 of world sales. Apple would love it. Of course, it could take a while to do so now, since many people are either locked into, or happy with, Android handsets.
At&t ... Ftl!!!
Thank you ... I just left my iPhone behind & got the droid x ... I love the iPhone but I can't take that crappy ass AT&T coverage. Did multiple speed tests where I live & was getting a max of 28 mbps down and 6 mbps upload. I'm sorry, but that's just not going to work for me. Half of the time I was doing anything all I saw "Searching ..." across the top of my iPhone. Great device but AT&T just isn't worth crap.
On a side note ... the droid x has really really impressed me. And a constant 3G @ 1.5-2 down is awesome to say the least!!
Thank you ... I just left my iPhone behind & got the droid x ... I love the iPhone but I can't take that crappy ass AT&T coverage. Did multiple speed tests where I live & was getting a max of 28 mbps down and 6 mbps upload. I'm sorry, but that's just not going to work for me. Half of the time I was doing anything all I saw "Searching ..." across the top of my iPhone. Great device but AT&T just isn't worth crap.
On a side note ... the droid x has really really impressed me. And a constant 3G @ 1.5-2 down is awesome to say the least!!
MarximusMG
macrumors 6502a
My thoughts exactly. People go from being so adamant that the Verizon iPhone will NEVER happen, then when an article like this comes out they say, "Well, we all knew it was eventually going to happen..."
I always wonder why so many people on this forum get so upset at the thought of AT&T losing exclusivity. What difference does it make to you, if you're an iPhone user already? Is it that there'll soon be even more people with the phone, making you less special? Makes me laugh. 😀
Well said. It's truly mind boggling on some getting so upset over AT&T losing exclusivity. I guess what some of these folks just don't understand is that at some point in the US, the *only* way to increase iPhone marketshare is to add another carrier. Not sure why this is such a difficult concept for some here to grasp.
Apple will always go for "the best" or "the biggest." Who's the biggest US wireless carrier? Verizon Wireless.
w00master
LagunaSol
macrumors 601
Where do you see this???
I see people arguing AT&T vs. Verizon based on the merits (or demerits) of each carrier, but I haven't seen many people claim that carrier exclusivity is ultimately a good thing.
I am sorry, but you are missing the point my friend. Apple needs to be in all of the market segments if they are to be taken seriously as a cell phone manufacturer.
You, like many people, are making too much of a big deal out of the task of preparing a handset for a different technology. Many other companies have done it before and it is just not that big of a deal. Are you intimating that Apple are not competent to do so?
Cheers
AttilaTheHun
macrumors 65816
CDMA is a big market in the US also in my area in CT at&t the service is very bad and verizon is good so Apple shuld be in all the areas,
also is time sell the iphone unlocked so every one can buy it and go to any company he want. let the companies subsidy the customer not the product.
MarximusMG
macrumors 6502a
It's pretty evident, if you've been reading any of the articles lately dealing with the CDMA iPhone. While I agree that there are some people that simply prefer one carrier over the other, I see many more people that have this weird agitation over the iPhone being available to another carrier.
It is obvious that the iPhone serves as some sort of status symbol, and by another carrier having the ability to sell it, the number of users will obviously skyrocket, therefore decreasing the "status symbol effect" that it currently has. As I said before, I think that so many current iPhone users feel superior to everyone else in this area, and harbor this phobia regarding no longer being seen as "special." When there are more people using a product, the users may not feel as unique or cool as they did before. When another carrier gains the iPhone, this will undoubtedly be the result for many of these people.
Further than that, I don't know how else to explain the ridiculousness of so many iPhone users on this forum.
Xavier
macrumors 68030
I can see that it might be a good idea for Apple to release a Verizon compatible iPhone to "level the playing field."
Currently on Verizon, the only phones that I would consider are the HTC, or Android phones. The biggest competitor to the iPhone. Now if the iPhone were among those options, I would have a much harder decision to make! It could be argued that the competition could bring in the customers. In the end it's about how many phones the company can sell.
I would much rather have an iPhone over a Droid. And I am sure that there are many other customers that feel the same way.
Currently on Verizon, the only phones that I would consider are the HTC, or Android phones. The biggest competitor to the iPhone. Now if the iPhone were among those options, I would have a much harder decision to make! It could be argued that the competition could bring in the customers. In the end it's about how many phones the company can sell.
I would much rather have an iPhone over a Droid. And I am sure that there are many other customers that feel the same way.
zap2
macrumors 604
If you aren't taking Apple seriously as a cell phone manufacturer, you aren't paying attention.
Apple won't have the biggest market share, companies which sell low end device will have those(and that isn't to put down lower spec device, clearly they have a place), but for high end, smartphone devices Apple is a very serious player.
That being said, in no way am I arguing against Apple making a CDMA iPhone 4, that seem a bit like a no brainer to me. Other carriers make top end device for Sprint or Verizon, clearly there is money to be made there.
MotiB
macrumors newbie
I believe there will be more features then just CDMA in this iPhone version, since this release ( CDMA ) of the iPhone 4 is unique due to 3 factors:
1. It is the first time Apple is releasing a different flavour of the same product and not a new one.
2. It is the first time Apple is releasing a "version 2" of a prodcut where there is a known fault ( AnntenaGate ) in version 1.
3. It is the first time no white iphone is present when a newer product is launched.
For further reading:
http://moti-tech-blog.blogspot.com/2010/08/iphone-4-cdma-more-features-to-come.html
1. It is the first time Apple is releasing a different flavour of the same product and not a new one.
2. It is the first time Apple is releasing a "version 2" of a prodcut where there is a known fault ( AnntenaGate ) in version 1.
3. It is the first time no white iphone is present when a newer product is launched.
For further reading:
http://moti-tech-blog.blogspot.com/2010/08/iphone-4-cdma-more-features-to-come.html
I know. Unlocked is a good idea. I just find it funny that Apple isn't worried about the competition from the Droid X. From what I've seen, it's pretty fly. Droid 2 on the other hand.. *shudder*
tCdemon
macrumors regular
I been a Verizon customer since 2002, tried Sprint (4 months in 2002), T-Mobile (2 months in 2003), Nextel (almost a year in 2004), Cingular/AT&T (1 month in 2005). All had let me down except my Verizon good thing i never cancel my contract with Verizon. But the most awful service was AT&T no reception in my house other than my drive way...Not even at work, I thought it was my phone so I got another model and same thing.
I been a Apple customer since the 1st ipod came out, owned several ipods and computers and laptops. Been extremely happy with them all. I love the iPhone get to play with it every time I see my friend, but will never trade my phone service. I been waiting for the iPhone on Verizon since I first heard that Verizon turned it down back in 2007, haven't upgraded a either waiting till 01.2011 for the iPhone (fingers crossed!). That's how loyal I am with Verizon.
I been a Apple customer since the 1st ipod came out, owned several ipods and computers and laptops. Been extremely happy with them all. I love the iPhone get to play with it every time I see my friend, but will never trade my phone service. I been waiting for the iPhone on Verizon since I first heard that Verizon turned it down back in 2007, haven't upgraded a either waiting till 01.2011 for the iPhone (fingers crossed!). That's how loyal I am with Verizon.
kdarling
Contributor
I don't usually post rumors, but this one was more interesting:
According to this Brighthand article, a leak saw:
According to this Brighthand article, a leak saw:
- A Verizon branded prototype. (The branding part caught my eye.)
- Metal back and internal antenna.
- Larger screen (3.7")
- Faster CPU (1.2GHz)
iBaloney
macrumors 6502
Any "engineering prototype" in the wild at this stage is being tested for only one or two parameters. For example, what was seen may have been designed to test only the internal antenna design. None of it means much in terms of what might or might not be the actual product.