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A good point about the software upgrades keeping it fresh. However, we know about the new upgrades, iphone owners obviously know but people who aren't obsessive about apple products like us won't know and won't care. To them the bottom line is it was released well over a year ago, its not 2g it has a poor camera so why shouldn't the latest NOKIA , LG or Samsung be better if they have a 3M pixel Camera, 3G, proper GPS, a touch screen which seems to be like the apple. They don't know about multitouch. A touch screen is a touch screen -right (obviously wrong but that's what people will think)

Apple simply can't rest on its laurels on this one and just release the SDK. They have to regularly refresh the iphone to keep up to date with the latest specs.
 
A good point about the software upgrades keeping it fresh. However, we know about the new upgrades, iphone owners obviously know but people who aren't obsessive about apple products like us won't know and won't care. To them the bottom line is it was released well over a year ago, its not 2g it has a poor camera so why shouldn't the latest NOKIA , LG or Samsung be better if they have a 3M pixel Camera, 3G, proper GPS, a touch screen which seems to be like the apple. They don't know about multitouch. A touch screen is a touch screen -right (obviously wrong but that's what people will think)

Apple simply can't rest on its laurels on this one and just release the SDK. They have to regularly refresh the iphone to keep up to date with the latest specs.

I can totally agree with you to an extent. There are 3G phones, phones with 5 pix cameras and/or normal GPS and some are buying those phones, some even have better aps....BUT....the majority "almost" are still buying the iPhone as it is. They currently have an inventory to meet this demand and they are not going to take a loss by replacing it, until...a new phone or cell company becomes a threat or they have exhausted a large enough percent of their stock that they do not take a loss...it just won't happen.

I think they can sit on their laurels for more then six months and it is not going to create a loss. Remember, they have over 4 million users out there and if 1.4 cant be found then at least there are around 2-3 million that have an 18-24 month contract depending where you are in the world. They will release the SDK and maybe some new apps sometime next month. It will take 30-60 days for those new apps to get back to Apple for evaluation, testing and approval which will take another 30-60 days before the "majority" of the new apps will be on iTunes. No one will see a major release of new apps until May-July time frame which will be in time for another minor update by apple. The newness factor will carry for another 4-6 months which puts us to right before Christmas and the potential release of the iPhone 2 to capture the holiday shopping market.

I am sorry to be the bearer of sorrowful news, but with marketing strategy and popularity...that...IMHO is how the ball will bounce. Again, I repeat, this is my "opinion" so easy on the negative comments that I know this will generate. It is however, a great discussion, so lets keep it that way...please!
 
There will be no Asian launch.......

The Asian market is enormous. Are you seriously suggesting that Apple is going to ignore it?

My guess is that Apple is on the case and is in the process of finalising a version of the iPhone that is technologically suitable (i.e. up to date) so as to to cater for that market and at the same time boost sales in existing markets.
 
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