iPhone 4 Variation Hits Final Field Testing Stage? iPhone 5 at 'Engineering Verification Test' Stage?

[cvaldes]

The sim card slot is likely NOT for LTE, Apple wouldn’t jump on something that is not in use yet. Remember the first iPhone was EDGE and not 3G, even though 3G was already in use. Likely the sim card is because they have used the CDMA/GSM chip so the phone has global roaming capability since they are always trying to push the business aspect of the iPhone.

Notably, there are very few operational LTE networks outside the United States. European mobile operators have been building out their HSPA+ networks over the past 12-18 months. Most of them have committed to using LTE for 4G, they're still a good 2-3 years away.

The logical progression for the iPhone would be HSPA+ support next, not LTE. I'm now thinking that we won't see an LTE iPhone until 2013.

I'm still of the belief that this iPhone 4 variant is for T-Mobile USA's network. That's the simplest explanation and I'm a firm believer in Occam's razor.

 

[deconstruct60]

Notably, there are very few operational LTE networks outside the United States.

Yeah, 'nobody' if you ignore the worlds largest telecom operation. (China Telecom )

http://www.lteportal.com/MediaChann...54?PHPSESSID=6d180e9afec50ec37969fcfad2b14e7c


Or world's largest mobile operator ( China Mobile )

http://www.fiercewireless.com/europe/story/twelve-operators-commit-lte-deployment-2010/2009-06-17

http://www.intelligencecentre.net/2010/07/02/china-mobile-rallies-operator-support-for-tdd-lte/

Why would Apple want to deploy on their networks? (*cough* )

European mobile operators have been building out their HSPA+ networks

The Europeans are going to be the laggards this time around. Screwed up economies that can't get going.... yeah... they are going to slow roll the transition. Europe doesn't have most of the folks with cells phones anymore. Nor necessarily the definers of what gets rolled out when. Locations with more spectrum flexibility/planning and less legacy inertia weighing them down are going to move faster. Apple can choose to cater to the slower growth operators, but the major growth is elsewhere.

I'm now thinking that we won't see an LTE iPhone until 2013.

and Android phones would be eating their lunch all through 2012.


http://www.altair-semi.com/lte-handset-2010-longshot-despite-4g-iphone-hope-telephony

" In the first quarter of next year, Apple or anyone else will be able to get a chipset small enough and low-power enough to go in any device," Eshed said. "The challenge won't be availability. ... "

That was written in 2009. The positions here that it won't be true by early 2011 are quite mysterious. That wouldn't be true by early 2012 would be mind boggling.

LTE is also an excuse for Apple to keep the headset prices higher than average. Would be odd to be charging super-premium for less than premium data network capabilities.

 

[NKT]

You don't know what you are talking about.

Feel free to point out what I said that was wrong.

Then again, why is the source to this story reporting that this new iPhone has a SIM card slot? There is absolutely no reason for one if it is a CDMA device without the added GSM radio (what Verizon calls a "World Phone").

Ever heard of a RUIM (aka CSIM)? Guess not...

 

[wegotapp]

how could apple already be designing an antenna revision (in April 3, 2010) when they didn't even know about antennagate till after the iPhone 4 launch (June 21, 2010)?

.....Didn't they?

Maybe Apple did know of the issue (in some capacity) back in April but of course later publicy denied this (and rightly so of course as any company in their position would).

The big difference is that also in April Gizmodo acquired the iPhone 4 (iPhone 3,1) and revealed the new phone design and spec months ahead of Apple. At this point Apple may have been aware that a small percentage <5-10% of 3,1 phones (likely tested by Apple employees) had issues and so worked on the bumpers and a detailed explanation at the launch event of how the band design on the phone works (so the public would expect some compromise with this revolutionary magical design).

I believe this 3,2 device which was well in development was always planned to launch before Summer 2011 because its likely to have the CDMA capabilities (even more US market growth to fight Android). Thus killing 2 birds with 1 stone - Improving the antenna (or public perception of a problem) while being able to have a massive Verizon launch.

Some will say that Apple only release a new iphone every 12 months. But the landscape has changed since the Original iPhone and now every month there seams to be a new super Android device released or a whole new rival OS with 10 new WP7 devices to compete with. Also because of Gizmodo, it feels like we've been looking at the iPhone 4 for a long time (2 months longer than normal). Whatever happens though the iPhone 3,3 will surely be the next true replacement next summer.

 

[pjo]

Every iPhone 4 has the antenna issue. The issue is real because it can be easily covered up (as has been mentioned ad nauseam) by both hi signal areas and using the bars as the only reference.

Once and for all to identify this issue. You must do the following (while since you suggest you are only present in areas with full signal strength). Remember, this issue is easily identified in low signal areas even referencing from the bars. But since you are always in a high signal area this is how to see the problem:

Having an external antenna means there's a greater chance of attenuation. So yes, you lose "signal strength" if you're left handed or grip the iphone 4. However, it also seems that the iPhone 4 has the ability to hold calls at lower signal strength levels than say the iPhone 3G(s). I think my favourite article on the matter is the one at anadtech.com.

In short, a way to measure of S/N (signal to noise ratio) may be a more representative statistic.

 

[joshs2000ss]

I am of the opinion, WHO CARES ABOUT THE "ANTENNA PROBLEM?"

The proximity sensor problem seems like a much more pressing issue than anything going on with the antenna. The occasional dropped call, which is experienced by most all cellular phone users at one time or another, is much less troublesome than a myriad of possible issues with EVERY CALL. i.e. muting, putting the call on speaker, hanging up, calling someone else or any of the other other various face dialing possibilities.

I bought the iPhone 4 for my wife as a birthday present and she hates it because of this issue. The nearest Apple store is a little over an hour away (I know, probably closer than most are to a store), so it's not convenient to just take it back and try another one.

 

[mad-dog-one]

I bought the iPhone 4 for my wife as a birthday present and she hates it because of this issue.

Because YOU bought it for her or because of the proximity sensor?

 

[joshs2000ss]

It had better be for the proximity issue, because I'm still using my 3GS until I'm due for an upgrade in Feb. (which I may push out until July to see what comes out next)