iPhone (Germany) to be Announced Next Week?

[Small White Car]

3g

I have no idea if there will be a 3G iPone in Europe, but if there is I suspect we'll see the U.S. 8 GB iPhone stay the same but have a 16 GB 3G phone added next to it for $549.

Apple knows that any 3G phone overseas will get bought by U.S. citizens to some degree, so why not charge them directly? And honestly, it makes more sense to give consumers a choice instead of just upgrading them all to 3G. Many people won't want to pay extra for a feature they can't even use in their area.


EDIT: And while they're at it, put GPS on it raise it all the way back to $599. All of a sudden the iPhone you see now becomes the cheaper "iPhone Nano" everyone's talking about and the $599 iPhone returns, but with a reason for the extra price.

 

[Stella]

I can think of a few reasons:

1. Europe / Japan etc is not the states
2. Europe / Japan has far better 3G coverage
3. Apple should update the iPhone accordingly to match the local market, yes, even if that means the states doesn't have 3G
4. You maybe happy with Edge, but those who have enjoyed 3G previously, won't enjoy Edge / gprs speeds!

3G is overrated here in the states. AT&T's 3G coverage is not anything to write home about.

So if the 3G coverage is not there in most states, why should Apple put it into the iPhone?

I'm pretty happy with my 190kbps on EDGE as is because if I need faster speeds I just find myself a WiFi locale in a pinch.

 

[rocklaser]

upgrade time

I agree, I've heard 3G is a must.

Introducing a 3G, 16 Gb phone would also go a long way to explain the price cut on the current model.

 

[DVNIEL]

... the next best market for the iPhone is Japan.

I have to disagree because Japan's technology will eat the iPhone alive

 

[Aaargh!]

Why only 3 countries ? They promised an european launch in Q4 2007, there are 48 countries located in Europe. Only 3 countries is hardly an european launch.

They should have opted for a 3G phone without any deals with the providers, just a pop-in-you-own-SIM retail version and should have launched it globally.

No HSDPA is laughable. And the price ... 399 with a contract ? are you kidding ?

Free with a contract and 299 with prepaid would be more reasonable, considering the outdated technology.

Also, this phone is going to be several months old when it hits the market, that's almost outdated.

If apple wants to compete in the cellphone market, they need to get their sh*t together, the rest of the world is not like the US. We'll need a new model at least every 3 months and they need to be up-to-date technology wise. Otherwise SonyEricsso, Nokia and Samsung are going to run circles around them.

 

[TheMechanic]

I bet they'll sell like hot cakes here in Germany! No matter if they cost 399Euro (maybe less - but i don't think so)

Why do I think so? 'Cause I just paid 399Euro for a 16GB iPod touch that will hopefully arrive soon! And that one has no phone in it at all...

 

[Small White Car]

And the price ... 399 with a contract ? are you kidding ?

Free with a contract and 299 with prepaid would be more reasonable, considering the outdated technology.

But you have no idea what the contract price will be yet, do you? So you have no clue what the final price is.

Here in the U.S., the iPhone's total cost over 2 years was less than many other phones' cost even when the iPhone cost $599!

So until you know the data rates, there's no way to judge the price.

 

[artalliance]

Why only 3 countries ? They promised an european launch in Q4 2007, there are 48 countries located in Europe. Only 3 countries is hardly an european launch.

They should have opted for a 3G phone without any deals with the providers, just a pop-in-you-own-SIM retail version and should have launched it globally.

No HSDPA is laughable. And the price ... 399 with a contract ? are you kidding ?

Free with a contract and 299 with prepaid would be more reasonable, considering the outdated technology.

Also, this phone is going to be several months old when it hits the market, that's almost outdated.

If apple wants to compete in the cellphone market, they need to get their sh*t together, the rest of the world is not like the US. We'll need a new model at least every 3 months and they need to be up-to-date technology wise. Otherwise SonyEricsso, Nokia and Samsung are going to run circles around them.

Please stop! If it's not for you, don't buy it. Simple.

 

[CalBoy]

I have to disagree because Japan's technology will eat the iPhone alive

I'm speaking from a market perspective. Japan's consumer market is the second largest after the US. It's a given that Apple will have to upgrade the iPhone before introducing it to that market.

 

[Stella]

Please stop! If it's not for you, don't buy it. Simple.

Every one is entitled to voice their opinion, even if its negative!

And if its not for him, you can be pretty sure that he won't buy it!!!!

 

[Aaargh!]

But you have no idea what the contract price will be yet, do you? So you have no clue what the final price is.

No, but at that price it has to be dirt cheap to compete with other offerings.
For example, a HTC Touch smartphone with unlimited internet access (2.5G) costs 22,- a month. with a 2 year plan the phone is free, with a 1 year plan the phone is 89 euro's.

How is apple going to compete with that ?

 

[DaveTheGrey]

Apple simply doesen't know what foreign exchange is. It's all just money units. 399$ = 399€ As simple as that.
iPod Touch Germany = iPod Touch USA

So an iPhone for 399€ is absolutely possible

 

[CalBoy]

Why only 3 countries ? They promised an european launch in Q4 2007, there are 48 countries located in Europe. Only 3 countries is hardly an european launch.

They should have opted for a 3G phone without any deals with the providers, just a pop-in-you-own-SIM retail version and should have launched it globally.

No HSDPA is laughable. And the price ... 399 with a contract ? are you kidding ?

Free with a contract and 299 with prepaid would be more reasonable, considering the outdated technology.

Also, this phone is going to be several months old when it hits the market, that's almost outdated.

If apple wants to compete in the cellphone market, they need to get their sh*t together, the rest of the world is not like the US. We'll need a new model at least every 3 months and they need to be up-to-date technology wise. Otherwise SonyEricsso, Nokia and Samsung are going to run circles around them.

OK, a few things about your post.
First off, launching in even one European country qualifies for the title, "European Launch." Apple never stated that it was going to launch in each country by a certain time. I don't know what country you live in, but if it has a small population, I think you're going to have to wait a while. It's not like anyone has anything against you; it's just economics.

Secondly, Apple will not release a crippled phone in Europe. A lot of people know that Europe is more demanding, and Apple will plan accordingly. Jobs is no fool.

Lastly, the price is based on exchange rate costs and overall higher costs in Europe. Taxes and Minimum wage tend to be higher in Europe, so Apple is probably planning accordingly.

 

[rjwill246]

Err... it's not a phone...



Everyone knows that the US 'cell phone' market stinks.

Japan and Europe are leagues ahead.

What an extraordinary unenlightened comment. 3G IS available in the US and I have used it. It is not leagues ahead-- that might be 4G when it comes. There is certainly nothing to write home about re: UK telcoms, so am not sure what your point is but if you have one or any, please detail them clearly without the editorial content. It might educate us poor Yanks.

On a more logical note, the inclusion of the International button indicates an overseas launch and the firmware number goes along with a significant update.

 

[2ms]

And every interface Nokia has made was laughable compared to the iPhone.

Maybe they should stop chatting and start producing phones without horrible interfaces.

Woah there I wasn't trying to cause flaming. I was just saying that that is the perception of Europeans in general. The Finns that didn't work for Nokia were European citizens/consumers and the Nokia guys were from the biggest cell phone company in the world and complete dominator of Europe and Asia.

I mentioned tham not to compare Nokia phones to iPhone, but merely to share the European perspective.

Anyway, iPhone may have easily best interface, sure, but I'd say Nokia is the second most famous for good interfaces -- they're certainly the most widely copied. Just so you know, I do not own a Nokia.

 

[Small White Car]

No, but at that price it has to be dirt cheap to compete with other offerings.
For example, a HTC Touch smartphone with unlimited internet access (2.5G) costs 22,- a month. with a 2 year plan the phone is free, with a 1 year plan the phone is 89 euro's.

How is apple going to compete with that ?

By including a Eur 299 iPod Touch in with the phone part?

That's what you're missing. The iPhone doesn't compete with other smart phones. It competes with buying a small cell phone and an iPod and carrying them both. They have to convince people that it's better to buy one device instead of 2.

 

[SpitfireMKv]

Edge

Guys I just wanted to put the record straight that the concept of 3G is slightly misconceived in the US and most parts of the world for that matter. 3G does provide fast data access to the internet for handheld devices however, most new devices rely on EDGE as this out performs '3G' services hands down.

For example here in asia we run EDGE networks at 7.5M asymmetric which is faster than most countries standard broadband connections. As a result I wouldn't be surprised if apple looked to tweak their software to handle the faster EDGE networks in asia first rather than building a full overhaul with 3G (video services). It makes sense and this is what I suspect will be the case for the European market who are currently undertaking EDGE network upgrades.

But then again I could be totally wrong!

 

[Aaargh!]

(...)
I don't know what country you live in, but if it has a small population, I think you're going to have to wait a while. It's not like anyone has anything against you; it's just economics.

But there is no reason to launch per-country, none of the other manufacturers do this. Besides, waiting is not an option, other manufacturers are releasing new phones almost on a weekly basis. People get a new phone (on average) every 12 months. By the time it hits the market in my country it's seriously outdated. I'm really overdue for a new phone myself. In hindsight, I should have gotten a new one, by the time the iPhone is available that one would have been obsolete.

Secondly, Apple will not release a crippled phone in Europe. A lot of people know that Europe is more demanding, and Apple will plan accordingly. Jobs is no fool.

I sure hope so, the current offering is not competitive. I'd like Apple to succeed in changing the cellphone business.

Lastly, the price is based on exchange rate costs and overall higher costs in Europe. Taxes and Minimum wage tend to be higher in Europe, so Apple is probably planning accordingly.

Sure, but the dollar isn't worth the paper it's printed on (the euro is at 1,38 at the moment I think) so even if they did $1 = €1 like they do with Mac's we're paying almost 40% more.

 

[weckart]

Lastly, the price is based on exchange rate costs and overall higher costs in Europe. Taxes and Minimum wage tend to be higher in Europe, so Apple is probably planning accordingly.

Oh, please! Wages etc have nothing whatsoever to do with the pricing of the iPhone in Europe. At most, it would be the cost of obtaining regulatory approval. Considering this is a commodity item, which is expected to sell in high quantities, distribution costs are marginal at best, especially if ordered online from the same Chinese factories shipping to US customers.

Apple will price higher in Europe, so that it can price lower at home. That is all.

 

[sananda]

So if the 3G coverage is not there in most states, why should Apple put it into the iPhone?

because there are other countries in the world. have a look at an atlas.

 

[Aaargh!]

By including a Eur 299 iPod Touch in with the phone part?

That's what you're missing. The iPhone doesn't compete with other smart phones. It competes with buying a small cell phone and an iPod and carrying them both. They have to convince people that it's better to buy one device instead of 2.

Where have you been the last few years ? that is EXACTLY what other manufacturers have been offering for years now. E.g. the SonyEricsson Walkman phones. Samsung has multimedia phones, they even have one that plays DivX. Same goes for Nokia. A media player on your phone is not an innovative feature, it's an essential one, people expect no less.

 

[nickbates]

No, but at that price it has to be dirt cheap to compete with other offerings.
For example, a HTC Touch smartphone with unlimited internet access (2.5G) costs 22,- a month. with a 2 year plan the phone is free, with a 1 year plan the phone is 89 euro's.

How is apple going to compete with that ?

Easy, by offering an elegant and simple user interface like they've always done which creates an awesome user experience.

You sound like the same "naysayers" that doubted the iPhone would ever sell big here in the U.S., and yet, despite other phones having better "specs" and offering more features (i.e., GPS, 3G, real keyboard, etc., etc.) the iPhone still made a big splash, is selling quite well and is now the new standard that other phone makers are already trying to copy... all because of that one thing Apple does best, the user experience.

Same was said for the original iPod (it was over priced, didn't have all the features of it's competitors, didn't store as much) and yet it went on to become the most successful consumer electronic device capturing a large majority of the market share...

... so stop with all the negativity and doubting. Whatever Apple does with the iPhone in Europe, it will work and people will [happily] buy it in droves. I'll put money on it!

 

[Small White Car]

Where have you been the last few years ? that is EXACTLY what other manufacturers have been offering for years now. E.g. the SonyEricsson Walkman phones. Samsung has multimedia phones, they even have one that plays DivX. Same goes for Nokia. A media player on your phone is not an innovative feature, it's an essential one, people expect no less.

The MP3 player existed before the iPod. The iPod managed to become popular because it was easier to use and featured more space than the competition at the time.

Near as I can tell the iPhone has the EXACT same advantage over other media phones. Even that phone a year or so back that worked with iTunes was heavily critisized for not being very good at it.

So I suppose things could come out differently than they did for the iPod, but it seems to me that people like ease-of-use the same whether it's an iPod or a cell phone.

 

[Small White Car]

because there are other countries in the world. have a look at an atlas.

Apple should sell 3G phones in the U.S. because other countries have 3G.

Explain that one to me slower, please.

 

[joe8232]

because there are other countries in the world. have a look at an atlas.

LOL! But as Miss South Carolina pointed out many US Americans don't own an Atlas!

I am still not sure how well the iPhone will be received here in Europe especially if it doesn't have 3g. I am on an orange contract here in the UK paying £30 a month and I wouldn't expect to have to pay for a phone on top of that!