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How dare you suggest Apple adopt the latest and greatest with a proper fallback method ? Proposterous! The iPhone 3G, once released, never would drop back the EDGE ever.. err. wait... :rolleyes:

Seriously, what's the arm in shipping a LTE capable phone with 3G fallback ? Even if LTE is really limited, when you can use it it works, and when you can't, you get 3G all the same.

Problem is LTE is still a big unknown in terms of what frequencies will be required and what different countries will be doing. If the option is to use a chip that handles some LTE frequencies but not CDMA or a chip that handles CDMA AND all 3G frequencies making it a true worldwide phone then the sensible option considering Apple's worldwide market is the second one. And that, really, is the key: Apple are focused on worldwide sales and will take the best option to maximise those sales. In 2011 that's unlikely to be LTE.

Frankly I also think LTE is vastly overrated by geeks and really won't be of vast interest to the masses. You may even see improvements in the 3G networks as that 1% of heavy users run to LTE and reduce some of the bandwidth bottlenecks on 3G.
 
I should be happy that there is no most likely going to be an iPhone on verizon, so that apple can make more money. But I'm originally from Montana where v is the only carrier, and they have no phones and plans are 10-20$ more than anywhere else, so I would really like v to get screwed over somehow from this deal. I would be happier if tmo would be carrying iPhone instead. Tmo is a lot cheaper than almost everyone else and they use sims so I always wish them the best. They are sort of the underachiever in my opinion, so I wish they would get it more.
I do think the v will probably end up with a generation back iPhone rather than the current one though
 
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Man that sux. Wait even longer. Getting really sick of waiting. I'll take a cdma only version in january as opposed to a dual mode in July.
 
Disappointed ? Yeah. Let's face it, the first iPhone didn't make much of a splash with low unit shipments compared to the when the 3G launched.

And also, with a proper 3G fallback (which LTE phones can do), what is the harm in shipping LTE even if only 1 city in the world supports it ? The phone still works on 3G networks for those that don't have access to LTE and people with LTE access get the latest and greatest.

Apple doesn't like win-win scenarios.


WOW I'm simply amazed in your OPINION of the first iPhone..and I say opinion because your statement certainly is not suported by facts...and what good is LTE when the voice standard has not been determined...(according to the article)
 
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ghostface147 said:
Short of setting up your own cellular network, you don't really have a choice. You can't really use a phone without a carrier-issued SIM.


Really? Sprint and Verizon don't use SIM cards.

You're missing the point...
 
A release in January of a Verizon iPhone would be interesting. It would stagger the timeline for contract expiration just enough to really annoy people. If they wait until mid2011 to release it, then anyone thinking of buying the new iPhone has a choice between the carriers and the upgrade to new features. Releasing an iPhone for VZW in Jan would only bring in current non iphone users.

I think this January release is exactly why ATT let all 3GS owners upgrade "early" (last june) to the new iPhone 4 with a new 2 year contract. This way, they lock us in and keep us from going to Verizon.
 
3G has plenty of headroom (at least with GSM) and LTE is still an immature capability. It will have relatively limited availability in 2011, why waste battery performance and space for what would be an under-utilized capability by most. Wait till it is mature and widely available. Sounds like a wise move to me.

And having a dual mode phone with Global capability. I'll take that option any day.
 
WOW I'm simply amazed in your OPINION of the first iPhone..and I say opinion because your statement certainly is not suported by facts...

Uh ? The original iPhone peaked at 2.3 million units in a quarter with an average being 1 million units per quarter. The 3G's worse quarter saw 3.7 million units with its best being 6.9 million.

I would say my opinion is supported by facts. The 3G did outsell the original by a very big margin.

why waste battery performance... for what would be an under-utilized capability by most.

Something that's not in use does not use battery life. Just like any software on your phone does not use battery life simply by being there.
 
Unlocked World iPhone! F-- the carriers!

Sell it yourself, Apple. No subsidy, and let the users decide where to use it. If the carrier wants to sell it subsidized and lock them in for a few years, that's their choice.

Tired of carriers trying to dictate how I should use my mobile device. Maybe I don't want or need a data plan. Maybe I want to switch between two carriers over the next year. Maybe I like my grandfathered plan.

This is how it should have been all along.

I completely agree. Even though most Americans do not travel overseas, for those who do, an unlocked world phone that works on any network in any country is a much coveted asset. For the Europeans and Asians, this feature alone will sell tens of millions of iPhone 5s.
 
So why would I purchase the VZW iPhone in January, if there will be a new one in June that will also support VZW?
 
I think this January release is exactly why ATT let all 3GS owners upgrade "early" (last june) to the new iPhone 4 with a new 2 year contract. This way, they lock us in and keep us from going to Verizon.

So I guess the 3G owners that upgraded to the 3GS "early" means nothing? They just want to keep apple happy.
 
Unlocked World iPhone! F-- the carriers!

Sell it yourself, Apple. No subsidy, and let the users decide where to use it. If the carrier wants to sell it subsidized and lock them in for a few years, that's their choice.

Tired of carriers trying to dictate how I should use my mobile device. Maybe I don't want or need a data plan. Maybe I want to switch between two carriers over the next year. Maybe I like my grandfathered plan.

This is how it should have been all along.

You can use your mobile device however you want...

...as long as you don't try to steal any carriers electricity or bandwidth by having their cell towers recognize and talk to your device.

For instance, my old analog cell phone makes a reasonable door stop. No carrier dictates or bills me for that use!
 
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Typical apple
 
I'm fine with no LTE on the next iphone. Unless you live in a major market, you probably won't have LTE coverage or it will be pretty shaky.

I will probably skip the next iPhone and get the one after since I have a 4G
 
You can use your mobile device however you want...

...as long as you don't try to steal any carriers electricity or bandwidth by having their cell towers recognize and talk to your device.

The most ridiculous thing I've heard against phone unlocking. Phone unlocking does not mean you can steal carrier signal. :rolleyes:

In fact, Apple already sells you unlocked phones here in Canada. Walk into the Apple Store, give them 649$ and they give you a 16 GB iPhone 4. You're then free to carrier shop.
 
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