Hopefully they'll keep the metal though. Hate the plastic feel of the phone. It just feels cheap. Hopefully they'll use the liquid metal they just licensed and use that to put it inot a curved metal frame which would be easier to hold and while not costing that much more to manufacture but obviously more expensive than plastic
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Mid-2011 iPhone to Utilize Dual-Mode GSM/CDMA Chip, Skip 4G?
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Hopefully they'll keep the metal though. Hate the plastic feel of the phone. It just feels cheap. Hopefully they'll use the liquid metal they just licensed and use that to put it inot a curved metal frame which would be easier to hold and while not costing that much more to manufacture but obviously more expensive than plastic
I don't see why anyone would think that Apple will adopt LTE as a standard from the get go. It is not a simple as just sticking the new generation of a chip in the phone. In order to build a phone that incorporates LTE and is backwards compatible with GSM will require 2 chips rather than one and you can bet your behind that the form factor of the phone does not allow for that. Also considering what LTE actually is and when it will be available adopting it for the 2011 model is a bad idea from a business perspective. Apple does not have 20 models so that they can play with one of them and still make their money of the other 19. LTE networks would not be available until at least 2013 so including a chip for that right now would benefit something like 2 mil customers and the rest would basically pay for something that they never use. So yeah LTE is great but good riddance for now. Oh and Steve is wrong about the voice standard. There is one only the nature of LTE is such that you do not have to deploy everything at one. While networks are going to eventually fully switch to next get channels, at first they are going to use the 3G voice channel and only use the LTE data one. But this is exactly what LTE is and it has nothing to do with the standard. Oh and if you want a reason to buy iPhone 5
hum fixed antenna problems, faster CPU, more memory,
take your pick.
algiris
macrumors 6502a
Tell me about it, i want the new iphone now not in mid-2011, who cares for verizon and LTE i am in england and i just want the new iphone now
by the way, apple sell it unlocked here and then i get to choose who the carrier is not them. Sc**w you carriers😀
In Europe LTE is alive and kicking, and has been for almost a year. I can get a mobile data connection with 40 Mb/s (80 Mb/s theoretical max) from my local operator. Not supporting LTE in the iPhone might seriously impact sales in Europe.
algiris
macrumors 6502a
That was like watching a RE-TREAD TIRE having a BAD HAIR DAY! 😀
Can't they get Ballmer a toupe or something?
And did they need the Justin Long lookalike? 😀
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
Don't bring facts into this ! Choice is bad and should be reviled. Seriously, it is harmful to the poor battery to have LTE hardware in there that can be used if carrier support is there. Not to mention any futureproofing! What a bad move, how do you get people to upgrade if you futureproof devices. 🙄
It's funny how Apple "Skates to where the puck is" yet always seems to be behind on standards and technologies. It's easy to say "Hey, we'll ship when the time is right, we skate to where the puck is!" and then never actually touching the puck, ever.
RaZaK
macrumors regular
Kinda makes sense, but kinda doesn't
If the CDMA-compatible iPhone launches in January, I would understand it not supporting 4G.
However, not supporting 4G by the annual summer release in June-July 2011 doesn't seem to make sense.
if Apple was partnering with with Sprint 😱 i could understand the hesitation. However, when Verizon gets behind a technology, it's usually for the long haul.
It will be interesting to see if the iPhone 5, or whatever it will be called, will take a hit if this report is really true (and by "hit", i mean not selling as astronomical a number of units as it could with 4G tech. we all know the new iPhone will sell out just like it does every year).
If the CDMA-compatible iPhone launches in January, I would understand it not supporting 4G.
However, not supporting 4G by the annual summer release in June-July 2011 doesn't seem to make sense.
if Apple was partnering with with Sprint 😱 i could understand the hesitation. However, when Verizon gets behind a technology, it's usually for the long haul.
It will be interesting to see if the iPhone 5, or whatever it will be called, will take a hit if this report is really true (and by "hit", i mean not selling as astronomical a number of units as it could with 4G tech. we all know the new iPhone will sell out just like it does every year).
Dr McKay
macrumors 601
Well I certainly hope a vastly improved jump doesn't get released until 2012, Im locked into my 2 year contract until mid 2012.
Although if they just do something like the iPhone 4S, which just has something stupid like the processor is not under-clocked anymore. I'll hold off it.
Although if they just do something like the iPhone 4S, which just has something stupid like the processor is not under-clocked anymore. I'll hold off it.
T-Mobile and HSPA+
So does this mean if all carriers have the iPhone - capable of 3G only, will T-Mobile be the fastest until LTE comes out?
So does this mean if all carriers have the iPhone - capable of 3G only, will T-Mobile be the fastest until LTE comes out?
Mochi Hana
macrumors 6502a
Carlanga
macrumors 604
Where is the similarity between chips for a maybe 'newer' iPhone and a new OS for win phones?😕
OrangeSVTguy
macrumors 601
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Now it would be cool if you can switch between the two carriers on the fly. This way we can carry one phone instead of our personal phone and work phones. They also mentioned GSM carriers so maybe it will finally be able to support T-Mobile out of the box? An unlocked world iPhone makes the most sense since it's easier to manufacturer one device instead of multiple versions.
Now it would be cool if you can switch between the two carriers on the fly. This way we can carry one phone instead of our personal phone and work phones. They also mentioned GSM carriers so maybe it will finally be able to support T-Mobile out of the box? An unlocked world iPhone makes the most sense since it's easier to manufacturer one device instead of multiple versions.
bmustaf
macrumors 6502a
Glad to see this rumor have a reasonable take on wireless technology.
While there are, and will continue to be, growing pockets of 4G technology out there (LTE in this case...WiMax isn't a player for the iPhone, really), that's all it is...pockets. Europe, US, wherever.
I mean, come on, look at the state of 3G networks in the world. You have many areas where they are very good, mostly in Europe, Asia, and sparsely populated parts of the US. You have many areas they are mediocre (most of the US with any population to speak of - VZW or ATT). You have some areas they are non-existent (rural US, developing nations, etc).
Apple isn't the tech company that bets on niches, techie novelties, and pipe dreams. They leave that market to be built out, owned, and tested by the other players. When the technology and the build out is ready to be called ubiquitous, Apple will be there with a user experience unlike any other. Until then, despite pockets of awesome coverage, it doesn't make sense.
Europe is not covered by 4G, neither is the US. Neither geography will have water-to-water coverage that it needs for Apple to consider it a viable technology in time for iPhone 5, CDMA iPhone, or perhaps even iPhone 6.
While there are, and will continue to be, growing pockets of 4G technology out there (LTE in this case...WiMax isn't a player for the iPhone, really), that's all it is...pockets. Europe, US, wherever.
I mean, come on, look at the state of 3G networks in the world. You have many areas where they are very good, mostly in Europe, Asia, and sparsely populated parts of the US. You have many areas they are mediocre (most of the US with any population to speak of - VZW or ATT). You have some areas they are non-existent (rural US, developing nations, etc).
Apple isn't the tech company that bets on niches, techie novelties, and pipe dreams. They leave that market to be built out, owned, and tested by the other players. When the technology and the build out is ready to be called ubiquitous, Apple will be there with a user experience unlike any other. Until then, despite pockets of awesome coverage, it doesn't make sense.
Europe is not covered by 4G, neither is the US. Neither geography will have water-to-water coverage that it needs for Apple to consider it a viable technology in time for iPhone 5, CDMA iPhone, or perhaps even iPhone 6.
chrmjenkins
macrumors 603
It's still immature, doesn't have the backhaul, etc. It also gives iphone users a reason to upgrade in 2012.
DeepIn2U
macrumors G5
Not accordin to Verizon their going to be launching in 36 cities in 2011 mid year. We'll see though.
I think the main issue is the cost of using a 700Mhz band chip that is also capable of UMTS/HSPA with 850/1900/2100/2100AWS Mhz bands. Adding CDMA 2000 EV-DO would also be costly; I'm unsure if more than two chipmakers support this or other combinations currently.
Stridder44
macrumors 68040
I just bought a brand new iPhone 4 last weekend and have not had any antenna issues whatsoever. Not sure if they unofficially changed some kind of coating or something but it's been working flawless (even when using the death grip).
roratus
macrumors member
I'm in favor of an unlocked GSM/CDMA iPhone that can be sold by apple or by carrier with a subsidy. But I am a little nervous about what this might do to competition as the situation stands now. I generally despise the android phones but they work great for some people and they help to keep Apple on their toes.
kdarling
Contributor
Besides Sweden and Norway, are there any other active LTE networks in Europe? That's only about 3% of Europe cell subscribers.
(There's also the rich Middle East market coming up.)
Not for a few years. I've read that LTE will still only cover about 14% of Europe's subs by 2014.
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This will definitely be my time to switch to verizon. So long as they don't give me a tier-only option for data
This will definitely be my time to switch to verizon. So long as they don't give me a tier-only option for data