Steve Talks Up The iPhone?

[DakotaGuy]

It is more like 81% of the world market.

MS Windows has about 95% of the world market...doesn't mean the technology is better.🙂

 

[jaxstate]

It will not be carrier free. They'll be able to see more phone buy letting them go for a cheaper price w/2-year agreement. Buying a celly without a plan can be quite expensive.

 

[aswitcher]

What I gather would really make the iPhone something special:

1. Have the storage capacity of an iPod nano.
2. Work with 3G networks.
3. Built in iSight.
4. Integrates standard OS X applications: Mail, iCal, AddressBook, and iChatMobile with video and audio integration.
5. Works as a front row remote.
6. Intergrates with iLife: iTunes (itms), iPhoto, and iMovie. Perhaps GarageBand ring-tone capability in the future.
7. Integrates with .Mac.
8. Mobile Dashboard.
9. Bluetooth
10. WIFI
11. VOIP (through wifi and/or integration with your computer with a dialer widget)
12. A windows version with some integration, but limited.

I would add

1. 2+ Megapixel camera with light (SE750i) that seemlessly syncs with iPhoto for stills and video
2. Builtin GPS that an track your movements for download and intergration into rumoured Leopards Maps(all the Nike features about speed etc) which can log at least 4 weeks worth of movements
3. Has a digital compass (part of the gps)
4. Has a USB adapter that allows it to plug into any computer an acts as a USB drive (like the shuffle).

 

[jhedges3]

OK. let us just cut to the chase. The keyword here is hand-over. CDMA2000 doesnt support it from GSM. GSM has 81%. Hence cdma is and will always be a small local network that can be used in small pockets on this planet. Furthermore, I seriously doubt ITU/FOMA will change anything in the standard to allow any compability for CDMA2000 since it is not in their interest.
The faster cdam/CDMA2000 moves to oblivion the better.
We would all benefit from one standard, cheaper phones, worldwide access, lower minute rates (from higher competition) Just look at how Vz bills you.
Having multiple standard on cellphones is just as clever as having two incompatible internet.

I couldn't care less about whether my phone works well in the EU. What is your data on the percentage of consumers that travel the world to such an extent that they purchase their phones with inter-country usability as their primary consideration?
What maters to me more, not most, is that the phone works well were I make the majority of calls, New York. The majority of people I know do the same. Some people are willing to sacrifice network for phone and a few extra dollars a month, they pref TM and similar carriers. Others want to have better network and get VW and pay for that accordingly.
It seems to me that there is some level of implicit, or not so implicit, EU v US on both sides here. To the person in the EU they should have it first cause, LEST WE NOT FORGET, most of them are using a standard with 81% of the world.
But does anyone really believe that App would bring a phone to market without making it widely available to US consumers, regardless of whether we’re in the 19% minority? Is there any history of this? Have they ever, for example, released new gen iPods late here? Have they ever, for example, released new gen iPods in Sweden first and had the rest of us in the US buying them on eBay from the lucky ones in Stockholm? It simply wouldn’t make sense.
But it’s not even worth fighting over. The availability of any App phone will be sufficient to include nearly all of us; which is to say that if they release such a product all dedicated App consumers will be able to get one on some carrier at some cost.

 

[jaxstate]

You guys are looking about a $500.00 phone...atleast.

I would add

1. 2+ Megapixel camera with light (SE750i) that seemlessly syncs with iPhoto for stills and video
2. Builtin GPS that an track your movements for download and intergration into rumoured Leopards Maps(all the Nike features about speed etc) which can log at least 4 weeks worth of movements
3. Has a digital compass (part of the gps)
4. Has a USB adapter that allows it to plug into any computer an acts as a USB drive (like the shuffle).

 

[netdog]

MS Windows has about 95% of the world market...doesn't mean the technology is better.🙂

A phone that works in most of the world is better for many of us. Who wants a phone that won't work in Europe for instance? Last I checked, my Mac works here just fine.

 

[jaxstate]

My phone just happens to work in europe, but I wouldn't care if it didn't.

A phone that works in most of the world is better for many of us. Who wants a phone that won't work in Europe for instance?

 

[DakotaGuy]

Hence cdma is and will always be a small local network that can be used in small pockets on this planet.

I would not consider the entire United States to be just a small pocket on the planet.

 

[~Shard~]

I would add

1. 2+ Megapixel camera with light (SE750i) that seemlessly syncs with iPhoto for stills and video
2. Builtin GPS that an track your movements for download and intergration into rumoured Leopards Maps(all the Nike features about speed etc) which can log at least 4 weeks worth of movements
3. Has a digital compass (part of the gps)
4. Has a USB adapter that allows it to plug into any computer an acts as a USB drive (like the shuffle).

All for the low, low price of?.... 😉

 

[asphalt-proof]

I really want Apple to make an iPhone and have it available by Christmas. I am so ready to dump my Treo. My question is, will it be MS exchange compatible (this is assuming its a PDA phone.) The work-world is addicted to Exchange and it would make sense to have it compatible. Oh well, if wishes were fishes....

 

[netdog]

I would not consider the entire United States to be just a small pocket on the planet.

In terms of the global mobile market, it is.

The network coverage in America is just awful too. Until I moved to England, I thought that mobile communications were generally problematic. Now I realize that American cellular service just sucks. Even in NYC.

America should have gotten on board with everyone else when networks apportioned and specified that the infrastructure must be GSM. Instead, though bandwidth is not really an open market, but is strictly regulate, they left it up to the providers to implement what they wanted. Now the USA is paying the price as the GSM network is way behind, and Qualcomm's CDMA has been rendered somewhat obsolete given that the rest of the world (other than Taiwan?) has rejected it.

 

[gugy]

You guys are looking about a $500.00 phone...atleast.

not just that, it's just not happening.
come on, too much stuff on a phone.
If we get a basic GOOD phone with contact list ala Apple design and ipod, that's enough. You start adding so much crap on a phone and in the end it just get overkill.

 

[ccrandall77]

I am sorry, but it is... 150 million people is a small market compared to the other +6 billion people. Europe alone is more than 700 million people...

Well only about 1.25bil out of the +6 actually have cell service and I'd suspect only about 300mil in Eurpoe use cell phones (according to internetworldstats.com estimates 291mil in Europe use the internet... I'd assume cell usage is similiar).

And factor in that the US, Canada and many of the other countries with CDMA service are amongst the most wealthy in the world. Those +150mil customers are nothing to sneeze at.

 

[aswitcher]

You guys are looking about a $500.00 phone...atleast.

Perhaps. But thats about right for a Nokia N series with most of the features we have been mentioning.

 

[netdog]

I really think the time is coming soon where any phone that does not have Wifi that is easy to switch on and off will be considered obsolete.

 

[DakotaGuy]

In terms of the global mobile market, it is.

The network coverage in America is just awful too. Until I moved to England, I thought that mobile communications were generally problematic. Now I realize that American cellular service just sucks. Even in NYC.

See now that is something I never understood, how the cell service can be so poor in a place like NYC, yet I was making calls on my CDMA phone in the middle of Wyoming this summer. In fact, there are few places in very unpopulated midwest and west that you can't get a decent signal at least with a CDMA phone. People that come here with GSM are out of luck anywhere except metro areas.

 

[MBHockey]

I wonder what carrier they'll go with?

Regardless, i'd be happy to see just ONE cell phone in my life time that doesn't absolutely disgust me, as each and every cell phone that has ever come out since the Zack Morris Special has.

It's truly ridiculous how awful cell phones are. Get a clue people.

 

[jaxstate]

We'll like a previous post said, they must release serveral phones, because i'm sure they want all the market they can get.

Perhaps. But thats about right for a Nokia N series with most of the features we have been mentioning.

 

[netdog]

I wonder what carrier they'll go with?

I think the question is more likely to be this...

What providers will meet Steve's qualifications to offer the Apple phone bundled with their service?

One of the primary factors may very well be that the provider is not allowed to cripple the phone (as some love to do).

If there is enough demand for the phone, network providers will have to meet his terms.

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

I agree that a carrier free ohone is the way to go but a carrier-subsudized phone is cheaper for the consumer (or at least appears that way in the beginning). I think there maybe networ issues as well. Doesn't Verizon or Nextel operate on a different freq than Cingular/AtT? Not sure.

I seem to be missing some information...😕

First, a locked phone is ONLY a problem if you have cdma. If you go GSM the "locking" is software based and can be unlocked. The networks here unlock it for you for a fee. (others do that too but that is another story...)

Secondly, if the "iPone" is GSM based you an sell the same phone both locked and unlocked. The question whether a phone will be "subsidized" is a deal between Apple and the carrier. Just how much the phone will be is up to the carrier.
As an example: Here in europe we have vendors that sell cellphones where you can pick which carrier you want and pay different prices for the phone dependent on what carrier and type of contract you pick. However, you can also buy the buy the phone without a contract (unlocked)

...so why do we have this discussion whether this or that carrier will carry it?

If the new "iPhone" is a hit everybody will carry it. Of course, assuming Apple allows it.

 

[jhedges3]

See now that is something I never understood, how the cell service can be so poor in a place like NYC, yet I was making calls on my CDMA phone in the middle of Wyoming this summer. In fact, there are few places in very unpopulated midwest and west that you can't get a decent signal at least with a CDMA phone. People that come here with GSM are out of luck anywhere except metro areas.

New York has more of something than Wyoming, which is buildings. These buildings make it more difficult for signal to get to people, I think. For whatever reasons CDMA seems to work much better here than GSM.

 

[jaxstate]

Who wants to go through the trouble of doing a software change to unlock their phone.

I seem to be missing some information...😕

First, a locked phone is ONLY a problem if you have cdma. If you go GSM the "locking" is software based and can be unlocked. The networks here unlock it for you for a fee. (others do that too but that is another story...)

Secondly, if the "iPone" is GSM based you an sell the same phone both locked and unlocked. The question whether a phone will be "subsidized" is a deal between Apple and the carrier. Just how much the phone will be is up to the carrier.
As an example: Here in europe we have vendors that sell cellphones where you can pick which carrier you want and pay different prices for the phone dependent on what carrier and type of contract you pick. However, you can also buy the buy the phone without a contract (unlocked)

...so why do we have this discussion whether this or that carrier will carry it?

If the new "iPhone" is a hit everybody will carry it. Of course, assuming Apple allows it.

 

[SiliconAddict]

So what happens when Apple finds out the source of the leak was Jobs? Does he get fired? 😛

 

[netdog]

As an example: Here in europe we have vendors that sell cellphones where you can pick which carrier you want and pay different prices for the phone dependent on what carrier and type of contract you pick. However, you can also buy the buy the phone without a contract (unlocked)

The market for unlocked phones in the USA is still very small. Providers will generally not unlock them, and there aren't shops on the street who will unlock phones as there are here in Europe.

When you go abroad with an American phone, you are usually limited to the service that your provider offers (through a carrier here) and you cannot just pop in another sim. This is very expensive because they know that they are holding you hostage. The first place that I would head with a new phone when I was visiting London was Tottenham Court, so that I could get the phone unlocked and pop in my local pay-as-you-talk sim.

Unlike the big network independent vendors here in Europe, usually in the USA, such vendors still only sell phones locked to various networks, and bundle in the calling plans which the shop receives a reward for. As I am sure you understand, these phones are offered with deep discounts subsidized as part of each network's customer aquisition costs, just as they are offered for free or at a reduced cost here. Unlocked phones do cost considerably more, and it is often best to buy a pay-as-you-go locked phone in Europe, and have someone unlock it for you for £10.

This is changing, but most Americans I know who have gotten their American-bought phones unlocked have mailed them away to vendors they have found on places like eBay.

The USA is a very different market.

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

MS Windows has about 95% of the world market...doesn't mean the technology is better.🙂

There is a huge difference between an OS and a cellphone standard. Having two cellphone standards is like having two internets. You as a customer have no idea weather you use CDMA or GSM. I dont know about you, but I use my cell for talking end send/receive data. I dont give a rats ass whether this done through code division or time division...