Filed under: Audio, Hardware, Rumors
iPhone, if it exists, to be Cingular-only through mid-2007
I know, the Cingular-only bit is quite the shocker, but Think Secret has restated some previously rumored details on the iPhone, including a 3 megapixel camera, 2.2-inch display and, obviously, iSync support. The phone is also said not to be handicapped with the same 100-song glass ceiling like the ROKR and SLVR, though Think Secret's reliably anonymous sources don't have any word on what the iPhone's storage capacity will actually be.Signs are now pointing to a January 2007 release, most likely at a newly expanded Macworld 07. Think Secret's insiders claim Apple is shooting for the stars, expecting to ship 25 million iPhones in 2007 alone. If true, this is a bit of a surprise since Motorola's incredibly popular and more widely appealing RAZR has taken over two years to sell 50 million units. Perhaps most interesting of all this rumor rehashing is Think Secret's report that Apple's exclusive Cingular contract for the iPhone only lasts into the middle of 2007 - meaning that other carriers could pick it up and finally get in on the as-yet awkward iTunes phone action.
Again, you know the drill: this is all hearsay from 'anonymous insiders,' so do what you will with it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MatthewJ said 9:15PM on 9-26-2006
Meh. I wonder if it will only sync with .Mac?
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Ralph said 9:01PM on 9-26-2006
Well, I'm with Sprint in a contract 'til about this time next year, so if it's a true deal it should all work out well for me.
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Darin said 9:12PM on 9-26-2006
I knew it. I have Sprint too, so I hope this isn't true.
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Fernando said 9:16PM on 9-26-2006
it's a shame that it would be already outdated, just look at the new nokia n95
In my vision the iphone should be a phone in a ipod, only that, no cameras, no wi-fi, jo speakers and all that phone stuff
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Justin said 10:13PM on 9-26-2006
I still dont understand what the appeal is here? I mean why do we want an apple phone? How much diff can it really be from the 2 zillion phones out now? I mean there is a new one comming out every 2.4 seconds does apple really need to be in this market? Can you not fine what you are looking for? Ya I know everyone said the same thing with the ipod...well this time I hope I am right and IF this thing ever does appear I hope it flops like a fat man falling in a shallow pool
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JD said 10:51PM on 10-17-2006
Apple could revolutionize the cell phone.
Cell phones need to be revolutionized.
Thinking current cell phones are good is like thinking Windows was good. Then you switched to OS X, and now you never want to go back.
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Kyle Mark said 10:34PM on 9-26-2006
So I have a hard time believeing that it will sync with iSync. Why wouldn't apple make it use iTunes to sync like it does the ipod? Just wondering!
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mx3 said 10:41PM on 9-26-2006
I get a new phone sometime around mid-2007, so if they end up making a CDMA version I might consider it. We'll have to see :)
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dunk said 11:17PM on 9-26-2006
@justin - did you ever use an mp3 player before the ipod? a computer before the mac GUI? if so then you know exactly why we need an apple phone. simplicity, elegance, style, etc... phones today are crap. stuffed with features no one uses, hidden behind menus that require a CS degree to decipher.
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Exilio said 11:21PM on 9-26-2006
I just want it to be able to check my IMAP mail. I use my Treo for working away from my desk and I can't live without that.
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David said 11:23PM on 9-26-2006
Methinks I am eligible for my Cingular upgrade in December, so waiting until January will be no prob at all. That is, if any of this is true.
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Nod said 11:54PM on 9-26-2006
I hope it's got WiFi - that would be the clincher. I know that Cingular will hate that, but WiFi access would be the killer app that would sell this phone like crazy.
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Justin said 11:55PM on 9-26-2006
Kyle - GTFO, you kidding us or what?
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Johnny K said 9:36PM on 9-27-2006
It makes perfect sense to release it with Cingular. They're not going to build a CDMA model off the bat as CDMA's woefully inferior ecoonomies of scale will always cause it to lose out to GSM.
And within the United States, there are 2 GSM carriers, only one of which offers decent service nationwide. Cingular wins not because it is the best, but because it is the least problematic.
Thank god I have Cingular!
Now the REAL question is if they will release it to work with Cingular's 3G network...
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Thomas said 2:40PM on 9-27-2006
Current phones are just shit. People don't use half the stuff on them, there are hundreds of menus and people never go into them. They're not drilling all the way down the various levels that are required to do things. On phones the address books allow you to store multiple pieces of information for each person - as you would expect - however a large number of people just add a new entry every time they want to add a new number so rather than having Joe Public then within them an entry for mobile and home they'll have "Joe Public - home" and "Joe Public - mobile" since it's just easier to add a new entry. I have a mobile I keep in case of break down in my car and I hate it, it's a pain to use.
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Ed said 5:52AM on 9-27-2006
They should be a MVNO, that would give them control over their network...
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Eric said 6:46AM on 9-27-2006
I'd only buy an unlocked GSM version, I used to never care CDMA vs. GSM until I started traveling overseas. For me, picking up a local prepaid SIM card or cheap local plan is the way to go. If the device is worth it I think people will want to own the phone with no strings attached instead of getting a subsidized one through a restrictive plan. I realize this may not be the case but having a choice would be nice
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Steve said 8:44AM on 9-27-2006
Of course it would be GSM so Apple only needs to support one technology for worldwide sale, but really I find Cingular no better or worse than Verizon.
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Ridley said 9:43AM on 9-27-2006
I vunder if it will be awailable to those outside the US?
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SubGenius said 9:56AM on 9-27-2006
Justin, Apple needs to be in this market for one reason.
An iPod, a PDA, a GPS and a cellphone are all basically tiny computers with specialized functions.
In the future everyone will be carrying around tiny computers the size a iPod that have more power than todays Mac Pro. It won't be very specialized like todays devices but instead will be able to do many different things.
What operating system will it use? Windows Mobile?
What kind of interface will it have? Clippy? "It sounds like you want to make a phone call"
How will it be designed? Ive or committee?
What color will it be? brown?
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