iPhone, if it exists, to be Cingular-only through mid-2007

The Apple iPhone is Apple's chance to leapfrog all of the phone service providers and handset suppliers. Apple can supply an iPhone with a mobile version OS X that syncs with Addressbook, iCal, Apple Mail, iTunes etc. Everything is controlled by Apple: the software, the hardware, the phone service itself, the UPDATES and the BACKUPS. No more finger pointing between suppliers, and I won't have to breakout and crankup my PowerBook just to get into a database for an address or notes, while I'm driving. Essentially, I'm looking for an integrated, hand-held device that has the attributes of a phone and an iPod, with ACCESS to files and data that normally reside on my Macbook. In other words, I want a phone, an iPod, and a Newton PDA (updated to today's standards), all rolled into one unit. This is why Microsoft started Zune as a whole new ecosystem: FULL CONTROL!

Does the iPhone come out the same week that Duke Nukem Forever comes out?

@mx3 - why make a version of this device for such a small (globally) market? GSM rules the roost on a global scale, while CDMA is only a real consideration in 2 markets - the US and S. Korea.

Look at Nokia. They've only got a few CDMA handsets, and yet have well over 30% of the worldwide marketshare for mobile phones. The only time I've seen a CDMA-first strategy pay off is in the case of Samsung. Rather than start off competing with Nokia, SE & Moto in the GSM space, they started off in the CDMA space, which is much more wide open. They built some buzz there, *then* brought out GSM handsets.

Apple's already got buzz.

THE. PHONE. DOES. NOT. EXIST.

Can we get a fucking grip here, PLEASE? You folks are making future plans based on RUMOURS!

In any event, there is no reason whatsoever for Apple to enter the cell phone market. Microsoft hasn't. Rather than create a phone and sell it themselves, Apple would be far better off simply providing an OS the way Microsoft does with WinCE (or whatever they're calling it today). License that to Palm and Blackberry and other PDA/Phone manufacturers and they're set. Let someone else worry about the hardware for once.

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?

I vunder if it will be awailable to those outside the US?

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.

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

They should be a MVNO, that would give them control over their network...

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.