You have to smile a bit at the role
Walt Mossberg plays in the geekosphere -- he's like the chairman of the Federal Reserve, what with the excitement that his offhand comments can generate. In this case, towards the end of a
rather interesting rant about the obstacles to video delivery ("8 minutes of horrible commercials in a 30-minute show... there are lots of people who could care less about erectile dysfunction... in the US, we really suck at broadband") captured on beet.tv, he
casually mentions that the iPhone 3G is coming within 60 days. What, now?
We've been gaining
confidence in the time horizon for a new rev of the iPhone hardware along with everyone else these past few days, but having the imprimatur of Mr. M on a June 3G release makes it all seem more real, somehow.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.[via
9to5Mac /
Computerworld]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
fishbert said 1:58AM on 4-06-2008
Am I the only one who thought the 3G iPhone blurb was the least interesting thing he was talking about?
I'm not denigrating the new iPhone; I'm praising the other material.
(and really, does anyone not think the 3G iPhone will come out in late June? That syncs it with the 2.0 software release... as well as AT&T's announcement of trying to put TV broadcasts on their phones in May)
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Ed said 7:46AM on 4-06-2008
I absolutely agree. I have a friend who just got satellite internet, however, and I know he's not going to be happy about it. He was forced to, because he lives in the middle of nowhere where there are no phone or cable lines. It's reasons like this that we should have a method of getting high-speed connections global. (Wireless?)
Could 3G networks handle Modems? What about WiMax/LTE? Hundreds or thousands of modems connecting cell towers to people's routers, putting the strain of everyday home use on the backs of ATT and VZW? Would they be fast enough?
Sure, we have fast connections where it "matters," (where people will pay) such as fiber, but this is only in place because the cost of creating a new infrastructure in a big city is offset by the huge profits they will reap. Such connections will never reach the majority of the nation. What we need is the technology to make fast available to everyone, everywhere, and cheap.
Sorry for the rant.
harrywolf said 2:26PM on 4-06-2008
Yes, agreed, the Mossberg video is interesting for what he said about the habits of TV watchers, how young people are circumventing ads, etc. etc.
I like that he denigrates carpet, non-specific advertising - dont we all really HATE advertising?
Of course the '3G' iPhone will be out in June; its a year since the introduction - time for version 2.
But as Ed says above - 3G will NOT be in evidence anywhere but the Big City, for obvious reasons of profitability.
mr. childs said 3:07AM on 4-06-2008
I am selling my iphone next week...
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Michael LaFramboise said 3:13AM on 4-06-2008
Heh, definitely an interesting video, but nothing but speculation on his part. His voice is no more credible then anyone else's who reads the latest rumors. Doesn't matter how popular he is, he's no-one with who Jobs would be sharing all his plans. Walt will get the 3G iPhone the same day as all the other journalists will, no two way about it.
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Kleinias said 3:47AM on 4-06-2008
Obviously both the above poster and I don't know whether Walt Mossberg will get the iPhone ahead of time or not (or if he already has it). Having said that, Mossberg did have the iPhone around a month or so before it was released to the general public. He talked about it (the 1st gen iPhone) a bit and was then able to issue a review the day it became available.
I know the past is not a definite predictor of the future, but since Apple gave him the 1st gen iPhone ahead of time, I'm curious as to why someone would say: "Walt will get the 3G iPhone the same day as all the other journalists will, no two way about it."
Michael LaFramboise said 3:54AM on 4-06-2008
Kleinias, yes, I know Walt got the iPhone a good month before anyone else, but that was purely for review and about 5 month after everything about the iPhone was revealed to everyone. All I'm saying is that he wouldn't be chosen to test any prototypes since Apple likes to keep those within it's fortress :)
Falkirk said 3:41AM on 4-06-2008
@fishbert said: "...and really, does anyone not think the 3G iPhone will come out in late June?"
I'll play the dumb guy role hear. I don't know that the 3G iPhone won't come out in June, but I'm not overly confident that it will.
First, this shortage thing is unrelated. No way Apple has a shortage at the end of March because they are planning to introduce a new phone in the middle of June. That's just nuts.
Second, while there would be a lot of symmetry to having a new phone delivered 1 year after the introduction of the old phone, that doesn't mean that it will happen that way. The 3G iPhone wasn't delivered last year because of technical issues concerning battery life. Apple may or may not have solved this issue. But the phone will be released when the issue is resolved - not because it would be swell to be on an annual update cycle.
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JeffDM said 12:28PM on 4-06-2008
I think the 3G battery (and chipset size) issues have been addressed already, high-feature phones have been made available that are a touch smaller than the iPhone.
I know that Walt isn't the final word, but as far as I know, he doesn't casually start or repeat rumors either. I don't think he'd jeopardize his cozy relationship with Apple, for all we know, this may be something they authorized. He gets prerelease review hardware, he got the first Intel iMacs, probably the aluminum iMac and quite a bit of other hardware before almost all the the rest of the tech journalists. He was one of something like four journalists to get a prerelease iPhone.
Falkirk said 2:24PM on 4-06-2008
Fist, I know you say the 3G battery issue has been resolved, but obviously it wasn't resolved to Apple's satisfaction or they would have had 3G in the first model.
Second, I am not in any way impugning the knowledge or integrity of Walt Mossberg. However, it is nonsensical to suggest that Apple may have somehow "authorized" his statement. That's just dumb. If they wanted to announce the 3G iPhone they would have a press release or an event. They wouldn't authorize Walt Mossberg to start casually mentioning it during seminars.
And as you say, there is no way Mossberg would "jeopardize his cozy relationship with Apple." I take that to mean that, knowing how secretive Apple was, Mossberg would never reveal information provided to him in confidence. Therefore, his 60 day prediction is NOT based upon information gleaned from Apple.
I also want to note that I inexplicably used the word "hear" instead of the word "here". And I have no way to fix it! Aaaaagh!
JimB said 5:10AM on 4-06-2008
Considering that Steve Jobs himself has made prominent announcements about when various products will be available which are frequently off target (albeit usually by a few days--or stretching the definition of when the end of a given month really occurs), why should we have faith in what must be a purely speculative 60-day timeframe from Mossberg? If Steve can't always get it right--and he should be the only one with a real position to know these things--the supposed delivery date of a 3G iPhone needs to be taken with a very big grain of salt.
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James said 5:27AM on 4-06-2008
I definitely agree with the broadband issue. After traveling abroad several times I feel cheated paying so much for our version of "broadband". For some people they think its silly to want a faster internet...I dont.
It'd be so great to be able to watch a full length hd movie in a click of a button without having to wait for it to load half the movie time. It's ridiculous. But most of the american households don't complain because it's one of those things that most people think is just normal and just the way its supposed to be.
And I think thats one of the biggest things that needs to be tackled because how the hell is that other countries are able to video chat on their phones yet we can't even watch a clear video over Edge. Yes there's 3G...but that isn't even the standard yet in the US and other countries already kicked 3g out and advancing on the next! It's pathetic.
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rich said 6:36AM on 4-06-2008
June 2 is the target date (though these things can always change) to coincide with iphone release in Spanish - Telefonica unveils their new Flagship store in Madrid. They have been trying to coordinate Steve Jobs to unveil live that day, but I understand Apple is trying to launch 2 - 3 other markets that day as well, and one or more of these might be considered more important than Spain for Steve's appearance.
And BTW - Uncle Walt is not just a speculator - Apple pre-releases product and information to him before any other outlet. He is definitely part of their controlled plans to release information about their product launches.
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mi_sat said 9:21AM on 4-06-2008
http://www.cracked.com/video_15705_iphone-delay-parody.html
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Peter said 8:57AM on 4-06-2008
Well I have met Walt and talked to him about his relationship with Jobs (and Bill G.). Walt has the inside track with Apple - I believe what he says. Walt is very careful with his words and does not brag. I believe him when he says 60 days.
Apple has really only three journalists they trust. Walt Mossberg, Steven Levy and David Pogue. I have met and spoken with all three of them.
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Frank Stedtler said 11:15AM on 4-06-2008
I have an iphone and would like to know if 3G will be a firmware update or a whole new phone?
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DJFriar said 11:31AM on 4-06-2008
Its a whole new phone. No firmware update can add 3G, its a totally different chip.
Ben said 11:39AM on 4-06-2008
Aren't we forgetting - it will have to go through the FCC, so it'll appear there well before ANYONE can even FATHOM a launch date....
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Ziegler said 12:03PM on 4-06-2008
How long is typical FCC turnaround time? Also, any chance Apple could swing a confidentiality deal w/ FCC?
JeffDM said 12:20PM on 4-06-2008
The FCC does have a procedure where they can delay the approval announcement on request. I think Apple uses it a lot, we didn't hear about new wireless mice until the day before the product is ready for sale.