Rumor: Simultaneous iPhone 2.0 release for Korea, Japan

3G iPhone rumors are like summer evening mosquitoes: very annoying but also impossible to ignore. Fortune is the most recent buzzing in our ears with a report that the next major iPhone release will include Korea and Japan at the same time.

Specifically, tech news coming from Korea suggests that Apple is in talks with NTT DoCoMo of Japan and Korea's own Telecom Freetel. Both are big players in the 3G market in that part of the world. In fact, NTT DoCoMo is credited with having pioneered 3G mobile phone technology.

Both Korea and Japan are huge markets that Cupertino would certainly love to grab hold of. Of course, this will all be clear in just a few weeks. Most likely.

Now, where's the insect repellent?

[Via MacDailyNews]

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Source: http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/05/20/report-iphon…

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3G iPhone rumors are like summer evening mosquitoes: very annoying but also impossible to ignore. Fortune is the most recent buzzing in our...

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HÃ¥kan

NTT does not use CDMA, AU is the only japanese carrier that does. NTT uses a system called FOMA, similar to what's used in Europe, and they're compatible. SoftBank also uses this system.

May 21 2008 at 12:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Seth Rubenstein

Am I mistaken or is DoCoMo a CDMA carrier? If it is and Apple has made a CDMA iPhone, what are the chances of a possible unlock of that version to work with Verizon? It's the only reason I dont have an iPhone. I'd go out right now and kerplunk up to 600 for an iPhone that worked on Verizon.

May 21 2008 at 12:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Seth Rubenstein's comment

Ron LaPedis

I'm pretty sure Japan and Korea are both 2G CDMA but 3G is a completely different technology from CDMA and GSM called W-CDMA.

See:
http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/3g/faq.shtml
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_jp.shtml
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_kr.shtml

May 21 2008 at 12:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Stafford

If the iPhone 2.0 is being released in Korea, And God I hope it is - An iTunes Store would be quite nice too - I wonder how Apple has implemented WIPI - the Korean Government mandated middleware that every phone sold in Korea must have.
Anything in the SDK?

May 21 2008 at 10:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steven

Since the iPhone will be available in so many new markets, Apple must be piling a hughe amount of stock. I guess we'll have stand in line before the iPhone 2.0/3G gets sold out...
Darn, there's still no announcement for the Netherlands. Like the only country left in Europe. No lines here :-(

May 21 2008 at 10:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

I\'m Lost

I hope not Docomo. It has to be one of the worst carriers here in Japan. I would have better voice quality with a tin can and a piece of string!

May 21 2008 at 10:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to I\'m Lost's comment

Jasenpfeffer

Considering that there are only three major carriers in Japan, saying that DoCoMo must be one of the worst doesn't leave much hope for Softbank or au either (the latter of which seems to have very little chance of carrying the iPhone).

There are simply so many factors that can go into determining voice quality on a cell phone that it does seem a bit unfair to heap the blame onto any carrier wholesale without first considering those other possibilities (including hardware and geographic factors).

Also, we are well past the point of voice quality being the sole determining factor making or breaking the deal when it comes to choosing cell phones--a term that understates what the iPhone is and can do.

That's just my 2 yen (valued at even less than 2 cents...)

May 21 2008 at 11:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Unregistered

Will they bite? Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG are pretty popular there

May 21 2008 at 10:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

a ham sandwich

i assume by korea, you mean only south korea?

May 21 2008 at 10:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply