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Filed under: iPhone

iPhone reveals carrier logos

For those of you readers who have been curious, here is the canonical list of carrier logos installed directly on the iPhone. I know we've bandied about a bunch of carrier names here at TUAW. And, yes, it's easy enough for Apple to change its mind as negotiations go on and just do a software update to add or change logos and/or carriers. Leaving all that aside, at this time, the built-in carriers appear to be Cingular/AT&T, T-Mobile, and Vodafone. Each logo appears in two files in /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app, as Default_CARRIER and also FSO_CARRIER using a non-standard png encoding.

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Video, iPhone

Activation Video reveals some interesting details and... an 80GB iPhone?

Oh Apple, you're so sly with the way you slip in the useful (and sometimes bizarre) details with your iPhone demo videos. In the activation video posted today, more intricacies of what and how the iPhone synchs have been revealed with a walk-through of how to get one's iPhone set up at home with iTunes. First, it appears as though Apple and AT&T have thought of just about everything:



The setup asks whether you already have an AT&T account and you'd just like to add your iPhone to it, or if you're creating a brand new account. Users can also activate two or more phones all from the comforts of their pajamas and iTunes.

Continue readingActivation Video reveals some interesting details and... an 80GB iPhone?

Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family, iTS, Rumors, iTunes

Rumor: Wireless downloads on the way - for the Zune

Engadget is reporting that a rumored firmware update to Microsoft's Zune DAP (Digital Audio Player) could usher in wireless downloads from their Zune Marketplace digital media store. No word yet on whether these would be all-you-can-eat subscription downloads or purchases made via the Zune Marketplace's points system, but regardless: if Microsoft gets this out in the near future and Apple hasn't stepped up to the plate (possibly with wireless iTunes downloads to the iPhone), they'll be one of the last major players in the DAP market that hasn't snipped the chord on downloading yet. Mobile phones and services from the likes of Cingular, Sprint and Verizon are all enabling wireless downloads, with Sprint recently matching the iTunes price of $.99 per song.

While Microsoft doesn't seem to be causing any loss of sleep for Apple in terms of iPod sales just yet, wireless downloads is one of the undeniable holy grails that digital media lovers everywhere have been clamoring for since the rumor mongers first began posting their silly claims of 'wireless iPods any day now' many years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if the debut of this feature alone made at least a few potential iPod switchers finally make the leap to black, white and brown waters.

Filed under: iPhone

iPhone anticipation continues to shake up cell market

We've already heard from some of the usual suspects on the "iPhone drag effect" that may be impacting sales and phone upgrades in advance of the June arrival of the iPhone; customers who would ordinarily be snapping up new smartphones and renewing two-year service agreements seem to be hedging.

Now, courtesy of the Seeking Alpha stock blog, we have more data on the presales impact of the iPhone: a survey of potential early adopters in the ChangeWave Alliance research network reveals some dramatic shifts in attitudes. Both Motorola and Nokia lose ground on likely purchasers, and those likely to switch carriers are saying Cingular/AT&T more often than they say Verizon, a first in the CA survey. The article suggests that this "striking impact" on carrier and handset businesses "rocks the cellphone industry." Meanwhile, another analyst report on SA anticipates iPhone sales of 17 million units in fiscal 2008 and up to 25 million in 2009. Ye gads.

I'm starting to wonder if the most sophisticated technology in the iPhone isn't the multitouch screen or the visual voicemail -- maybe it's the North America-wide expansion of the RDF.

via Apple Hot News

Filed under: iPhone

Apple sends out iPhone email

Ooh, the anticipation is mounting! When the iPhone was first introduced, I (and a few other TUAW bloggers) signed up to receive notification of the devices availability. Today, a few of us received the following email from Apple. It features an image of the phone, a link to the iPhone homepage and the message:

"Talk to you soon. Thanks for signing up. You'll be the first to hear the latest about iPhone - coming this June. That gives you just enough time to think of ways to break the news to your current phone."

Sounds good, Apple!

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Cingular says June 11 is iPhone Day

My fellow Carnegie Mellon alum Declan McCullagh (go Tartans!) has a unique investigative style: when he wants to find out a product release date, he calls customer service and asks someone. Genius, I say! In this case, he called AT&T/Cingular and spoke to a sales manager who confirmed an on-sale date for the iPhone of June 11, 2007. The alert reader will note that Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference also starts on June 11. Coincidence? Uh, survey says no.

What's that noise I hear... is that the sound of millions of customers checking the contract expiration dates for their current cellphone service? Sounds like gophers.

Thanks Marcus!

[via News.com]

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Rumors, Apple, iPhone

Still no iPhone provider in Europe

While Steve was quick to announce Cingular (or is it AT&T now? Who knows...) as the American carrier for the forthcoming iPhone, they're yet to line up a carrier in Europe. Market Watch is reporting today that Apple is actively courting providers, and may select Vodafone as their sole European iPhone carrier by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Google is supposedly considering Telefonica SA to carry a rumored "GPhone" in Europe.

[Via My iPhone]

Filed under: Rumors, iPhone

Suggestion of iPhone savings

Reader Derek went to his local Cingular dealer to pick up a Blackberry Pearl last week. Upon examining his receipt, he found that it said, "iPhone 2 year agreement savings: $150.00" (you can see an image of the entire receipt at Derek's site).

On one hand, it looks like the folks at Cingular need to re-program their registers. Secondly, we can speculate that this indicates a discounted 2 year plan on iPhones. That could take some of the sting out of $499US.

Thanks, Derek!

Filed under: Software Update

Apple posts WWAN Support Update 1.0

Earlier today, Apple posted WWAN Support Update 1.0 for Intel-based Mac portables. According to Apple, this update offers support for the following:

Available on the Cingular network:
  • Novatel Merlin XU870 ExpressCard (HSDPA)
Available on the Sprint network:
  • Novatel Wireless Merlin EX720 Express Card (EVDO Rev. A)
  • Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 USB Modem (USB Adapter, EVDO Rev. A)
Available on the Verizon network:
  • Novatel XV620 ExpressCard (EVDO Rev. 0)
  • Novatel V740 ExpressCard (EVDO Rev. A)
  • Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 (USB Adapter, EVDO Rev. A)
Thanks, Alex!

Filed under: Hardware, Retail, Rumors, iPhone

iPhone to cost only $300-400 with contract?


If the iPhone's prices of $500 and $600 with contract were a little too much for your wallet to stomach, you might take solace in some new info allegedly leaked from a Cingular AT&T consumer survey (Wait: do wallets really have stomachs?). Engadget has the details on the possibility of the iPhone actually costing a full $200 less, putting the price points at $300 and $400 (for the 4GB and 8GB models, respectively) with a contract, meaning that the $500 and $600 prices could ultimately be for out-of-contract purchases.

Now take this all with a grain of salt; this info and the accompanying image would be easy to fake, and the designer in me says it could be exactly that. Nevertheless, a romp through iPhone dreamland couldn't hurt, and more realistic prices of $300 and $400 would put a lot of smiles on the faces of iPhone hopefuls. Heck, at the least, it would mean Steve Ballmer has a little less to say about Apple's first mobile phone.

Filed under: Macworld, Analysis / Opinion, iPhone

How the iPhone might be sold unlocked

Loyal reader Sammual pointed us to this post from a "Cingular tier 2 call center tech" where he discusses his impressions of Cingular (not positive), Stan Sigman (ditto), and All Things Steve (big thumbs up). "Jolly Roger" presents the thesis, in a long but interesting diatribe, that the iPhone will actually be sold UNlocked, at least in Apple stores. You would then activate the phone with Cingular or, surreptitiously, with another GSM carrier.

My feeling is that this theory may be colored by JR's self-described soul-numbing experience working for Big Wireless. It seems evident that some of the announced features of the iPhone (visual voicemail, EDGE data) are going to be very tightly carrier-linked. Assuming it was even possible to use the phone on T-Mobile or other GSM networks, would it be worth it without all the bells and whistles? Granted, the device is spec'ed as a quad-band GSM unit, so it will roam internationally... guess we'll find out the truth come summertime.

Thanks Sam!

[via ApplePhoneAddict]

Filed under: Macworld, Retail, iPhone

For some, iPhone could cost up to $1349

For everything the iPhone offers, $499 and $599 really is a killer deal. But what if you have to shell out up to $1349 to get your hands on Apple's revolutionary do-it-all mobile device? Nick Starr points out that Cingular still charges a deposit of up to $750 for some customers who have bad credit. Add up $599 for the phone with a $750 deposit and you have one expensive little telephone.

Of course, I have to point out that you can earn your deposit back after a year of good standing with Cingular, but still - that's one heckuva a barrier to entry. So never mind how much you have spent already - how much would you spend on an iPhone?

Filed under: Macworld, iPod Family, iPhone

Sign up to be notified for the iPhone release

If you don't mind throwing your e-mail address into a "please notify me form", Cingular has a new page that allows you to request notification when the iPhone becomes available. Of course, you can probably just read about the iPhone availability here at TUAW, but don't discount the thrill of opening your email and discovering a note directly from Cingular. Which will, of course, prompt you to pop over to TUAW to see what the scoop is all about, right? Right.

Last Apple Phone leak photo we promise

Rob Terrell posted what he thinks is a glimpse of the Apple iPod phone on his blog yesterday, from a Cingular TV ad. Since I have no credibility left on this front I'll let Rob and the picture speak for themselves:

"That capture is from the very last shot in the [Cingular] ad.... the Cingular website shows no music playback phones with that shape. Did they just show the Apple iPod phone a day early?"

thanks Luis!
[via Happyapps]

Filed under: Hardware, iTunes

Motorola SLVR with iTunes now available from Cingular

Motorola has unleashed the SLVR with iTunes for Cingular, a slim new candybar style phone that borrows from their runaway-hit RAZR design. As Engadget notes, it's selling for $199 (better than the ROKR's initial $249) with a 2-year contract, comes pre-installed with a 512 MB card and that oh-so-loved ceiling of 100 songs. Once again, Motorola included a non-standard headphone jack, forcing buyers to use an annoying little adapter in order to be able to plug in a regular set of headphones.

Even though the SLVR phone itself certainly seems to be a nice upgrade from the bulky and sluggish ROKR, it still doesn't strike me as a serious music phone offering. The many reasons and theories for this have certainly been discussed since the ROKR's introduction, so I'll spare you a rehash.

While some might be quick to bash Motorola for breaking their promise that the ROKR 2 won't suck, just remember: this isn't technically the ROKR 2, so there's still hope. But what do you TUAW readers think of this? Is this the killer iTunes phone you'd sell your own dog to get your hands on? Or did Motorola and Apple miss the train again?

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