Mac news from outside the reality distortion field
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November 29, 2007, 8:26 am

3G iPhone: Sooner rather than later?

picture-6.jpg“You’ll have it next year.”

That was AT&T (T) chairman Randall Stephenson’s answer to a question yesterday about when Apple (AAPL) will introduce an iPhone that runs on a faster, third generation wireless network rather than AT&T’s 2.5G EDGE network, according to an overnight report.

The remark was made at a meeting of the Churchill Club in Santa Clara, Calif., and seemed to offer slightly more hope of a speedy delivery than Steve Jobs’ latest public comment on the matter.

Hopefully we’ll see that late next year,” was what Jobs said when asked last September why he hadn’t built a 3G iPhone.

A few weeks later, Broadcom began delivering samples of a low-power integrated device it calls “a 3G Phone on a Chip” that would seem to meet Apple’s requirements. It will be available next year in bulk for $23 apiece. (see here)

AT&T chairman couldn’t comment on how much an iPhone built around such a chip might cost. Steve Jobs “will dictate what the price of the phone is,” Stephenson said — a choice of verbs that reveals more about the relationship of the two CEOs than he probably intended.

Engadget speculates that such a phone might fit into the $599 price slot formerly occupied by the 8 gigabyte iPhone while carrying 16 gigabytes of flash memory like the iPod touch.

Rumors that a 3G iPhone might come as early as May 2008 were floating around last week. Will Stephenson’s remarks put a damper on Christmas iPhone sales? ParisLemon thinks so. Piper Jaffrey’s Gene Munster not so much.

Good one J from Houston.

LOL

Posted By jmmx Portland OR : December 6, 2007 3:13 pm

“You read it because you are the thinnest-skinned fanboys on the planet”

LOL MacMacs might be but I am most certainly not.

I read this so-called “news site” because I read *all* mac-related news sites - it’s my job. Part of my job is to stay informed regarding what others are saying about Apple.

“and can’t stand any remotely negative statement about your beloved consumer design company.”

My post wasn’t referring to any negative comments Elmer may or may not have made regarding Apple. I was referring to the fact that almost every article Elmer posts has *multiple* errors of fact, grammar, spelling, etc. You can see it in his comments.

If this is supposed to be a “News site” (and I would submit it most certainly is no such thing), ostensibly linked to CNN and Fortune, wouldn’t you expect/want/demand *better* reporting? Better grammar, spelling, facts, etc?

The only thing I expect from Elmer is to get it right - unfortunately, he most often *doesn’t* as evidenced by his frequent need to correct his own writing. As long as that occurs, I will continue to criticize him for it.

Posted By Shawn King, Westport, CT : November 30, 2007 3:32 pm

Where did you get that picture of an iphone on TMobile’s network?

In Europe, TMobile has the contract for exclusive IPhones. This however, is illegal and will likely change as it is against the law in many countries there.

The IPod is seeing new competition from the Zune, the IPhone is seeing new competition from other cell phone companies as well. Apple may be an innovator, but their products always reak from a lack of refinement. Whether it’s infrequently updated software or a lack of continuous product improvement, there’s a lot missing from a small company like Apple and that’s the main reason we still see PCs dominating the market.

Competitors come out with superior products with new features and Apple doesn’t follow suit. It comes up with a great scheme, and then somebody else implements it better. Standard Operating Procedure for Apple. If they had more guidance, there wouldn’t be another Cell Phone or MP3 player on the market. They always get there first, the stock goes up on a new product, then competitors overtake them.

Posted By J Houston, TX : November 30, 2007 2:42 pm

You read it because you are the thinnest-skinned fanboys on the planet andcan’t stand any remotely negative statement about your beloved consumer design company. You show up anywhere on the internet that someone dares to criticize Apple because you believe that repeating the same old bromides of “elegant design” and “new paradigms” will actually change people’s opinions. You cry about MSFT and it’s business tactics while applauding the same thing in Jobs and Apple. You are delusional. You make Sony Playstation fanboys look downright reasonable. You are Apple’s worst enemy.

Posted By Dan, Boston, MA : November 29, 2007 8:29 pm

We read it because we like Apple and and believe in it enough to buy Apple stock, therefore we care what people are writing when they write articles about Apple. This site is listed under Apple news on CNN and is dedicated to writing news about Apple and only Apple. The author has shown a dislike for Apple and seems to have an anti Apple agenda with most of his articles. This site is listed under the Apple stock quote page so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that it in a position to influence the Apple stock and perhaps Apple products. This site allows commentary so I use this area to set things straight if I disagree with something the author has written. Sometimes the author is subtle about it and sometimes not.

Todays article was subtle, but basically says don’t buy the iPhone this Christmas because Apple might come out with a new iPhone in six months that is better. Of course they might come out with a better iPhone at some point. That goes without saying for every product made on the planet.

Posted By Nodack Phx Az : November 29, 2007 5:30 pm

If you do not like Phil writing why you read it!!, I do not know why these apple diehard fans attack you, may be they are paid by apple to do that because where ever I go to a blog or a site that even slightly criticize apple, these people are there and it is the same tactics and same way of writing. But this is not strange for Apple with their PR people that we seen in action weeks ago in the UK.

Posted By Me, Iowa city, IA : November 29, 2007 4:05 pm

“Every time I read these Apple2.0 blogs it’s the same thing: Phillip writing something then people correcting him…”

You’d think he’d learn and get it right the first time, wouldn’t you? I think he has a masochistic streak and enjoys the abuse.

Posted By Shawn King, Westport, CT : November 29, 2007 3:11 pm

Pepole like fixing yore speling erors dont thay Phil? it dosent bother me thow.

Im not shure wut this article is triing to acomplish. Jobs is the man at Apple and everybody knows it. Jobs has stated that there will be no 3G iPhone until a decent battery life can be assured with 3G unlike the other 3G phones out there with abysmal battery life. Of course Apple is working on the next generation of the iPhone and if it has 3G it means they have solved the battery life issue.

Of course all of this is old news and the new chip you are talking about is old news too. I think the real massage Phil is trying to get out is, “Don’t buy an iPhone now. A new one is coming eventually that will be better than iPhone 1.0.”

When the new iPhone comes out we can all look forward to reading all of Phil’s nice articles describing in detail all of the reasons you shouldn’t buy that iPhone either. Hooray!

Posted By Nodack Phoenix. AZ : November 29, 2007 1:24 pm

Where did you get that picture of an iphone on TMobile’s network?

Posted By John Ashworth Memphis Tn : November 29, 2007 12:50 pm

I received my iPod yesterday. The guy next door ordered one hundred of them. The FDex guy said he had “one million” in his truck…
Who are you going with? Philip or the FDex guy?

Posted By Joe, El Paso TX : November 29, 2007 12:25 pm

Every time I read these Apple2.0 blogs it’s the same thing: Phillip writing something then people correcting him and/or yelling at him.

It’s hilarious. Keep up the good work.

Posted By Brandon, Upland, CA : November 29, 2007 12:20 pm

Let’s see how well this sells and how many people wait 2 months to see if the device drops 33% in price.

Posted By Anonymous : November 29, 2007 11:46 am

In English, “English” is spelled with a capital “E”.

Posted By Anonymous : November 29, 2007 10:58 am

Philip, more errors for you to correct:

“Hopefully we’ll see that late next year,” what what Jobs said when asked last September why he hadn’t built a 3G iPhone.

What what???

“AT&T chairman couldn’t comment on how much a iPhone built around such a chip might cost.”

I think in english, when using an a before a vowel, you need to use an “an”.

ex ped: fixed. thanks.

Posted By Jim, Rotterdam, Holland : November 29, 2007 10:04 am

“Hopefully we’ll see that late next year,” what what Jobs said when asked last September why he hadn’t built a 3G iPhone.

This should most likely be corrected.

ex ped: fixed. thanks.

Posted By Kevin Mcmahon, Boiling Springs PA : November 29, 2007 9:33 am
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Philip Elmer-DeWittSilicon Valley veterans like to joke that Steve Jobs must be surrounded by a reality distortion field; if you get too close to him, you start to believe what he's saying. Thanks to the success of the iPod, the launch of the iPhone and the renewed interest in the Mac, Apple has made believers out of millions of customers - and made a lot of investors rich. But Philip Elmer-DeWitt believes that an ounce of skepticism never hurts when writing about the company. He should know. He's been covering Apple - and watching Steve Jobs operate - since 1982, first for Time Magazine, then for Business 2.0, and now for Fortune.
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