It seems as if it was only yesterday that Apple unveiled its revolutionary
iPhone, yet the company is already gearing up for the launch of its
successor.
As with the original, the new phone will boast many of the features that have
helped make Apple one of the most desirable brands in the world. It will
also have some new features, including 3G technology to speed up internet
access, and applications that could herald a brave new world of mobile
communications.
Gadget fans the world over are eagerly counting down the hours to Monday, June
9, when the new phone is expected to be unveiled by Steve Jobs, Apple’s
chief executive.
The original iPhone, launched in the UK last November, was genuinely
innovative for being able to respond to gestures and strokes via a
touchscreen, while its gorgeous web browser was the digital equivalent of a
glossy magazine.
Less popular were its clumsy text entry and outdated 2.5G data connection,
which made for painfully slow texting, web browsing and e-mail collection.
The upgrade to 3G will at least provide a much faster, smoother internet
experience. The move should also mean that users are less likely to be cut
off during voice calls, and may now sample the dubious delights of
face-to-face video calling, thanks to a front-mounted camera. The high-speed
technology will also make it easier and quicker to download music and videos
from the web, or upload photos.
If you think that the speeds offered by some 3G networks are fast, an
Australian mobile network is claiming that the new iPhone will be able to
use the latest 3G technology (known as HSDPA) to offer internet access at
twice the speed of the fastest UK home broadband services today.
With nobody beyond Apple’s walls having yet seen a 3G iPhone – the company is
famously tight-lipped when it comes to new products – little else is known
about the new handset.
There is industry speculation that the 3G iPhone will be priced at £200 at
least – plus the cost of an annual contract. There’s also talk that Apple
will use that large touchscreen for more than just stroking and poking – the
company recently filed a patent for integrating solar panels into its
handheld gadgets. Instead of using a separate, fold-out panel, Apple’s plan
is to put solar cells behind the LCD screen, so the more you flash your
iPhone around, the more power it could generate.
Another Apple patent involves using location-based information to create
personalised and localised shopping pages on your iPhone. If you’re walking
past a cinema, for example, you might see a trailer of the latest movie, and
even be able to order popcorn for delivery right to your seat.
Experts say the one thing that is certain is that the existing iPhone handset
will quickly disappear. “I don’t see much room for Apple to continue to
offer the original 2.5G iPhone here, although they might move stock to other
countries, such as some in eastern Europe without a 3G network,” says Ian
Fogg, research director at JupiterResearch, the high-tech analysts.
In the longer term, Apple is expected to introduce a family of phones, in the
same way that it shifted from selling a single, original iPod to offering a
range of music and video players. Apple will also have to decide whether to
keep the touch interface, which requires a large screen, or move to a more
traditional design in order to reduce phone size. IPhone nano, anyone?
Although Apple impressed a lot of geeks with the iPhone, sales have hovered
around a modest 20,000 units a day worldwide, and that’s a drop in the ocean
compared with the 3m phones that sell every 24 hours. That doesn’t mean the
world’s biggest phone makers can afford to ignore it, says Fogg. “Apple had
never built a mobile phone before the iPhone, yet its designers created the
best mobile media player, and the best mobile browser on the market. Apple
has already caused its competitors to respond and change their strategies,”
he says.
Nowhere is that more apparent than in the rash of rival 3G touchscreen
handsets – dubbed “iPhonies” by industry insiders – that have appeared over
the past six months. While none of these phones has approached the iPhone’s
effortless ease of use, some at least threaten to steal Apple’s technical
thunder, and often at a considerably lower price.
HTC’s Touch Diamond handset, for instance, not only weighs less than the
iPhone but also uses blisteringly fast HSDPA technology and includes a GPS
receiver for navigation. Or take Samsung’s F480 phone, which trumps the
iPhone’s weedy 2Mp camera with a 5Mp snapper, complete with flash.
Apple clearly has some catching up to do. Many other manufacturers are already
selling their second or third HSDPA phone, and have technology such as GPS
and digital cameras working well together.
If Apple lacks the research muscle to fully develop the iPhone itself, it is
gambling on a new strategy to keep its gadgets up to date by allowing other
companies to develop features and applications for users to download
directly to the new iPhone.
Jeremy Green, an analyst at Ovum, the telecoms research company, says: “It
makes sense for Apple to do this, using the creativity of lots and lots of
people to improve their products.”
But will that be enough? Green questions Apple’s decision to partner the
iPhone exclusively with a single UK network operator – O2. “In the UK mobile
market, the four biggest operators have roughly equal market share. If you
go exclusive with one, you’re denying yourself three-quarters of the market.”
O2’s current iPhone contracts include all-you-can-surf mobile internet, and
free use of around 6,000 wi-fi hotspots in the UK. It’s not clear yet
whether O2 will offer the same deal on the 3G iPhone – although a wi-fi
connection is almost guaranteed, as 3G signals can fade quickly inside
buildings.
Abroad, Apple is already edging away from exclusive deals. It plans to ship
iPhones to at least two operators in Italy, and future deals are unlikely to
favour a single mobile phone network. However, Apple’s deal with O2 here
still has some time to run, making it extremely unlikely that other
operators will be able to sell the 3G iPhone when it launches.
Whatever Jobs reveals on June 9, though, it had better be good. The Apple
brand isn’t only about style, and that global gathering of geeks is
expecting a phone that’s as least as innovative as its predecessor. If it
isn’t, there’s no guarantee the iPhone won’t be a single-ringtone wonder
such as Apple’s ill-fated Newton handheld computer, rather than an
all-conquering success like the iPod.
"decide whether to keep the touch interface"?
I think that you may have missed the whole point of the iphones adaptability. With a touch panel you are not restrained by physical buttons, a pet hate of Jobs. While he is in charge they will not have a "more traditional design". Thank goodness!! :-)
Dave Mathias, Crymych, Wales
Being in the "patents business" and having worked in-house for a major telecoms manufacturer, I think you'll probably find that tailoring content to your location was probably not Apple's idea.
Ross, Herts,
The iPhone 2.0 SDK that will power the next iPhone has multiple references to GPS features and hardware, so I think it is a given that location services will be a strong point of the new iPhone. Hopefully the camera will get an upgrade too, tho it won't have a Xenon flash like the latest Nokias.
Alex Kerr, London, UK
apple have already said tha the new software will be a free update for current iPhone users
alex, London, England
Erm, media yet again swallowing Appe hype. HSDPA 3G browsing is already in Europe (HSDPA technology cannot deliver 2x home tho.) - eg via excellent Nokia N95 (although O2 and others don't give full speed).. N95 also has GPS - watch where you're going on a flashing blue blob on Google maps.
Rob, London, England UK
"Less popular were its clumsy text entry and outdated 2.5G data connection"
Sure 3G will improve data rates, but "clumsy text entry"? Anyone who has used an iPhone knows that the screen/virtual keyboard is the key feature. They're not going to dump it because guys who haven't used the phone whinge.
Bob Down, London,
wow. You all need to get a grip.
1.) the old phones will be just as useful tomorrow as they are today (duh)
2.) the future features are all software based. So buying the new unit means when it is avail you can use it. I'd like to see the price the carrier will want for video phone.
joe, chicago,
dose anyone no when apple will open up for verizon users
lary, lowville, usa
A hodgepodge of rumours, thoroughly lacking, e.g. references (text entry wpm, nothing on inbuilt compass/(e/A-)GPS., LBS, geolocation, Mossberg is at least 1 person who has had access to the new version."the high-tech analysts" the?
Readers are better to go to at least the rumour sources than this
Tom, Stoke, England
iPhone 1 and its restrictive distribution in 4 countries was probably a feint to commit the competition. Expect significant changes to the hardware, the styling, the services, the pricing and the distribution. And expect much higher sales in 69+ countries this time. This will be an epic story.
sleepy, Exeter,
The hardware side seems to have been well commented, the real innovation is in the user interface and mobile services, I would suggest that this is where Apple will wow people with the next version of the iphone.
Geoff Meacock, Ilkeston, UK
I'm wondering if the iphone will make my old one a worthless piece of garbage. Or will apple make it possible to update with some type of firmware. If not I for one might look to a cheaper phone, if my phone becomes useless!
Joeel, La Vergne,
well im 14 yrs old !
and i have always loved the iphonee !
but when we heard about the problems the first one
was having we decided to wait and buy the neww oneee !
so im really super excitedd !
ashley, denton, united States
I've heard that Apple might withhold some features from this new "3g iPhone" for release in future phones such as the video calling or whatever else. How will I ever know if I should get it this time or wait. Apple should just put all of their features in this one. Then I'll get it.
Ryan Johnson, lano, USA