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3G iPhone in production, Euro-networks lose on v.1Fri, 04/18/2008 - 06:45 — Andy Space
The company has asked its Far East suppliers to produce 200,000 units of the new second generation 3G-enabled iPhone by the end of May, with production ramping up to two million, or 500,000 per week, in June, making a June release of the device a done deal. This information comes from a reputable source - The Times newspaper, which explains the new iPhone will have a "radically different" appearance to the current generation. "Among the possibilities are flip version, which would enable the screen to be larger, and a sliding model with a regular qwerty keyboard - as opposed to a touchscreen one," the report informs. The report also predicts prior claims multiple iPhone versions will eventually be made available, and suggests Apple may end its current strategy of introducing the device into specific countries in partnership with one mobile operator in favour of making it available through multiple carriers. Apple has described itself as "not wedded" to its exclusivity strategy, but the report explains it may diversify availability of the product perhaps as soon as next year. The Times also reports disappointing iPhone sales in Europe. Germany, France and the UK between them reportedly sold 333,000 units by the end of December, but expectation had been for between 500,000 to 600,000 sales in the period. As it is, Apple's network partners appear left with significant stock of the current generation of the device, leaving them exposed to potentially losing money on the deal, though Apple's meeting with Orange France this week suggests the company is under some pressure to share that risk. Kathryn Huberty, an analyst at Morgan Stanley told The Times that losses on early model iPhones would be "significant".
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Apple has placed orders for the production of the second-generation iPhone, while its European network partners complain at lower than expected sales.
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Comments
No wonder
I think Apple underestimated the need to go 3G in Europe. Even small entry-level phones have 3G and I don't know anybody who'd like to pay for an iPhone before it's HSDPA compatible.
re:No Wonder
Totally !
Most of Eurpoe had to down grade portions of their networks to accommodate the iPhone on EDGE_
This was a pain as Eurpoe adopted 3G a long time before June 2007 and Apple was forcing whoever signed on to play ball_
I personally are waiting for
I personally are waiting for the 3G. I believe that many are.
As for the Europeans it is not surprising that the uptake is not what was expected. The contract prices on many of the deals were outrageous and while many people may have wanted an iPhone, people are not sheep and they don't like being raked over the coals on poor deals.
Are you really going to cite
Are you really going to cite a 'reputable' source like The Times and go on about how they suggest there may be a flip iPhone or sliding iPhone with qwerty? I mean, what?!
I'd argue a flip phone to
I'd argue a flip phone to be a possibility - it's a highly popular form factor in phones, a qwerty keyboard is hugely unlikely, though if a foldable qwerty keyboard that the iPhone was able to dock with were to ship I'd be first in the queue for the gadget. You can't easily write long blog items with the iphone touchscreen, good as it is for email and SMS, an add on folding waterproof textile based touch sensitive qwerty keyboard for iPhone is exaclty what I want.
It appears that Apple has
It appears that Apple has begun doing what it did last year... Showing people false prototypes in order to protect the true identity. Expect something beautiful... Not a flip phone, or QWERTY.. Please.
Yes, a flip iPhone with
Yes, a flip iPhone with QWERTY is coming down the pike.... Please. Steve hates buttons, as they "ruin the aesthetics of the device." Purportedly the engineers had to convince El Jobso to put the home button on the phone.
Remember: the iPhone was radially different in design to most phones on the market. To put QWERTY or make a flip phone wouldn't be radically different, it'd be a throwback. And throwbacks are not Apple's style
Apple ignore the
Apple ignore the dollar:€uro (1.5-1.6) and the iPhone cost is/was about 30% more expensive in UK, FR, G, while the subscription plans in some cases almost 100% more expensives from the US.
The EU consumers are not stupids...
I was looking into getting a
I was looking into getting a new mbp the other day.
With the current price difference, flying to to Portland (no sales tax there!) and picking one up there and paying import duty and sales tax here in Europe would costs me about the same as buying one from the Apple Store here
Yes
"The EU consumers are not stupids..."
YES WE ARE. But anyway EU plans are too expensive. I really hope they lower them down a lot.
32G iPhone
I have been offered a 32G iPhone from a source in the UK. A test model.
Sending pics when I get it.
You really think if you're
You really think if you're included in a beta program they're going to let you post pics all over the internet.....
iPhone models
Looking at how the iphone has been discounted in uk, ie 8Gb model discounted and 16gb left as is; I'd guess that there will be 16gb & 32gb as original design but with V2 software at lower price point.
Then a Pro version (iPhone Pro) with 3G and new case design, better battery, maybe added bluetooth features (car, keyboard, stereo headsets etc)...
Would love a better camera with video but not holding my breath...
a flip iPhone with QWERTY is
a flip iPhone with QWERTY is not coming - never ever what should be the point of such a device from Apple?
Fact is:
1. the rates in Europe a insane expensive - you get flat rates for the rate of 200 min
2. hardly anyone would change to T-Mobile for the iPhone - most Germans don't like this company, because it was the earlier monopolist, like microsoft is
3. if it would be free available like an iPod way more people would buy it
4. even if they would give you the iPhone for 1 € with this rates they won't sell significant more
5. 3G won't change anything at all if the rates will stay like this
Hard to understand if your companys headquarter is over 6000 miles away, huh?
finally someone get's it!
finally someone get's it! thank you
but i do think that apple is understanding that, too, but allready had a hard time to bring the iphone into the market because carriers are degrded to line switchers here.
I'm also pretty sure that apple can't keep the idea of getting some part of the carriers income on the plans.
It would be better for anyone to free the iphone at least in the EU.
Sales not good in UK/ EU? Obviously!
First and foremost, iPhone sales are poor in the UK and EU because the total package of phone and contract (18-month) is £950 which is equivalent to $1900 USD. Would you guys pay that much in the US, for a cell phone?
Secondly, the descriptive reports about a second-gen iPhone is clearly unreliable. "A Flip version", "QWERTY keyboard"? These things goes against what Apple's vision is in the first place when they released the first iPhone. They clearly said that a QWERTY keyboard (actual buttons) is a thing of the past and touchscreen is the future.
My guess is, a 2nd-gen iPhone will be a similar size to the current one, with longer lasting battery life. Larger mega-pixel camera at the back with a front one as well. Obviously with 3G support and newer hardware and improved software. Thats about it. "Flips"? "Keyboards"? Impossbile!
Exchange rate
Why would a person in France spend Euro 399 for an 8GB iPhone; or Euro 499 for a 16G iPhone; when he/she can buy one on ebay for the US prices ($399/Euro249 for 8GB or $499/Euro 311 for 16GB)?
No wonder they are not selling well in French Orange stores (or German or British stores for that matter)! If I lived in France and I wanted an iPhone, I would gladly pay the eBay shipping and jailbreak cost in order to save 40% on the exchange rate!
In this globalized market, this huge price discrepancy is not going to fly!
It wouldn't surprise me if
It wouldn't surprise me if the kickbacks Apple wants from the providers in Europe on the subscription are 40% higher too than in the US
Blah blah blah
The irony of all this is that Apple touted the fact that they wouldn't have to update the hardware in order to improve the phone since it would only require a GUI update. 1 year later and it's already being replaced.
do you know that it's going
do you know that it's going to be a replacement?
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