apple news/media reports
11/20/2006, 12:05pm, EST
Monday, November 20th
Apple developing 2nd iChat-based phone
Apple is developing a second cellular handset that features 'messaging' capabilities, according to American Technology Research senior analyst Shaw Wu. "We believe it will focus initially on mobile IM as opposed to e-mail," Wu wrote in a research note obtained by MacNN. "From our understanding, [the new phone] will leverage off existing iChat software that runs on Macs." Time to market is uncertain because the new handset -- which Apple may brand as 'iChat mobile' -- is in the development phase, according to the analyst. The exact timing for Apple's original iPhone is still unknown, but Wu expects that a 'go-to-market' strategy continues to be the gating factor and that the phone will launch in 2007, with a potential release in the first half of next year. Additionally, Apple's new (PRODUCT) RED iPod nanos are selling well, according to Wu, who reiterated a 'Buy' rating on Apple shares with a price target of $92.
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don't know if it's the same in Asia or not.
I still think a voice-only interface phone, as small as possible, similar to the 2nd gen Shuffle would be the perfect phone ...
Then an Apple phone like the Crackberry Pearl... A Crackberry done right.. Full iSync support, um, that WORKS! The Pearl w/ PocketMac are a huge disappointment to me so far... The phone itself is OK, but the Mac integration is unusable.. Makes my Moto v635 seem like it was made for the Mac in comparison. Would love to see Apple do this right... Full iSync support, full Salling Clicker support, etc..
These 2 designs.. I'd buy one of each.. Shrug..
But an iChat phone? An iTunes phone? Meh...
The enemy of excellence is low expectations IMHO.. Do we *really* want just another ROKR, but white? Do we *really* want to see an iChat phone, er, another Sidekick, but with an Apple logo?
Just my $0.02US
jwd