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Gartner: Apple ordering massive 3G iPhone numbers

updated 09:20 am EDT, Wed March 26, 2008

Gartner: 10M 3G iPhones

Apple may have already lined up the production of millions of next-generation iPhones, according to a Gartner analyst. Ken Dulaney says that based on talk he has heard from Asian sources, he believes Apple has placed an order for 10 million updated iPhones, equipped with 3G broadband. These may not even count towards the 10 million in unit sales Apple hopes to achieve within 2008; the suggestion is that Apple will reach its target based on sales of first-generation iPhones alone.

Dulaney speculates that the 3G iPhone may surmount battery concerns, expressed by the likes of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, by switching to an OLED (organic LED) display. This may not only result in less power consumption, but reduce the thickness of the phone even further. Dulaney further comments that Apple may have strong incentive to switch to 3G technology as soon as possible, as the iPhone did not do as well as expected in Europe. Unlike the United States, many European countries have had widespread 3G networks for years.

 
Previous Comments

storage s-p-a-c-e

03/26, 09:37am reply

With that thinner form factor, we might just see some decent storage capacity in the next Gen. I was hoping for those to max out around 64GB. This would be an excellent storage point for people with extensive libraries that also might want to take a few movies and tv series with them, along with full-res photos.

danviento

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

0

That figures

03/26, 09:47am reply

...since I got tired of waiting and just bought the current model.

Macola

Mac Elite

Joined: Mar 2001

0

re: storage s-p-a-c-e

03/26, 10:06am reply

When has thinner form factor ever been equated to increased storage capacity?

koolkid1976

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2003

0

HSPA iPhone

03/26, 10:27am reply

Hopefully the new iPhone also provides video calling, a higher resolution camera such as 5 MP and ability to record video for export as quicktime movie or podcast.

imagine engine

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2007

0

Here's an idea:

03/26, 11:01am reply

VOICE dialing.

Every phone has it. Why not the iPhone?

The whole point of a hands free earpiece is safety, right? Why must I s**** around with the phone if I (heaven forbid) need to make a call while in the car?

And while we're at it-- lets make the iPhone's bluetooth capabilities a tad more than the current minimal.

Jashue

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2002

0

Upgrade

03/26, 11:14am reply

What I have now works great. I don't feel like I have a dying to need to have had 3G since its hardly available in the US anyway. I'll eventually upgrade though, since I want a higher capacity.

slapppy

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2008

0

Agreed

03/26, 11:16am reply

Voice dialing is a no brainer. How about 3 taps of the home button activates it. The voice dialing on my Pearl is amazing. If they could achieve that I would be very pleased. That and an auto on off utility. Would to be able to tell my iphone to turn off at 11PM and back on again at 6AM automatically. Think of the battery that would save. Sure I could do this manually...but it would be so easy to automate. Can't believe this is not possible on a phone as advanced as an iphone.

dpicardi

Forum Regular

Joined: Sep 2006

0

32 GB is the sweet spot

03/26, 11:21am reply

between price and space. 64GB is going to be cost prohibative for at least a year.

Apple has already fugured out that charge more than $499 is a bad idea. Just like you see their new laptops coming out never really change in base price.

I think we've seen the future of iPhone pricing. $499 for the top end model. $399 for the lower end. It is not going to deviate much from that in the future...maybe go down a little bit but not for at least 18 months. 64GB can't be fit into a $499 model and maintain Apple's profit margins expectations right now.

dpicardi

Forum Regular

Joined: Sep 2006

0

Don't make it thinner...

03/26, 11:32am reply

keep the same thickness and if there's extra room left over, put a larger battery in it. If there's increased battery life due to better power management and OLED screen, then that's all the better. Since the iPhone doesn't have a user-replaceable battery, keep the battery life as high as possible. I don't think the iPhone will have 64 GB anytime soon. I'd rather have better battery life than lots of storage. Give the iPhone the best battery life possible since it will be constantly used for so many things.

Voice dialing is sure to come with iPhone 2.0 firmware. How can it be left out when there is so much demand for it.

Constable Odo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2007

0

agreed

03/26, 11:54am reply

I think 32gb will make it into this new model, perhaps at $499, with a 16gb version for the $399.

Then I could see Apple trying to cater to the price-sensitive by using the old model for which R&D has now been paid and such and lowering the 16gb existing version to $249. That gets them to a much lower price point then they are at now, and they could even use the 8gb version at $199 to really spur some sales.

Sure free phones are nice (we all know they are not really free, but anways) but when you look at the cost of the whole package, especially for an iPhone, I think $199 could be a sweet place to be. Of course those in areas that have good 3G coverage and have been demanding it would have the newest generation at Apple's usual margins, but everyone else could grab the best phone out there for a price the market can handle.

pysan

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

0

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