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.












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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Joined: Sep 2000