06/11/2008, 11:45am, EDT
Wednesday, June 11th
iPhone 2.0 on June 27, no 3G music downloads?
Apple's iPhone 2.0 firmware, primarily built to support native applications and the App Store, should be available in advance of the 3G hardware many are expected to use it with, Engadget writes. The information comes by way of the Australian Apple website, in which the iPod touch section specifically states that the App Store will open on June 27th. Apple has previously said that the App Store will not function without the v2.0 firmware.
Apple has also long promised that the update would be available in late June, but until recently it had not identified any precise date for delivery of the software via iTunes. Statements at WWDC have pointed to a July release.
It is meanwhile rumored that there are no plans for permitting iTunes music downloads over AT&T's 3G network, despite existence of the necessary bandwidth. This is being attributed to either record label demands for increased premiums, or a desire for shared profits on the part of AT&T. The phone carrier would have to absorb increased bandwidth demands, and is already expected to turn no profit on the iPhone 3G until 2010, due to its heavy subsidization.
Filed under: iPod, iPhone, Apple
Other story tags: iPhone 3G, iPod touch, iPhone 2.0
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close but not exactly
"record label demands for increased premiums"
No doubt, the labels are demanding more $$ any way they can get it. But more specifically, the reason Apple can't allow 3G music downloads is it would require an actual renegotiation with the labels to permit wireless (non-WiFi) downloading. The labels have been short-sighted on virtually everything when it comes to the digital economy, but even back in 2002–03, they knew they were going to want to reserve the right to cut separate deals for cell-phone-based music downloads.
but
I thought Apple already had an iPhone iTunes store. Or is that only available on wi-fi?
And maybe this is also about the phone companies not wanting their precious networks to be clogged with people downloading the latest hit song or something.
re: testudo
Correct. The iTunes store on both the iPhone and iPod touch is WiFi only, to which Apple aptly calls "WiFi Music Store".
July
Apple actually announced that the V2.0 software would be released in early July at the Keynote. So I think the 27th June date is a mistake, perhaps it was the right date but it should have been removed when it was slipped to July and they missed it.
iTunes only works WiFI
Apple's Advertisement below about iTunes.
iTunes
Buy music over the air from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store on iPhone. Find a Wi-Fi hot spot and tap the iTunes button. Then take your pick from more than 6 million songs.
iTunes is only accessible through Wi-FI anyways. That hasn't changed.
money
If the record companies want to leave money on the table, more power to them.
Thank goodness!
If I cold buy Tunes at any time, I'd probably spend a fortune on stupid songs that I have stuck in my head all the time... at least this way I have to wait until I get home, by which time I'm usually bored of the tune and glad I didn't buy it.
I think we should all thank the Record Companies for the small bit of social conscience and restraint they have demonstrated!
Carrier restriction
I believe this has nothing to do with the record companies and everything to do with the lack of profit sharing between Apple and AT