Gartner’s Report On 10 Million 3G iPhones

Technology research firm Gartner tried to clear up reports that it had said Apple might be buying 10 million iPhones capable of connecting to much faster data networks.

Gartner said that they do not know whether Apple has actually placed an order for 3G iPhones and there is no way for them to get a confirmation that an order had been placed. However, they do believe it would be logical if Apple would have done so.

“If Apple was to place an order, then 10 million would be a reasonable number. And we absolutely believe that in the next-generation iPhone 3G will be there,” - Bob Hafner, Dulaney's boss.

The iPhone currently uses an EDGE radio, a digital mobile phone technology for increased data transmission rates over a cellular network. EDGE, however, is considered a 2.75-generation technology, versus a 3G technology, such as HSDPA, which is used in Europe.

Since iPhone sales were not as strong as expected in Europe (Apple has predicted it will sell 10 million of the current iPhone by the end of the year), due in part to a lack of 3G support, it is vital for Apple to release 3G iPhones as soon as possible. However, 3G might not be enough, since there are already 3.5G devices, reports Gartner.

Gartner announced that one improvement they expect from Apple is OLED display for the iPhone. Current LCD is the most energy consuming part of the device, and having OLED screen would allow for power balance for 3G.

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. It delivers the technology-related insight necessary for our clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner, Inc. is the indispensable partner to 60,000 clients in 10,000 distinct organizations.

Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, the firm works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role.

Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 4,000 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 75 countries.

Reference:

http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207000174

Japanese VS. Iphone

Japanese analysts are doubtful whether the iPhone will catch on in markets like Japan, where consumers favor smaller and sleeker multifunctional handsets. They also question whether Japanese carriers will accept ceding to Apple's tight control over handset design and agree to its demand for a certain share of subscription fees.

“Most Japanese consumers are more likely to remain content with what they already have” - said Nahoko Mitsuyama, a telecom analyst at Gartner Japan who attended the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in February.

However, Japanese analysts are doubtful. Current iPhones won't work in Japan, where the faster third-generation network has become the mainstream. Industry watchers believe 3G iPhones will be released in the latter half of this year.

Apple hopes to reach an agreement with a Japanese mobile phone operator to achieve its goal of selling 10 million iPhones worldwide by the end of 2008. It sold some 3.7 million iPhones throughout the world in 2007.

"Most of the world's Internet users via mobile phone are Japanese, so success in mobile services here can be applied to other markets."- said Noritaka Kobayashi, an information and communications consultant at Nomura Research Institute in Tokyo.

Japanese consumers are amazed by the iPod, which controls 54.5 percent of Japan's digital portable music player market - well above Sony's Walkman with 26.2 percent, according to market research firm BCN. The iPhone could benefit from an emotional attachment to Apple among Japanese.

"Japanese like anything new and trendy, so the thing is how many customers Apple can attract beyond Apple fans," - Gartner's Mitsuyama said, noting that Japanese on average change their handsets every two years.

Still, Japan is expected to be a difficult market. Here, mobile phone carriers control the release of new handsets and dictate specific features and functions of new cell phones to satisfy consumers who are picky about product usability, design and quality. Foreign makers account for only about 10 percent of the roughly 50 million handsets sold annually in Japan, although their market share is on the rise, according to Yano Research Institute.

3G iPhone Appears on the Horizon

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson confirms that a 3G version of the iPhone will be coming up in 2008 for sure. Unfortunately, Mr. Stephenson has not disclosed much detail. No comments have been done neither on the speed of the device nor on the price. Moreover, Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris has refused to comment on the topic.

From Apple's perspective, the main issue with the 3G version of the iPhone remains the battery power. The 5 hour mark on a GSM network will most likely will be halved with the current battery. So, the manufacturer's aim is to deliver a 3G version of the phone with equal talk time. Also, it must be noted that an early announcement of the 3G version of the phone will affect the sales of the current device.

Source: http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/29/att.3g.iphone.in.2008/

3G iPhones Are on the Horizon

Wireless chip and DSP sector analyst Will Strauss of Forward Concepts claims that 3G enabled iPhone is already on the horizon.

An announcement from Apple is expected anytime, even during this week. Apple may announce the Wideband-CDMA 3G capable version of the phone as well when it finally reveals which operators it has chosen for the European launch of the handset. Though, Strauss is uncertain whether the iPhone's 3G baseband chip would also include the higher-speed HSDPA capability.

Will Apple make the same "thunder" in Europe that the company has made in the USA? Difficult to say. However, it is very likely and expected. At least Vodafone expects so. As a counter measure, on 10th of September, Vodafone launched an unlimited music download service MusicStation. Hurry up Apple, hurry up or iPhone's music magic may get deluted in Europe in the shade of MusicStation. The latter has a library of over 1 million tracks from the major music publishers.

Source: EETimes.com