Things are happening on the iPhone front.

[mobaholic]

A 3G version of Apple's iPhone has been announced in the USA.
Apparently it will offered with a 2 year contract only.
See:-   here.

Current iPhone customers can upgrade to the 3G iPhone and pay $199 for the 8GB or $299 for the 16GB model. They will need a new two-year contract.

Customers who purchased a 2.5G iPhone on or after May 27 and want to swap it out for a new iPhone will be able to do so without incurring an additional handset charge for the new device. They will of course need to turn in their 2.5G iPhone.

And, there isn't a no-contract option.

There is a restocking fee of 10%.

I have also heard of the possibility of iPhone 3G registration beginning from today on O2.

See:-   here.

A quote from Mike Butcher says:-

02, exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the UK and Ireland, will be launching the iPhone 3G from their Web site tomorrow, as implied by a notice posted tonight right after Steve Jobs stepped down from his speech at WWDC. My sources say O2 will be using their site to control the initial sale of iPhones as they get them from Apple, though whether that's because of production/supply delays or because they expect large demand is not that clear. Probably the former.

[mobaholic]

Previous rumours that the iPhone will be offered on Pay & Go are now confirmed on the O2 website.       

See:-   here.

It will be offered to both new and existing customers of O2, but no price is specified at this stage.

A link is provided where one may register interest, and presumably be the first to know details.       

[mobaholic]

It seems that I am not the only one who thinks Apple's iPhone to be overpriced and under spec.

There is news today of drastic price drops in Germany, where sales have been most disappointing.

The Register carries two stories today about T-Mobile dropping its price to just 1 Euro, albeit with a hefty contract.

See:-   here and here.

[mobaholic]

Questions have been raised as to whether the 3G iPhone will be ready in time.       

See:-   here.

[mobaholic]

There is a thought provoking article in The Register today, about how the iPhone may help Apple to reposition itself in the market.

Quotes include:-

If you think everything that could have been written about the iPhone already has been written, prepare to be surprised. One vital aspect of Apple's strategy has been overlooked - with multi-billion consequences for complacent network operators.

"Apple can data mine the application message stream — and it’s been a telco’s dream for years to mediate such flows."

and

Nokia sell two out of every five mobile phones in the world, and they've ruled the roost for a decade now. But they've failed to convert that market clout into mobile data revenue - for themselves, or the operators.
Because the iPhone makes mobile browsing more of a pleasure than a pain, for the first time, this is changing. And because de facto standards are defined where the people are, this means Apple, not one of the traditional incumbents, could call the shots.

Read the whole article for more details.

[rashmi_sweet23]

Hi MH,
I have nothing against iPhone personally, but is this phone really worth the hype it has created since its launch?

Some opinions (obviously biased)-
1) I hate my iPhone
2) 10 Reasons why iPhone sucks
3) iPhone is crap
4) Why a true apple fan would never buy an iPhone

I would like to hear from our members about their experience with this costly gadget

[mobaholic]

Hi MH,
I have nothing against iPhone personally, but is this phone really worth the hype it has created since its launch?

Some opinions (obviously biased)-
1) I hate my iPhone
2) 10 Reasons why iPhone sucks
3) iPhone is crap
4) Why a true apple fan would never buy an iPhone

I would like to hear from our members about their experience with this costly gadget

I share with you some of the misgivings implied by your question.
I have actually expressed the same in reply #2 ( 4 above this one ).

My coverage here is because of the interest / hype / call it what you will: it does NOT represent any personal recommendation.

[mobaholic]

Orange prices up iPhone en France

Orange has priced up the 3G iPhone: it'll cost French folk €149 ($234/£118) for the 8GB model, or €199 ($312/£158) for the 16GB version.

The handset will go on sale in France on 17 July, and those prices apply to new Orange customers who take out one of its dedicated iPhone airtime packages, or one of its Origimi Star, First or Jet bundles.

Other airtime packages are available, but punters will have to pay €199 ($312/£158) and €249 ($390/£198), for the 8GB and 16GB phones respectively, if they want one of those.

Orange Business Services customers will also be offered the 3G iPhone, but Orange isn't giving details until launch day.

The official iPhone tariff contains airtime bundles ranging from €49-149 ($77-234/£39-118) a month. Other packages start at €32 ($50/£25) a month.

Anyone who already owns an iPhone - specifically, people who bought one before 12 June - will get a new, 3G one for €99 ($155/£78) if they're willing to sign up for a two-year airtime contract. They'll also get to the head of queue on launch day, Orange owner France Telecom indicated.

The downside is that this isn't an up-front saving: it's a €100 ($157/£79) money-back deal that's time-limited to 31 October 2008.

Buying an iPhone for the first time will also require a 24-month sign-up, if you want the subsidised price.

Orange did not say how much it will offer for either an unlocked phone - which it has to offer, under French law - or for pay-as-you-go usage.

Source:-  The Register.

[mobaholic]

The 3G iPhone has reportedly been unlocked in Brazil.  See:-   here.       

If true, will it mean coders to the rescue ?       

[mobaholic]

Speculations abound concerning possible changes with Apple's iPhone.       

One is that a charity themed  RED-backed iPhone 3G is on its way.  See:- here.

Another, is that Orange may become its second UK carrier in the UK.  See:- here.

[mobaholic]

According to techcrunch, Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics giant that produces the iPhone 3G for Apple, has ramped up production to 800,000 units per week, says a source close to Apple with direct knowledge of the numbers.  This is “above current full capacity” and there may be some concerns with quality control.

Apple sold just 6 million of its first generation iPhones.

Foxconn factories will be able to ramp production up significantly over time, says our source.  But at current sell rates, the company is producing iPhones at a run rate of over 40 million units per year, well beyond early estimates of demand for the product of 25 million over the 3G product lifecycle.

Apple is continuing to add countries - the iPhone is available in 23 countries today, and another 50 will be added this year.  We’ve heard that Foxconn was initially told to expect sales of up to 40 million units in the first year, but that those numbers are being revised upwards sharply.

About 1 billion mobile phones were sold worldwide in 2007, says Gartner (Nokia sold about 435 million of them).