iPhone 2.0: Is the writing on the wall?
Excuse the cliche but let's face it, if you haven't heard that the next generation iPhone is inevitable you need to crawl out from that rock under which you have been living. Rumours, fake spy shots and supposed insider info is greeting your RSS reader at every turn, but what the hell does it all mean!?
Although an update to the hottest device of 2007 was inevitable, until the last few days there was little proof that such an update would include a new and faster 3G radio chip. The release of the latest iPhone Firmware 2.0 Beta however has settled any doubts, revealing an option to turn 3G on or off in order to maximise battery life. Taking into account increasing consumer demand for 3G technologies, particularly in Australia and almost unthinkably huge Asian markets such as China, Cupertino would have been stupid to do it any other way. There are also miscellaneous rumours around suggesting that the new device will also sport a host of other features such as an improved camera, video calling ability and a built in GPS unit. While all of these are entirely possible, it is important to consider two key points. Firstly, the iPhone was designed from the start to be simple and it does it very well, adding a bunch of arguably useless features is simply not their style. Secondly, battery life has always been a concern, supposedly the one preventing an earlier adoption of 3G technology. We have already seen the option to turn 3G off to minimise battery life, technologies such as GPS would simply suck the juice even faster.
So we know it's coming, but when? It is widely believed that on June the 9th, our dear leader will grace the stage of Apple's World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) causing our nerd wet dreams to come true, unveiling a device that is even sexier and more appealing than the current offering. If this be the case, it is then anticipated we may have the iPhone in our sweaty palms around the end of June. The recent leak of an internal AT&T memo informing employees that no vacations are to be taken between 15 June to 12 July has added weight to this school of thought. The original iPhone was released on Friday 29 June last year, suggesting that a June 27 launch is to be expected if Apple continues the trend.
Just when it all seemed so clear, Apple had to throw a spanner in the works. As of Saturday (US time), iPhones appear to be no longer available from the Apple online store, following a similar situation in the UK a few days beforehand. Although it could simply mean that demand for the on-the-way-out first generation model has exceeded expectations, for any business not to be selling one of their main products for over a month and a half (based on the earlier June 27 prediction) would seem ludicrous. Is there a chance Apple could release the iPhone earlier than expected? Unlikely, but not impossible. The real question would be when and where? There are no events scheduled between now and WWDC. Would Apple really just take the store down one night for it to return with the 3G iPhone in toe? It can be argued that that would depend on how big the changes made to the phone really are. If the iPhone was simply 'speed bumped' with a 3G chip, it is entirely possible, however, it should be noted that this scenario likely ends with mass riots in the streets of Cupertino! i(if it did happen this way, expect something HUGE at WWDC - a fan boy can dream can't he?) It is more likely that the iPhone will be available early June following it's announcement or that Apple will simply run all reserves completely dry before a late June release alongside Firmware 2.0.
When, then, should we expect the device to hit the land down under? Keeping with information received by MacTalk last month, the stars are aligning for a late June/early July release, coinciding with the opening of Sydney's flagship Apple store. Recent rumours suggest that El Jobso will be heading over to open the Sydney store, but the date is still sketchy. On a global scale, all signs are pointing to a world wide assault by Apple. Don't be surprised if we see Steve get up at WWDC and announce that as of June 27, the iPhone is global. Perhaps version one was just the beginning, a relatively controlled trial in just a few countries with a single carrier model?
Most excitingly to many users is the very real possibility that iPhone number two will also bring a truly unlocked and open phone. Last month MacTalk was arguably the first in the world to break the news that the next iPhone would not be exclusive, with a steadily increasing trickle of rumours supporting this emerging in the last few weeks. In Australia, at least two carriers have come out and said they will be carrying the iPhone 'later this year', leading us to believe that aside from the permission needed to resell the iPhone, the device may essentially be unlocked. Similarly, in the US it has been seen that AT&T are prepping themselves to stand out from the crowd to iPhone users. Why would they do this now? The simple answer is they are not going to have exclusive rights anymore. Hopefully for consumers this will result in heavily subsided prices and competitive data packages as carriers fight it out for your business. On the note of price, some are suggesting that due to being unlocked, the 3G iPhone will be ridiculously expensive in a way similar to what was seen in France. The key difference to note here, however, is that the high prices seen in Europe for unlocked iPhones were an effort by Apple to encourage consumers towards the locked phone - without a locked alternative there is no reason to discourage people with high prices. If Apple is making a decent hardware profit in addition from revenue from telco's paying for the nod to sell the phone, one could expect they will be happy.
If we can be sure of one thing, it is that no-one except Steve and his minions at Apple know what is about to happen and come that day, the tech world will stop once again.
