Katie MarsalSpeaking at a Beet.tv executive summit, well-known Wall Street Journal writer Walt Mossberg has stirred the pot by stating that an iPhone with 3G access will be available within 60 days.
Mossberg doesn't cite any sources in his talk with executives, in which he also comments that the Apple TV is limited by the speed of American Internet access.
However, the technology critic is also known for gaining privileged access to information and products from Apple. Mossberg received his review iPhone on June 11th last year — more than two weeks before the touchscreen cellphone was available to the general public and ahead of most other journalists.
The comments echo the increasingly repeated June timetable for a launch of an iPhone with faster wireless access. In recent days, multiple analysts have predicted that Apple will unveil its 3G iPhone no later than June, with Piper Jaffray claiming that the ongoing iPhone shortage is a sign of inventory control measures meant to phase out older models.
T-Mobile Germany has further sparked interest by subsidizing the price of 8GB iPhones in a promotional campaign that ends June 30th.
Mossberg's statement can be seen in the video below at the 6 minute, 53 second mark.
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82 Comments
Tell you what..
Perhaps Apple plans on releasing the 3G iPhone soon, but a few times recently they've had to put things back an extra couple of weeks or months.
What better way of saving face and getting rumours stirring than letting one of their trusted reporters mention that it'll be available "within 60 days".
I mean... for 2 months instead of hearing factual "Apple promises the next iPhone will be due by June 5th"... it'll be 2 months of speculation "Is Apple ready to release a new iPhone"... And either headline will reduce the demand on the 2G version which may help Apple with an undersupply issue.
Is it likely the 3G iphone will just be the current iphone but with 3G and possibly a better battery or will it also be a true sucessor?
Perhaps I could be mistaken, but doesn't Apple have to disclose to the FCC 6 months in advance if they are coming out with a new version of the iPhone. Or does this not really apply since it will probably be the same phone only with 3G abilities?
Is it likely the 3G iphone will just be the current iphone but with 3G and possibly a better battery or will it also be a true sucessor?
I don't know what you mean by a "true successor" but I'd say it'll have HSPA, GPS, a better rear camera, most probably a second front camera, a bigger battery to make up for the less efficient 3G and probably more memory. I'd say they'll keep the existing phone and discount it. This reflects the tendency for other mobile phone makers to have a 2G/3G split in their product line (although less so going forward) and the need for Apple to provide a lower priced option to grow their market share.
Of course this includes the v2.0 software, which could bring anything besides third party apps.
I think an announcement in June is all but certain.
Perhaps I could be mistaken, but doesn't Apple have to disclose to the FCC 6 months in advance if they are coming out with a new version of the iPhone. Or does this not really apply since it will probably be the same phone only with 3G abilities?
Apparently you are mistaken, they no longer have to do that from reports. Anyway ot was only about 3 months.