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3G iPhone's firmware purportedly leaked, hints at assisted GPS [Updated]

A late leak has allegedly revealed the inner workings of the next-generation iPhone's cellular chipset, down to its specific parts and most of its capabilities.

A source described as "reliable" handing information to Engadget appears to have confirmed several details, many of which reflect expectations set out by previous leaks.

In particular, the escaped data points to the use of the Infineon S-GOLD3 baseband chip spotted in beta firmware, which connects the device both to UMTS-based 3G networks that operate primarily in Europe as well as the newer, faster HSDPA networks present in North America, Europe, and many other parts of the world.

A trio of chips made by Skyworks — the 77413, 77414, and 77427 — address the phone's communications with specific 3G frequencies currently used around the globe, including the 850MHz band used in the US by AT&T as well as the 1900MHz and 2100MHz bands for other territories.

More significant, however, is the Global Locate Library software that abstracts assisted GPS commands.

The feature should allow the new iPhone to locate its position far more accurately than current solutions and is meant to interface with a Global Locate chip — since branded as a Broadcom product — built into a phone. Besides appearing to confirm the choice of Broadcom for built-in GPS, it also supports the addition of location-specific features added in test versions of iPhone 2.0 firmware, such as geo-tagging photos taken from the phone's built-in camera.

Supporting claims of authenticity, the purported source also alludes to an ARM 1176JZF-S processor identical to that in the original iPhone as well as a new internal build model number which is consistent with an earlier naming scheme.



101 Comments

solipsism 18 Years · 25701 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider

No mention is made of WCDMA, though the protocol is believed necessary for the SoftBank release in Japan.

You may want to edit your post before AI's quality control gets put into question.

Here are the PDFs from Skywork's website. They clearly state WCDMA/HSDPA

SKY77427 (pdf) for Tx 1900 / Rx 2100 (UMTS-FDD Operating Band I)
SKY77414 (pdf) for Tx/Rx 1900 (UMTS-FDD Operating Band II)
SKY77413 (pdf) for Tx/Rx 850 (UMTS-FDD Operating Band V)

And this chart is also very stateful: http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3...smtrackdk8.png

Tri-band, which is what was expected, would work on the following networks:

• 2100 (down) / 1900 (up) for Europe and Asia (usually referred simply as W-CDMA 2100)
• 1900 (up/down)/ 850 (up/down) for America (AT&T, Rogers)
• 850 (up/down) for Australia (Telstra NextG)

This encompasses every country that Apple has partnered with. This does not, however allow for a 3G iPhone to function on T-Mobile USA. So all you with unlocked EDGE iPhones on T-Mobile have to jump to AT&T if you want to use 3G.

• 2100 (down) / 1700 (up) for America (T-Mobile)

It would have to be a quad-band chip to allow T-Mobile to function, but since they didn't get their spectrum that long ago and have no real 3G network it's a moot point.

The GSM part is the standard quad-band for the 850/900/1800/1900 bands.PS: Anyone here able to estimate how much extra juice each of those bands will use when using internet over UTMS, based on the power usage listed in the supplied PDFs above?

merdhead 17 Years · 587 comments

Geez, you're not wrong about quality control, Solipism. AI should stay away from the technicalities:

3G = UMTS = WCDMA and HSDPA is used in Europe and most other places, not just in America see here for details - http://www.3gamericas.org/pdfs/Globa...tus_Update.pdf

The way the post reads it just makes AI sound totally clueless.

solipsism 18 Years · 25701 comments

Damn, I was going to remove the intro to my post if the article was changed before another posted about it. Oh well.The PDF you supplied is interesting. I was wondering why the HW for the iPhone doesn't list HSUPA anywhere, but according to that PDF there are very few carriers with HSUPA active. And all but one, I think, is under a year old with most of them well under 6 months. Japan doesn't/didn't even have it with NTT DoCoMo until this month.

merdhead 17 Years · 587 comments

Did you not want to be rude, Solipsism? Why not, I really enjoy it. Anyway, might as well call a spade a spade. Maybe a little abuse will make them change their ways.

AI's pretty good with the rumours, but their analysis is really poor. They should get someone technical on staff or just report the news. Their reviews are pretty bad as well.

addabox 22 Years · 12567 comments

Well, at least they're not this guy. (Thanks to Gruber)

Writing for CNN Money, he opines:

Quote:
Just how will Apple meet expectations? Using the patent application as a guide, Apple appears to be making room on the iPhone for flash memory, which means an end to Apple's standoff with Adobe (ADBE) that's kept iPhones from easily viewing a plethora of Internet videos.

Yes, it's true, you're not hallucinating, someone claiming expertise in scoping out Apple's plans by pouring over patent filings doesn't know the difference between Flash the software and flash memory chips. And confuses the two in such a way as to reach a hilariously wrong conclusion. In print. So we can see it.

Bet his nickname over at CNN is "flash" right about now, and will be for all time.

So take heart, Apple Insider!