Mossberg: 3G iPhone coming in 60 days

Uncle Walt says the iPhone will be able to download Web pages even faster in 60 days.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Uncle Walt thinks a 3G iPhone will arrive within the next 60 days.

Walt Mossberg, the legendary technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, made the prediction during an executive summit held by Beet.tv last week. For some reason, Mossberg's comments were not noticed until over the weekend, perhaps because the title of the post referencing his talk was "FTC Should Stop Verizon from Calling DSL 'Broadband,' Walt Mossberg."

Most of his talk is about how broadband networks in the U.S. are somewhat lacking compared to the rest of the world, and how that's a big problem for video-over-the-Internet businesses. But at about 6:30 into the clip, he starts talking about wireless broadband, and the iPhone. Mossberg notes that the iPhone already offers a pretty good video experience with its iPod capabilities, and then dismisses concern over the lack of a 3G iPhone with this gem: "It will be 3G in 60 days."

Mossberg is in the select group that gets early access to important Apple products, he was one of the first to review the initial iPhone last June. So, he's probably in a good position to know when his next iPhone review might be coming around.

Apple's Worldwide Developers' Conference is a little over 60 days from now, but that's close enough put that rumor back on the front burner (as if it ever really left). Apple will have to be careful about how it introduces the 3G iPhone as not to hurt demand for the model currently on sale, if there's a gap between the announcement of a new model and its availability.

[Galaxy5]

Mossberg's access....

"Mossberg is in the select group that gets early access to important <br />Apple products,"<br /><br />Make that _used to_ get early access....

[manny.valencia]

Re: Mossberg's access....

"Make that _used to_ get early access...."<br /><br />Can you explain? I was always under impression that Mossberg's <br />reputation is so strong that it gives him a special access to all of <br />the top IT companies... Or are you to suggest that Apple will <br />remove him from a journalist list?

[dbargen]

"Lengendary," Ha!

Ok, seriously now. Mossy, while being upheld by the media, <br />often gets it wrong, especially when it comes to market <br />predictions about Apple. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the <br />case here as well. <br /><br />If Apple can't sell the vast majority of it's existing iPhones in "60 <br />days," they can wait until they do. There's no scheduled event for <br />an unveiling, so it's up to them if and when it will happen.<br /><br />Just to make this well-rounded, were Apple to significantly drop <br />the prices on the current haredware version of iPhone when <br />coming out with a 3G iPhone, there are those who would <br />definitely consider it. Some people don't really care about the <br />mobile internet, or are usually in range of an accessible WiFi <br />connection. Instead, they just want the media playback ability, <br />the occasional ability to check their email or surf the wbe when <br />within range of WiFi, and the excellent software of the iPhone. <br />For them, being connected 24/7 isn't necessary, but it'd be nice <br />to be able to converge devices or not carry a laptop around.<br /><br />There's a market out there for media phones that can tether to <br />the computer just the same as there is a market for iPods that <br />don't have cell or WiFi access. All it would take to entice people <br />onto this kind of device is a lower pricepoint that makes the <br />storage capacity worth it.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Apple vs Jobs?

I remember in the keynote that Jobs was adamant about not having a 3G phone, saying the technology in 3G simply didn't permit good battery life amongst other things even though the other makers of cell equipment running 3G had no problems with battery life at all, making this a well mocked myth.<br /><br />Apple was against 3G and had no plans for it. <br /><br />Now it appears that the industry fully expects Apple to release a 3G version and all signs point to this obvious necessary development of the unit to compete.<br /><br />I'm just not sure what this means for the credibility of the industry pundits who all know Apple is going to release this phone or Apple itself who said they had no intentions of ever going 3G. <br /><br />I think you realistically have to follow the money and that means 3G these days.

[Galaxy5]

You remembered wrong...

Jobs didn't say "no 3g ever". He cited the high battery <br />consumption of then-current 3g hardware as the reason Apple <br />chose not to ship the 1st Gen iPhone with 3g.<br /><br />As Moore's law has marched on in the year since the phone was <br />shipped, there are now lower-powered parts enabling 3G service <br />on the iPhone. I would fully expect the iPhone to incorporate 3g <br />technology in its next revision.<br /><br />I'm not sure why you'd think Apple would never include 3g. The <br />price, power consumption, and physical size of 3g parts have all <br />decreased since the intro, and there's never been any sign that <br />Apple would refuse to ship 3g in a subsequent revision once the <br />power budget issue was addressed.

[manny.valencia]

re: Apple vs Jobs?

Jobs was also adamant about video rent feature and it is now on <br />iTunes. It is in fact one of my favorite and most often used features <br />on iTunes. <br /><br />If they could only make music and TV shows available through subscription.

[sevort]

Apple never said they wouldn't do 3G

They just said that they were waiting for the technology behind it to improve.

[JonathonStriker]

3G would be nice..

..but would be more useful if the iPhone will work as a wireless mobile like some other phones. I don't expect that to happen.<br /><br />Now what would be MORE useful is stereo bluetooth. Then you can listen to your music and answer your calls with out wires or two separate headsets.

[FellowConspirator]

A2DP likely

It's well supported in Leopard, so there's just the matter of working <br />the driver to minimize the impact on the battery (it takes notably <br />more CPU for A2DP). I suspect that A2DP will be included in version <br />2.0 of the firmware, though.<br /><br />What I'd personally be interested in is voice dialing through a <br />headset. I don't always want to touch my phone to make a call.

[Randys2cents]

Four Gee

There has been several reports that AT&#38;T has been building out<br />a 4G network for deployment this year. Don't be surprised if Steve<br />pulls off some trickery here. Randys2Cents

[msantoriello29]

iPhone

When the iPhone goes 3G, is it going to be a firmware update? Or am I going to have to throw out my old iPhone and get the new one? Because I'll do it, just watch, I'm not joking. Anything Steve Jobs wants...

[dredgerie]

you'll be giving another $500 bucks to Steve

if you want 3G when it comes out, unless you haven't bought <br />one yet. <br /><br />I myself, understood the address at the iPhone unveiling as <br />more of "I really want to get 3G into this eventually, but it won't <br />work how I want it to right now."<br /><br />Now I've waited so long, I may not get one of the next versions <br />either unless it comes with a whole lot more improvements than <br />just 3G. Bluetooth stereo would just be the tip of the iceberg.

[hughugme]

Yes, all iPhone upgrade will be just firmware

Yes, 3G will be just a firmware upgrade. A 64GB flash ram upgrade firmware is coming soon. After that, a faster processor firmware. Also expect a firmware upgrade to make the iPhone half as thick.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Different hardware entirely

You'll need to buy another handset. I'm not sure how the cell phone contract would work though- will you still be on the hook for the remainder of your original contract, face an early termination fee, or have it all roll into a new one? <br /><br />The Apple connection sorta throws all of it up into the air without any sort of guidelines.

[manny.valencia]

Can't wait!

I'll be the first one to buy a 3G iPhone.

[manny.valencia]

Kindle on 3G iPhone

Any knows if there are plans to launch Kindle content on iPhone?

[memery26]

ATT 3G Network Only in Select Cities

HSDPA, AT&#38;T's "3G" network is currently operational in a handful of cities. Terrible, terrible coverage.

[lrf2005]

umm, "handful"

Here's a list of all the cities in the US that have 3G coverage from AT&#38;T (<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.html</a>). More than just a handful, methinks.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Like I care about `ol GoatBeard.

A beady-eyed old fart Apple keeps in it`s back pocket doesn`t interest me in the least or drive my buying decisions.

[drukenhard]

Announcements

When the iPhone was released, Jobs said there would be a 3G <br />version later on.<br /><br />I think the battery life comment was explaining why they didn't <br />release it in the beginning.<br /><br />They were always going to do it.<br /><br />If they build in a light for the camera that you can turn on to <br />find keys and stuff plus some stereo bluetooth it'd be almost <br />perfect.

[ReVeLaTeD]

Um...big whoop...

unless Apple stops sleeping with AT&#38;T, and opens up the iPhone to all GSM carriers. A 60-day deliverable would tie nicely to T-mobile's rumored 3G rollout.

[influenceuk]

New iPhone is being announced in June!

I have heard there is an announcement in June, however its going to be that regarding a slimmer iPhone. Can confirm about the 3G bit though.<br /><br />I have this info from a reliable source.

[togaphone]

IRS refund for the iPhone

Since the IRS is sending you a check in the next few weeks, why not upgrade your iPhone. Read the latest news and see the hottest products at <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.iphonedownloadworld.com" target="_newWindow">http://www.iphonedownloadworld.com</a>

[buy_3g_iphone]

Next 60 days ? It will be appearing as soon as June ;) ... read it on <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.buy-3g-iphone.com/" target="_newWindow">http://www.buy-3g-iphone.com/</a>

[clarkkorb]

3G would be great, but the main reason I've held off buying an iPhone to replace my Blackberry has to do with standard phone and smartphone (offline PDA) capabilities. I have a detailed comparison between the two devices in my blog: <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://blog.manifestyourreality.com/?p=15" target="_newWindow">http://blog.manifestyourreality.com/?p=15</a>. I'd love to see some of these missing pieces addressed in iPhone v2.0, in addition to 3G data.

[Nuance Communications]

With all eyes in the mobile world on Apple this week I thought I thought the time was right to talk about what we believe is the best way to conduct a mobile web search on a device like the iPhone?a device with a rich, full screen, touchscreen only. Namely: Voice search. You say it, our speech recognition (running on a server) produces text, the text automatically dumps into the search engine that?s the subscriber?s choice (Google, AOL, MSN, etc.), the search engine returns results. Or via voice, search for any content from your local iTunes playlists.<br /><br />Using the Apple developer kit, we?ve been hard at work developing impressive technology that make the iPhones capabilities even more powerful. Voice search. Song search and selection. At the touch of a button and simply by saying the word. Over the next few days ? as the excitement mounts for the WWDC ? we?ll be sharing more and more details here on our blog. For now though, I think all of us should sit back, relax and enjoy the show.<br /><br />Of course, we believe the most powerful use of speech would be running on the iPhone itself (vs a remote server) and made available to the developer community via iPhone?s SDK APIs.

[abcyesn]

The 3G iPhone will be the best and most capable phone on the planet. Discuss it more at <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.3G-iPhones.org" target="_newWindow">http://www.3G-iPhones.org</a>

[abcyesn]

iPhone 3G is one of the best phones on the planet, LG Dare from verizon is pretty close, but it still lacks of great features such as customer apps. Please if you own an iPhone 3G, give me some advice at <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.3G-iPhones.org" target="_newWindow">http://www.3G-iPhones.org</a>