Apple iPhone open to third party applications?
(Credit: CNET Networks)During the interview with Walt Mossberg at D5, Steve Jobs apparently let slip (according to the transcript from Gizmodo and Engadget), that even though the Apple iPhone won't start out of the gate with support for third-party applications, Apple is open to it and is working on making that possible later this year. Both transcripts imply that Jobs was concerned about security issues, which is what presumably was holding up the process. The lack of third-party support was one of the biggest complaints about the iPhone when it was first announced earlier this year, so if Apple actually makes this happen, it'll make a lot of people happy. (And one of them is me.) Now if only they'll work on 3G support as well.
Prepaid iPhones? We think not.
(Credit: The Boy Genius)The Boy Genius came across AT&T screenshots that show the Apple iPhone will be available to the carrier's Go Phone prepaid users once it launches next month. Such news is contrary to everything we've heard about the iPhone so far (and granted, that isn't much), so we're a bit skeptical the screenshots are authentic. The iPhone's price with a plan is already sky-high at $499 for a 4GB version and $599 for an 8GB version, so it's not far-fetched to suggest that the cost of an iPhone sans any service rebates would be astronomical. And since prepaid plans are typically marketed toward cell phone users who don't want to pay a monthly fee, it's hard to imagine a Go Phone customer forking over that much cash. It just doesn't make much sense, but we suppose it could happen. Like everything with the iPhone, we'll have to wait and see.
Apple iPhone
(Credit: CNET Networks)The Boy Genius got his hands on a Cingular/AT&T sales brief for the upcoming Apple iPhone. Though we don't know for sure if the document is legit, it doesn't have any red flags that would denote it as a fake. And while it doesn't answer the biggest iPhone question (the release date), it predicts the handset's software will be five years ahead of any cell phone.
According to the document, presales of the iPhone will not be allowed, and there will be no waiting lists for interested customers. The document then repeats the prices for the phone ($499 for 4GB, $599 for 8GB) and warns that there should not be any additional speculation/discussion about pricing. It also cautions against providing specific release dates to customers and repeats that we'll see it "sometime in June." One step forward, two steps back.
Nokia N75
(Credit: Cingular)After a bit and back and forth last week the Nokia N75 is officially back on sale with AT&T/Cingular. Last Friday, the N75 popped onto the carrier's Web site, only to be removed moments later. Cingular never came clean on the cell-phone hokey pokey but the same thing happened to the LG CU500v. Now a week, later both the N75 and CU500v are back on sale. The N75 is $199 with service.
On Sale Now: $280.00
View the latest prices for Nokia N75 (AT&T)
LG CU500
(Credit: CNET Networks)Update: Mere hours after we posted this blog entry, we got the news that Cingular/AT&T has pulled down the LG CU500V from its site. So either someone jumped the gun and listed it early, or the site is experiencing some technical difficulties. Plus, it looks like the Nokia N75 is suffering from the same launch fake-out. What's up, AT&T? The following is the original blog entry prior to the take down:
AT&T has just launched the LG CU500V, which is the first phone to offer live mobile video calls in the U.S. We mentioned it awhile ago, back during CES 2007, and like we said back then, the LG CU500V is essentially identical to the LG CU500 save for the Video Share feature. It's not exactly true synchronized video calling however, as the video is transmitted only one-way, though apparently the direction can be switched during the call if the receiver has a compatible handset. Engadget suspects that AT&T plans to launch true video calling later this year, but that remains to be seen for now. Also, unlike what we reported at CES, it seems that existing LG CU500 users can't upgrade their firmware to support the new Video Share feature; they'll have to pony up the extra cash to buy a new LG CU500V just like the rest of us. The LG CU500V will cost about $29.99 after a two-year contract and a rebate.
Apple iPhone
(Credit: CNET Networks)When it comes to Apple's iPhone it appears that the more we know, the less we know. Engadget was able to get its techy hands on a Q&A document sent to Cingular/AT&T employees. We can't confirm whether it's legit, but it almost reads like a script for an episode of TV's Lost. In other words, it tells us more of what we knew already while throwing us only the occasional bone. Meanwhile, the main details (such as an exact release date) remain wrapped in secrecy.
Still, there are a couple of items worth mentioning. The carrier will offer no subsidies on the handset (hence the $499 for the cheapest model) and both new and current customers will pay the same price. Also, it appears that customers off their contracts will have to sign a new two-year agreement and that only certain rate plans will be eligible. The document also says that the iPhone is just the first in a series of "revolutionary new wireless" products being developed by Apple and the carrier.
And in other iPhone news, Apple dropped a couple other tidbits during its Q1 earnings call. The company sidestepped a question asking whether the iPhone will be widely available in June by stating that it can't yet predict demand for the device. Also, Apple wouldn't say how many iPhones it would release in June and that it will develop new apps and software for the handset. Read more at tuaw.com.
Where are my shades? RIM BlackBerry Pearl Red
(Credit: Gizmodo)Because we're not huge fans of the blinding color, how about you? All right, poets we are not and this isn't the real BlackBerry Pearl Red (just a mock-up). But, according to the latest report from Engadget Mobile, such a device appears to be Cingular-bound. Perhaps taking a page from the LG Chocolate and all of its colored variations, RIM seems to be trying to get the most out of its popular messaging device with minimal effort; the BlackBerry Pearl is already available in black and white. No official word on availability and pricing, though we figure (or hope) it will be similar to the current going rate ($199.99 with a two-year contract). Hey Cravers, just out of curiosity, if you could design the next Pearl, which color would you choose?
(Credit:
AT&T)
When Verizon announced at CES 2007 its partnership with Qualcomm's MediaFlo to bring V Cast Mobile TV to customers, we were so impressed that we awarded it the Best of CES award in the Cell phones category. Well it seems that Cingular/AT&T has jumped on the MediaFlo bandwagon as well: The nationwide GSM carrier has announced that it will use the MediaFlo technology to deliver live TV and video to its customers.
Just to jog your memory, the MediaFlo technology will allow cell phone carriers to broadcast television signals directly and independently to supported handsets via a dedicated network, without going through an EV-DO or EDGE network. This allows for live, real-time programming as well as high-quality streaming video, all on your cell phone.
AT&T is expected to pair its MediaFlo partnership with its existing Cingular Video offerings later this year. It's interesting to note that while U.S. carriers appear to be embracing MediaFlo, European and Asian carriers seem to be gravitating toward DVB-H, a competing mobile TV standard.
It seems not too long ago that AT&T Wireless users everywhere were complaining about the switchover to Cingular. Well, with the FCC approval last Friday of AT&T's acquisition of Bellsouth, prepare for some serious deja vu coming your way early this year. Yep, we're finally about to go through the whole rebranding rigmarole, but the other way 'round. See ya, orange Cingular man; it was nice knowing you.
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