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The iPhone 3G FAQ
Posted by Jason Chen at 10:35 AM on June 14, 2008
Steve Jobs may have launched the iPhone 3G on Monday, and we may have gotten a hands on with it already, but in typical Apple fashion, there's still a lot of stuff left unsaid. How does activation work? How will first-gen iPhone users bring an iPhone 3G onto their plan? Does the GPS work for driving? How much will games cost on the App Store? We've got answers. Lots of them.
The Phone
How much will an iPhone 3G cost? US$199 for the 8GB version, which comes only in black, and US$299 for the 16GB version which comes in black and white.
What's changed between the first generation and the iPhone 3G? Honestly? Not all that much. The iPhone 3G has all the features of the first one, plus faster 3G data downloads, GPS, and a better battery life. Externally, the phone's casing is slightly changed, with a thinner edge and thicker middle, but a flush headphone jack and solid-coloured back make up the only other major differences visually. Everything else from the screen to the number of buttons and switches on the outside are the same.
How much will it really cost me over 2 years?. That depends on how many minutes you use and how many text messages you want to sign up for, but at AT&T's lowest plan price of US$39 a month for 450 minutes, plus a mandatory US$30 data charge and US$5 for 200 text messages, you're looking at US$1975 over the course of two years. Before tax and other fees. Here's how it stacks up against the old iPhone and against other 3G smartphones on Verizon and Sprint.
When can I buy it? If you're in one of the first countries to get the phone, which includes Australia, the US, Canada, the UK, Spain, Japan and Mexico, it's July 11. Otherwise, it's still unknown. Come July 11, there's going to be a gigantic line of people wanting that phone. You'll have to wait not only for people in front of you to buy a phone, but activate it too—which is now mandatory and takes about 10-15 minutes. If you can wait, we'd recommend going after July 11.
Where can I buy it? In either an Apple store or an AT&T store. There won't be any online orders for this one.
How fast is the 3G over 2G (EDGE)? During the WWDC keynote, Steve Jobs showed a demo that compared the iPhone 3G vs. the old iPhone when downloading a large web page with lots of images. Apple's site lists the result of that matchup as 20 seconds vs. 48 seconds, which is 2.4x faster. We've got a explainer about the details of 3G as well, if you're interested.
How does the GPS work? We've got a great tutorial on how the iPhone's GPS works. Long story short, it's A-GPS, or assisted GPS, which means most of the time it uses the cell towers and Wi-Fi to help triangulate (but doesn't necessarily need help). If you're looking to use the iPhone 3G as a GPS in your car for navigation, there's a catch. There's a restriction in the SDK that prohibits developers from using the phone for "real time route guidance". You can still use Google Maps to help guide you if you're lost, but it's not as smooth a system as a real GPS. TomTom may have an iPhone 3G guidance suite already in the works, despite the SDK restrictions.
Will the added 3G and GPS hurt my battery life? Apple's improved the battery life compared to the old version, which ups the talk time on 2G (same as the first iPhone) from 8 hours to 10 hours. On 3G, you get half that. So yes, your battery life will be significantly degraded when you're using 3G instead of 2G. Apple still hasn't provided numbers on how much GPS use will degrade your talk time.
What about that rumour that the iPhone 3G has a front camera? Yeah, not so much. Apple didn't say anything about that during their keynote, and there's been no evidence of it yet. There's a weird anomaly on the demo iPhone that Apple's Phil Schiller was using on stage during the event, but it's probably just a weird fingerprint.
What comes inside the iPhone 3G box? Not a whole lot. There's no dock, but there is a smaller charger that's great for children.
Does the iPhone 3G finally have MMS/picture messaging? Unfortunately not. Not officially, anyway. There are third-party apps already available that give your iPhone a sort of MMS functionality, but it's not great.
Can I tether the iPhone 3G to my laptop to get on-the-go internet? Not out of the box, no. The old iPhone was able to be hacked into doing this, but EDGE speeds meant that people only really used it in emergencies. With 3G, it'll be much more useful. We'll keep an eye on this one.
How durable is it compared to the first-gen? Our hands-on will tell you more about that, but from what we heard, the new backing is a lot more fingerprint-smudgy than the first.
The Software
When will the iPhone 2.0 software be released? At the very latest, July 11, when the iPhone 3G is launched. There are rumours that it can come as early as June 27, but Apple hasn't given any official word yet.
Do I need an iPhone 3G to get Exchange and other businessy features? Actually, no. Apple's site makes no mention of needing iPhone 3G, and specifies that you only need iPhone 2.0 software. Since iPhone 2.0 is available on the old 2G iPhones, you should be in luck.
What's MobileMe? It's Apple's replacement for .Mac, which manages your email, calendar, contacts, pictures and various other things. It's useful for iPhone users because it allows you to sync stuff automatically between your phone and your various computers. Any changes you make on one device gets pushed to the other ones.
Do I need an iPhone 3G to use MobileMe's syncing features? No, you can actually even use it on an iPod Touch, if you bought got one of those by accident.
Do I need an iPhone 3G to use the iPhone 2.0 software? No, you're free to install the new software on your existing iPhone, taking advantage of pretty much all the software features—including the App Store—that are on the iPhone 3G.
Are there limits to what kind of applications I can download in the App Store? Not really. A good 71% of iPhone applications will be free, with the rest starting at a price of $0.99 going all the way up to $999. You can pretty much download as many apps as you have space for on your phone. The largest applications will be 2GB, but we don't think there are going to be very many at that weight. The Sims for iPhone, maybe, if EA ever decides to release that.
Is there going to be iChat? Apple unveiled the AIM application back at the last event, but as far as we know, there hasn't been any talk of iChat (like the one on OS X). As such, we wouldn't count on any iChat Video chat either.
Who's making and supporting games? Unlike the iPod games, which were only made by a select few companies, pretty much anybody can make stuff for the iPhone. Look out for both major game developers and one-man coding shops to make games you want to play.
The Service
Do I need to sign a new 2-year contract with AT&T if I buy a new iPhone 3G? Yes, but the good news is that your old contract gets ripped up. If you signed yourself into AT&T's grasp back when the iPhone was launched, you'll only have to stick with them for another 2 years starting now, not 3. It's as if you're an entirely new customer.
Can I activate my iPhone over iTunes like I did the first time? No, you'll have to activate it in AT&T stores before you leave the store. It's unclear right now whether that same restriction will apply if you buy your phones inside an Apple store, however, but check back here and we'll update when we know more.
Will my old iPhone plan work with the new iPhone? No. You'll have to sign up for 3G data, which is US$30 (the old iPhone plan was US$20). If you want those same 200 SMS messages that were bundled with the old plan, you'll have to pay an extra US$5 a month. If you want unlimited messaging, it's US$20 a month.
Will activating a new iPhone 3G brick my old iPhone? Definitely not. You'll be able to give your 1st gen iPhone to someone to reactivate via iTunes on a new plan.
If I want to keep my old iPhone on the US$20 data plan, will it still be around? Yes! You can keep using that for now, until the time that AT&T feels like they really need you off that plan. Thanks adrunkenmonkey
Can I use the iPhone 3G on a prepaid plan? AT&T hasn't confirmed this yet, but we'll try and find out. Thanks KJA.
What are European iPhone plans looking like? You'll have to check your local provider, but from what we've been hearing, O2 in the UK and Telefonica in Spain will get free a iPhone 3G if they sign up for an 18-month plan that's at least US$88/month.
What happens a year from now when Apple releases an even better iPhone? Nobody really knows, but it's likely that they'll just do what they did this time and have you buy the phone and renew the contract for another two years. Thanks Gregory.
What's the price for the iPhone for existing AT&T customers who may or may not be eligible for an upgrade? The same as any other customer, which is US$199 for the 8GB and US$299 for the 16GB. It won't follow the standard upgrade cycle that AT&T has for other phones. Thanks Abigail.
The Rest
Will there be cases for the iPhone 3G when it launches? Yes. Belkin and Griffin, two of the bigger case manufacturers, have already made a whole bunch of cases like this one for people who really need to protect their phones. Those should be available come July 11.
Can I get a free upgrade to the iPhone 3G? I just bought an old one! Yes, if you purchased it after May 27.
Did some feature that I wanted get added to the iPhone 3G? If the feature you wanted wasn't 3G, GPS, or a flush headphone jack, the answer is probably no. No copy and paste, no video recording and no improved camera, among other things.
Will I be able to use this thing on T-Mobile like I was before? Eventually? Probably. The iPhone hacking team says that they've got a pretty good grip on the 2.0 firmware, which means they can most likely jailbreak it soon after the iPhone 3G is released. With that done, it's only a matter of time that they'll be able to SIM unlock it to use on other networks. The only problem is getting past AT&T's mandatory in-store activation after you purchase a phone.
If I somehow get ahold of an iPhone 3G and shove in a SIM from my old iPhone, what happens? That's a pretty damn good question. We're not sure. If the iPhone 3G is straight out of the box, it'll need to be activated. If it somehow already got activated (or, hacktivated), you might be able to just use it on your old iPhone 2G plan. We'll keep an eye ont this. Thanks Moe.
Should I sell my old iPhone to raise money for the new one? Sure, if you don't know anybody who's worthy enough for you to give your old one to, you might as well sell it.
Should I sell my old iPhone to raise money for the new one on Craigslist if I live in a lousy neighborhood? No. No you shouldn't.
How's the return policy like? You've got 30 days to get that thing back to AT&T if you discover that your AT&T reception is super lousy at your house, or if you just don't like the thing.
Does the iPhone 3G work like an iPod with iPod accessories? Yes, it works just like the first iPhone does. Most iPod accessories will support the iPhone 3G, but some speaker docks might have some GSM interference static if it isn't shielded correctly.
Can I use the iPhone 3G on Verizon or Sprint? Nope, never. Not even if you unlock it.
Can I still buy your book teaching me how to use it? Sure. Most of the basic functions such as calling, texting, iPodding and emailing are the same in the new iPhone 2.0 firmware as they are in the old one. You or the person you buy it for will still get a lot of use out of it. Plus, you can then lead off all your emails to me with the line "I bought your book, so..." in order to coerce me into responding faster.
If we haven't answered your question, feel free to shoot me an email (it's on the left hand column) with the subject "iPhone 3G FAQ" and I'll try and update this FAQ with the answer. Thanks!
You can also access all our iPhone 3G coverage by clicking here as well.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Pascal Guertin
Posted June 15, 2008 3:33 PM
Hi.
Great to hear about the long awaited iPhone 3G. But what about the iTouch? I have been hanging on to buy one. Is it still going to be worth $629au when the iPhone will be half it's original price???
Will we see a reduced price iTouch before July 11???? I can't see anyone buying one at that price, or am I missing something!!!
Anthony Agius
Posted June 16, 2008 12:54 AM
Though you guys might want an FAQ actually written for Aussies :)
http://forums.mactalk.com.au/47/51213-great-big-constantly-updated-australian-iphone-faq-v2-0-a.html
Sarah
Posted July 14, 2008 3:46 PM
I am in Australia and have an original iphone that we purchased in Hong Kong. We downloaded the new 2.0 software and were told we need a 3G Sim which we have, but it still doesn't recognise it. Do I now have a really expensive paper weight? Apple Australia has referred us to America and our carrier has even less of a clue!
F M
Posted November 23, 2008 9:19 AM
Well, re the front cam thing. I must say that I recently was on a train in the UK and saw someone with an iphone... been thinking of getting one so i looked at the person using it. I noticed very clear that on the top right there was a clearly defined circle, and another smaller one just below this. It wasn't a case or anything like that. Does anyone think it could be possible that apple will release a new model in a different part of the world as a kind of test? Odd... makes me feel like holding of buying one just in case this update is just round the corner.
OGHowie
Posted 9:40 AM 14/6/08
@odnet:
Can you have family data shared if you have a Curve and iPhone right now or is it only when the 3G comes out?
I currently have separate data plans, $20 for iPhone and $30 for the Curve.
OGHowie
Aegis2k
Posted 9:35 AM 14/6/08
Now that the phone will be cheaper and more accesible... Do you think I should find another gadget to retain my manhood, or will having a 3G iPhone will still make you feel like you are a handsome well-hung man?
Aegis2k
odnet
Posted 9:34 AM 14/6/08
@bobdobbs' MBA misses LindsayJoy's MBP:
what bob said.
odnet
odnet
Posted 9:33 AM 14/6/08
@gavers:
@Lman:
@thabronx31:
Dear:
[ ] Clueless Newbie [ ] Lamer [ ] AOLer
[ X ] "Me too" er [ ] Pervert [ ] Geek
[ ] Spammer [ ] Nerd [ ] Elvis
[ ] Fed [ ] Freak [ ] Scientologist
[ ] Scammer [ ] Dumbass [ ] Pre-teen
You Are Being Flamed Because:
[ ] You quoted an ENTIRE post in your reply
[ ] You continued a long, stupid thread
[ ] You started an off-topic thread
[ ] You posted a "YOU ALL SUCK" message
[X ] You posted a blatently obvious troll
[ ] You replied to the above message type believing it was actually someone famous
[ ] You said "doing something for the longest time" to something
[ ] You suck
To Repent, You Must:
[ ] Bust up your modem with a hammer and eat it
[ ] Tell your Mommy you've been a bad boy
[ ] Jump into a bathtub while holding your monitor
[ ] Actually post something relevant
[ ] Read the FAQ
[ X ] Start a better blog, that you can enjoy at your leisure.
In Closing, I'd Like to Say:
[ X ] Blow me
[ ] Get a life
[ ] Never post again
[ ] Age 10 more years before you post again
[ ] All of the above
.. just had to use it.
odnet
LaniGanadium
Posted 9:32 AM 14/6/08
Can I buy iPhone 3G to upgrade my old iPhone from the Apple store or only from AT&T store?
LaniGanadium
odnet
Posted 9:28 AM 14/6/08
@bobdobbs' MBA misses LindsayJoy's MBP:
the family data is 30 dollars a month the family text is 30 dollars a month
odnet
thabronx31
Posted 9:28 AM 14/6/08
@gavers:
I've been saying this for the longest. Giz must be getting some serious head action from apple. This site used to be the best for finding out new info about gadgets, but now........
thabronx31
bobdobbs' MBA misses LindsayJoy's MBP
Posted 9:26 AM 14/6/08
@odnet: Do you pay $20/month for data on each phone or is it shared?
p.s., Don't feed the trolls. Those screwballs will never get it.
bobdobbs' MBA misses LindsayJoy's MBP
odnet
Posted 9:21 AM 14/6/08
@bobdobbs' MBA misses LindsayJoy's MBP: thats what me and the misses do, whenever I see the "what you pay over the 2 years" I kinda laugh since family plans get you a break.
@gavers:
its a gadget blog, its a rad gadget, dont click the post maybe?
odnet
Lman
Posted 9:21 AM 14/6/08
wow, just wow. So much hype about the damn thing and you still don't know if it has a front camera? Can't send MMS? Can't use the phone as modem to connect to internet? Can't even make a simple video call?
Seems you guys are a little behind ...
Lman
bobdobbs' MBA misses LindsayJoy's MBP
Posted 9:19 AM 14/6/08
Anybody know if you can add an iPhone to a FamilyTalk plan?
bobdobbs' MBA misses LindsayJoy's MBP
pantheonoutcast
Posted 9:17 AM 14/6/08
Here's an unanswered question: Who gives a shit? It's a phone. It doesn't transmogrify dog feces into solid gold ingots or generate cold fusion. Has our collective intelligence diminished so much that a device that makes phone calls and plays music generates such a spastic furor? Why don't you just change the name of this site to I-Modo and be done with it already?
pantheonoutcast
gavers
Posted 9:15 AM 14/6/08
what's this, the 7th iPhone post today? Could gizmodo be anymore gay for this device? Something's wrong when a solid 15% of your content is dedicated to a SINGLE device. You might wanna spin that off to another site. iphonemodo or something. Oh yah, tldr;
gavers
odnet
Posted 9:14 AM 14/6/08
@UlfCachai: sorry to double post, but thats what I have been told too, I have (yes I know this sounds like the usual friend of a friend line) an uncle who works in marketing at AT&T, he told me that gearing up for the 3G iPhone he is unsure what they will be required to do, but most likely you will be able to walk out with a go plan if they can't fit you into their contract based on financial standing.
odnet
Jason Chen
Posted 9:14 AM 14/6/08
Just updated it with a few new answers!
Jason Chen
odnet
Posted 9:11 AM 14/6/08
@KJA: I think the same rules will apply, it was implied before that you have to sign a 2 year contract, and if your credit was too low they would give you a go plan. I honestly can't see someone day one going into an apple store, waiting in line, buying the phone, filling out the paperwork, and then getting told, "Oh sorry it was all a waste of time you don't have good enough credit to attain the unicorn of cellular masturbation. Please johnny appleseed place this back in the vault. NEXT!"
Its just not gonna happen. AT&T will bend to the same situation they did last time.
odnet
yoshi
Posted 8:59 AM 14/6/08
Great Job, Jason!!
Awesome!!
yoshi
UlfCachai
Posted 8:56 AM 14/6/08
@KJA:
I just got off the phone with AT&T to check my credit to on the day I buy my iPhone 3G there wouldn’t be any unexpected fees or charges, well its turns out I’m going to need a $750 deposit in order to activate the phone with a two year contact. The sales rep when ahead and told me that I could also just go pre-paid. I stated that I heard that AT&T wasn’t allowing you to activate the iPhone 3G with a pre-paid account. She said that’s true but per her boss if and only if you require a deposit to activate your line you may activate a pre-paid line. Anybody out there have any clarity on this?
UlfCachai
KJA
Posted 8:56 AM 14/6/08
@odnet: With the original iPhone, you were able to activate it yourself and get a prepaid option. [www.tuaw.com]
Knowing that you have to activate the iPhone 3G instore, would it be possible to obtain a iPhone through prepaid without being obligated into a contract? That question hasn't been answered yet.
KJA
odnet
Posted 8:53 AM 14/6/08
@LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M: since when did AT&T let you insure the iPhone?
odnet
Voyou_Charmant
Posted 8:48 AM 14/6/08
I have a question that is not covered:
Why the fuck is there a gap in 3G coverage in Indian River County. It is the god damnedest thing.
Voyou_Charmant
LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M
Posted 8:47 AM 14/6/08
Oh and Jason, thanks for the guide, great summary.
:-)
LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M
odnet
Posted 8:47 AM 14/6/08
@KJA: Well since you HAVE to sign a contract, and they can't refuse to sell you an iPhone. If you have HORRIBLE credit, and can't get a co-signer. they are required to meet you in the middle and offer you a pay as you go plan.
odnet
LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M
Posted 8:47 AM 14/6/08
"The only problem is getting past AT&T's mandatory in-store activation after you purchase a phone."
Well sadly to get on T-mo, the leaked press release says that if you decide to not continue with your contract, you have to *return* the iPhone. I wonder what the charge would be for not returning iPhone?
That is a question I want answered. Also, if you are crooked, you can use you insurance to say to lost the iPhone if they find a way to jail-break to run on T-Mo. That sounds *way way way* to risky for me, and quite wrong, but I can see people doing this considering the minimum plan.
But I still want one!
LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M
DJJS
Posted 8:46 AM 14/6/08
MMS In the Future?
DJJS
MasterJoefus
Posted 8:43 AM 14/6/08
Did I really read all of that even though I have absolutely no plans to get an iPhone?
Touche, Gizmodo
MasterJoefus
KJA
Posted 8:36 AM 14/6/08
Here's a question on my own:
Will there be the ability to use the iPhone 3G with a prepaid basis rather than be tethered to a contract? This was somewhat able to do with the original iPhone.
Hopefully its possible. I can only expect Rogers and Fido in Canada to charge their customers into the ground, with all the fees added on and terrible plans. Not to mention their data plans. Imagine that on a 2-year or 3-year contract.
There was word that theres a special plan only offered to the iPhone from Rogers or Fido.
KJA
adrunkenmonkey
Posted 8:33 AM 14/6/08
This may have been answered elsewhere...but if I plan on keeping my archaic 2.5g iphone, will the $20 data/ 200 SMS still be available?
adrunkenmonkey
OGHowie
Posted 8:32 AM 14/6/08
How scratch resistant is the new plastic back?
OGHowie
KJA
Posted 10:20 AM 14/6/08
@odnet: I was talking about Rogers and Fido in question. Hopefully, those restrictions made by AT&T don't apply here. Be thankful that the United States of America has many cell phone competitors in your nation, offering fair prices on plans unlike Rogers, being the only GSM carrier in Canada thus being able to be the only carrier of the iPhone.
It could only be a miracle if Apple influenced Rogers in changing its practices and charge less in their plans rather than charging customers by the KB on their phones at redicolously mad prices (run-on sentence). Unfortunately, this is highly unlikely to occur. Apple still charges Canadians a higher premium than Americans despite the Canadian dollar being on-par or even higher at most cases than the US dollar.
KJA
odnet
Posted 10:13 AM 14/6/08
@lman-iseewhatyoudidthere:
hey hey hey hey hey now. touche.
odnet
tarzan69
Posted 10:09 AM 14/6/08
@esubi81: ANSWER: no. it's one of the 3 new hardware features, along with 3G and GPS
tarzan69
esubi81
Posted 10:02 AM 14/6/08
QUESTION..... is the headphone jack still recessed?? or can u use and headphones for it like the ipod touch??
esubi81
tarzan69
Posted 10:00 AM 14/6/08
all iPhone users in the UK got a text message saying that they could cancel their contract free of charge and 'register interest in' (read: preorder) the iPhone 3G and start a new contract with that. there's an explicit prepay option.
tarzan69
lman-iseewhatyoudidthere
Posted 10:00 AM 14/6/08
@Lman:
How dare you say that the Almighty Iphone 3G is a "damn thing"??????? Saying that kind of thing will get you unable to post anymore on the friendly blog that is gizmodo.
(since Lman cant post now because of that little post, i'll type here his response)
@lman-iseewhatyoudidthere
OH, excuse me, sir. I shall now procede to take a picture with my N95, and send a MMS to my friends, and while i'm at it, i will make a video call to my girlfriend, just because i can, and because my operator is charging video calls as they were normal phone calls till next year. Should I add that i can use my phone as a modem and connect to the internet too?
(response)
@lman
... but your phone doesn't have a smudged touch screen.
(response)
@lman-iseewhatyoudidthere
exactly. Enjoy your crappy piece of cellphone and your smudged screen.
@odnet:
nice, banning people that don't agree to your point of view. Using your chart, i will pick what i see from you:
[ ] Clueless Newbie [ ] Lamer [ ] AOLer
[ ] "Me too" er [ ] Pervert [ ] Geek
[ ] Spammer [ X ] Nerd [ ] Elvis
[ ] Fed [ ] Freak [ ] Scientologist
[ ] Scammer [ X ] Dumbass [ X ] Pre-teen
You Are Being Flamed Because:
[ ] You quoted an ENTIRE post in your reply
[ ] You continued a long, stupid thread
[ ] You started an off-topic thread
[ X ] You posted a "YOU ALL SUCK" message
[ ] You posted a blatently obvious troll
[ ] You replied to the above message type believing it was actually someone famous
[ ] You said "doing something for the longest time" to something
[ X ] You suck
In Closing, I'd Like to Say:
[ ] Blow me
[ ] Get a life
[ ] Never post again
[ ] Age 10 more years before you post again
[ X ] All of the above
@gavers: @thabronx31:
agreed.
lman-iseewhatyoudidthere
tucker
Posted 9:57 AM 14/6/08
@Jason Chen:
didn't they say the buttons were all metal now?tucker
rockstar
Posted 9:57 AM 14/6/08
I bought your book, so...can you tell me if the, eventually, jailbroken 3G iphone will work on T-Mobile's 3G network?
rockstar
altus
Posted 9:52 AM 14/6/08
And remember to be careful not to be sucked into downloading quick ports of software like what was shown at the keynotes. All the games were ported using "porting tools". People rushing to download should check that it is "really made for the iPhone"... That was the whole point of having a great platform.
altus
odnet
Posted 9:48 AM 14/6/08
@rimplestultskin:
@OGHowie:
currently Im paying 30 for data and 30 for text to cover both phones. Buts thats also for 2 iPhones not an iPhone and an XXXX, so Im not sure if it will translate over to your situation OG.
odnet
tylerb00
Posted 9:46 AM 14/6/08
will the new iphone 2 have a qwerty
tylerb00
danojones
Posted 9:44 AM 14/6/08
Jobs talked about improved audio... Any details?
danojones
Leonard Nimrod
Posted 9:44 AM 14/6/08
"Do I need to sign a new 2-year contract with AT&T if I buy a new iPhone 3G? Yes, but the good news is that your old contract gets ripped up. If you signed yourself into AT&T's grasp back when the iPhone was launched, you'll only have to stick with them for another 2 years starting now, not 3. It's as if you're an entirely new customer."
The page Giz links to with this paragraph is about getting a new 3G iphone upgrade if you purchased after May 27th 2008.
I checked with two AT&T in-store CSRs in two different stores today and they both stated they are not aware of what will happen with current iPhone customers. There is talk that they haven't gone in the black yet with current iPhone users-maybe their contract requires them to still pay Apple-but they both also said they find it hard that they would shun the early adopters if they didn't offer the iPhone at $199.
One even stated that they may take the old one as trade in for the 3G model and end the current contract while doing so.
We can all speculate, but confirmation would be nice.
Leonard Nimrod
rimplestultskin
Posted 9:42 AM 14/6/08
@odnet: as in....30 for the whole family or 30 per iphone? because that could be the deciding factor for me...everyone in the family wants one, but dad isn't gonna pay $150 a month on top of the minute plan, just because we're forced to take an internet plan, and as of yet, i'm the only one of my 3 brothers who has offered to pay his own share of the internet charges.
rimplestultskin
shadowsurfr1
Posted 10:53 AM 14/6/08
@GeekyNerdGuy: But I do remember that they allowed you to drop it if you didn't want it after a month or two.
shadowsurfr1
shadowsurfr1
Posted 10:52 AM 14/6/08
@dothedrewtoo: I'd pick one up the day they came out and cancel my contract with VZ if that was possible. However, I'm not sure if it is. I haven't heard anything yet...
shadowsurfr1
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 10:50 AM 14/6/08
@dothedrewtoo: When I got my iphone last year, the data plan was mandatory.
GeekyNerdGuy
dothedrewtoo
Posted 10:28 AM 14/6/08
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DROP THE DATA PLAN? (if you just want to use wifi. i believe you could do this with the old iphone)
dothedrewtoo
DJP3DRO
Posted 10:26 AM 14/6/08
Is there a chart somewhere so I can see how much it would cost me per month for the plan of my choice yet?
DJP3DRO
kwaters
Posted 10:23 AM 14/6/08
I am on a family plan right now for my minutes. Can I stay on that plan or will I have to have a separate one for minutes?
Thanks!
kwaters
MrBubbuls
Posted 11:28 AM 14/6/08
btw i got confirmation in Canada, that any sim or plan will work on the 3g, so in Canada just buy it and pop in your sim! i think alot of the iPhones will let this be as most people didn't buy it because of price INCLUDING plan
MrBubbuls
mzamb03
Posted 10:58 AM 14/6/08
someone asked this before too, but no one has answered it yet:
Steve Jobs said the iPhone 3G would have new audio circuitry for improved sound quality. Are there any more details about this?
mzamb03
lulolulito
Posted 12:17 PM 14/6/08
My old phone is not working anymore, it shutdowns all the time, and it will not turn back on till the battery runs out, I tried to get it replaced at the apple store i bought it, but they had none, all sold out, you think i will get a new one once it comes out? i am still under warranty.
lulolulito
Raven77
Posted 12:10 PM 14/6/08
Yea everyone is sick of all this Iphone coverage...except the 18,000 people that viewed this in a few hours.
lol
IPHONE ROCKS!
Raven77
Joetimek
Posted 1:05 PM 14/6/08
I'm somewhat interested in getting an AT&T Smartphone that can run ScummVM, has WiFi, and 3G(optional). Is the iPhone really the best option?
Joetimek
theOriginalDrew(draws2)
Posted 12:43 PM 14/6/08
@dothedrewtoo: Trouble finding a unique screen name there buddy? A little close for comfort, eh?
theOriginalDrew(draws2)
mricyfire
Posted 12:36 PM 14/6/08
my question is when can we find about about employee purchase program discounts from the apple/at&t stores?
mricyfire
mricyfire
Posted 12:36 PM 14/6/08
@dothedrewtoo:
yes with AT&T you can drop the dataplan at anytime...did it with my WinMo blackjackII ($40 a month for mediocre internet wasnt worth it..wish the thing had WiFi though, because it is a sweet phone)
mricyfire
dothedrewtoo
Posted 1:47 PM 14/6/08
@Late_Night: if you're on 3g you can browse and talk at the same time
dothedrewtoo
dothedrewtoo
Posted 1:46 PM 14/6/08
thanks a lot for the info guys. i'm still hoping that giz can give me a definitive answer on opting out of the data plan specifically with the new iphone. (cough, cough, a-hem!)
dothedrewtoo
Late_Night
Posted 1:44 PM 14/6/08
Currently if I'm web browsing on EDGE I can't receive phone calls. Does this change with 3G?
Late_Night
genius74
Posted 1:42 PM 14/6/08
Can I fwd a text msg without re-typing it?
Can I use it as a USB mass storage device?
Can I download stuff from the internet and transfer it off later?
Can Google Maps PLEASE download some info so you can actually find points of interest while talking on the phone while not being on wifi?
genius74
mph
Posted 1:40 PM 14/6/08
and is there any confirmation on cost/ contract issues for current AT&T customers not owning an iphone?
mph
cloudnine
Posted 2:13 PM 14/6/08
What I wanna know is... If I had to put down a deposit (lack of credit history) on the first generation iphone, are they gonna make me put down the same deposit (that i should be getting back this month) down for another 2 year contract...
If so, someone's gonna get water ballooned. :P
cloudnine
Late_Night
Posted 1:58 PM 14/6/08
thank god, one time I was browsing on EDGE and I missed 8 calls from my wife waiting to be picked up.
Late_Night
Camperton
Posted 2:37 PM 14/6/08
Will there be a way to view PDF's ???
Camperton
Quicksilver4648
Posted 3:08 PM 14/6/08
Here is a question. Would it be possible to purchase a 3G iPhone with a bare-bones minimum (I believe $30 a month) 2-year service contract and after the 30 day grace period I call up AT&T, cancel my contract, get charged and pay the $175 Early Termination Fee? This would bring my total iPhone endeavor to $414 ($199+175+30) and I would be left with a contract less iPhone open and begging to be unlocked, activated, and jail broken to my heart's content.
Quicksilver4648
within360
Posted 3:04 PM 14/6/08
@cloudnine: AT&T will only run your credit again if you add an additional line to your account. So as long as you are just thinking of upgrading to the new iPhone you are home free on your current line. Certain promotions and equipment upgrades may require you to "sign" a new contract, but all the system does is change the contract end date. Unless the AT&T salesperson really digs into the system they probably won't ever realize you needed a deposit in the first place.
within360
within360
Posted 3:02 PM 14/6/08
@cloudnine : AT&T will only run your credit again if you add an additional line to your account. So as long as you are just thinking of upgrading to the new iPhone you are home free on your current line. Certain promotions and equipment upgrades may require you to "sign" a new contract, but all the system does is change the contract end date. Unless the AT&T salesperson really digs into the system they probably won't ever realize you needed a deposit in the first place.
within360
weendex
Posted 3:51 PM 14/6/08
I intend on starting up a pay-as-you-go plan with at&T and popping that sim into my old Iphone. Drop $100 to last the year and toss on the $5 a month data and I think that would make an excellent backup if for some ungodly reason I actually needed two phones.
I am assuming this will work since it would be an AT&T sim.
weendex
dsgamer
Posted 3:50 PM 14/6/08
how much is the standard deposit for those of us who are just barely 18 (and have a steady job)?
dsgamer
moderndesignworks
Posted 3:42 PM 14/6/08
I never wanted to buy an iphone until today. I have a Helio Ocean which I have been using for like 6 months now, and it has 3G on it. Today my buddy came over and brought his old iPhone, I test out my Helio 3G against his iPhone Edge, and his was way faster, I can't imagine the how fast the new one is going to be.......must be really fast. I am really thinking about it............peace out!
Ken
www.GeeeWhiz.com
moderndesignworks
Ryan2845
Posted 5:06 PM 14/6/08
You guys should add the 3G coverage map to your section on the service. People should know that 3G only covers about 5% of the nation. Thankfully most of the major metros have it now at least.
[www.wireless.att.com]
(3G shown in blue)
Ryan2845
OGHowie
Posted 4:47 PM 14/6/08
@lulolulito:
They usually give you a refurbished phone, which they should still have in stock for warranty issues. You should probably call the stores first and then make an appt with that store's Genius Bar. I got one replaced just a couple weeks ago.
OGHowie
cloudnine
Posted 4:38 PM 14/6/08
@within360:
You just gave me a boner for the rest of the weekend! Thanks :D
cloudnine
ForrestMessene
Posted 4:34 PM 14/6/08
Will the gps service cost a fee like other phones?
ForrestMessene
noservice2001
Posted 4:33 PM 14/6/08
"there is a smaller charger that's great for children" haha
noservice2001
Brau
Posted 6:29 PM 14/6/08
"How much will an iPhone 3G cost? $199 for the 8GB version, which comes only in black, and $299 for the 16GB version which comes in black and white."
Q. Will it be possible to actually buy a 3G iPhone *without* a contract? I mean just walk in, plunk down $199 and walk out with one? Seems that option has just been taken away. IF you can't, then the real price for an iPhone is $1975 because that is how much you'll have to pay to get one. At least the old 2G one was actually available without a contract.
Brau
UriahCader
Posted 9:21 PM 14/6/08
Voice activation? Yes? No? If no, WHY? California Law (July 1) makes this the elephant in the room. Suppose more iPhone users will be cited under the new law than other cell phone users? Jobs may not think that law applies, but insurance companies could change that. "Call Home!" Is that so hard? Nothing do I miss more on this near-perfect phone!
UriahCader
UriahCader
Posted 9:13 PM 14/6/08
Voice activation? Yes? No? If no, WHY? California Law (July 1) makes this the elephant in the room. Suppose more iPhone users will be cited under the new law than other cell phone users? Jobs may not think that law applies, but insurance companies could change that. "Call Home!" Is that so hard? Nothing do I miss more on this near-perfect phone! anita@anitaalan.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UriahCader
lemonsaab
Posted 8:51 PM 14/6/08
I'm very angry at the new way we have to activate the new phone and if you are too send feedback to apple. I spoke to a rep they said if enough people say something they would change things. Here is the link. [www.apple.com]
lemonsaab
VaughanWorm
Posted 9:53 PM 14/6/08
With so many people wanting the phone unlocked but struggleing to get past AT&Ts instore activation, looks like there is some money to be made with o2 selling them on payg.
VaughanWorm
klrobinson
Posted 10:26 PM 14/6/08
AT&T syas NO to prepaid on this one. If you don't qualify for credit, you are out of luck. Read their fine print. Sorry, college students.
klrobinson
mricyfire
Posted 11:36 PM 14/6/08
@helixtimestwo:
Full price as stated is $199 for 8GB and $299 for 16GB as stated on the Apple site.
mricyfire
avconsumer
Posted 11:31 PM 14/6/08
Seems like a big excuse to spend more money on ALMOST the same thing, and re-up a 2 year contract. Wonder what percentage of iPhone 3g buyers are iPhone owners?
Vicious cycle targeting geeks with a tech gadget problem imo. Keep the old one and pay off your subprime mortgage or somethin'!! :P
[static.velvetcache.org]
avconsumer
BoinK
Posted 11:30 PM 14/6/08
I need a bigger monitor. I've been refreshing the front page on and off for a few hours thinking "what the hell, is everyone asleep over there?" only to realize just now that this article is stuck on top with a big ass picture hiding the rest of the posts... YAY!
BoinK
helixtimestwo
Posted 11:13 PM 14/6/08
>What's the price for the iPhone for existing AT&T customers who may or may not be eligible for an upgrade? The same as any other customer, which is $199 for the 8GB and $299 for the 16GB. It won't follow the standard upgrade cycle that AT&T has for other phones. Thanks Abigail.
WRONG! Standard upgrade rules apply. If you are ineligible for an upgrade (e.g. at least 20months into your current contract) then you will have to pay the (still undetermined) full retail price of the iPhone 3G.
You ppl need to check your sources better.
helixtimestwo
Trevorblanco
Posted 11:10 PM 14/6/08
Wonder if there is an iPhone for Verizon in 4 years?
Trevorblanco
helixtimestwo
Posted 12:02 AM 15/6/08
@mricyfire
Yes, $199/$299 with an eligible upgrade or new activation.
The 'ineligible' upgrade price has not been determined yet, but it will still require a 2yr commitment. My guess is that it will revert back to $399/$499 for the 8/16GB, which puts it in tune with the standard $200 off retail that customers get when purchasing any other phone with an upgrade/new act.
Guidance has already been issued stating that there will be no 'early upgrades/overrides.' I realize that we will have a bevy of pissed off people who have to pay the higher price because they are ineligible for their upgrade.
My answer? "Too bad. Next in line, please."
helixtimestwo
kvstud
Posted 11:57 PM 14/6/08
I'm really interested to know more about Apple's new Push Notification Service.
Question(s):
1. Will it be available to every iPhone user in all the 70+ countries?
2. Will there be any way for Apple to find out that you have hacktivated your iPhone? (they do have access to your device via this push notification thing)
3. If this service is free and works for everyone who's using the 2.0 software (since some 2.0 apps would require them), and say 4 million (and counting) out of the 6 million iPhone users update their device to 2.0 in the coming months, any way their servers might overload causing problems ala RIM/Blackberry?
kthksbai.
kvstud
xanderbeedle
Posted 11:41 PM 14/6/08
@avconsumer: Whats the difference? You can sell the old iPhone for more than this one costs and then override your old contract. It works out the same as buying the 3G iPhone as a new buyer. Even better, we get to have had the iPhone already for almost a year.
xanderbeedle
mricyfire
Posted 11:40 PM 14/6/08
@avconsumer:
1.) I don't have the original iPhone
2.) Who cares if they re-up a 2 year contract...I have no intentions on changing, because US carriers suck and AT&T is the best for my needs not to mention the family plan, which is gonna make this phone cheap as hell for me.
3.) I have no debt.
4.) Why do people like you care what others do with their money? Stop going to bars, clubs, themeparks, movies, malls(this list can go on..things people like to do with THEIR money)...and pay your mortgage
mricyfire
rockstarjoe
Posted 12:32 AM 15/6/08
I would like to know if it has more RAM than the first model?
rockstarjoe
Holyelephant
Posted 12:20 AM 15/6/08
stfu please
Holyelephant
dave_1138
Posted 12:58 AM 15/6/08
Just wait till July 11th, and your next macgasm will be fulfilled.
dave_1138
Rand
Posted 1:46 AM 15/6/08
Correct me if I am wrong, but in the U.S. doesn't T-Mobile use different frequencies for its 3G? If so T-Mobile wouldn't be an option.
Rand
avconsumer
Posted 1:36 AM 15/6/08
@xanderbeedle: Thanks for the intelligent response (rly). I somehow missed the update/rumor smashed where the old one won't become a brick. Upgrade away. :)
avconsumer
BloggingInnovation
Posted 1:27 AM 15/6/08
While Apple is making a big splash about the iPhone 3G, this is really their new low end phone. Watch out for the new iPhone Pro to arrive somewhere between October and January (MacWorld SF).
Check out:
[www.business-strategy-innovation.com]
BloggingInnovation
ecobore
Posted 1:14 AM 15/6/08
In France you are specifically barred from using it as a modem which seems a shame!
ecobore
andeify
Posted 4:58 AM 15/6/08
"http://o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo" sounds like iphone 3g will get pay and go (but mabe not in time for release).
andeify
furrina
Posted 4:53 AM 15/6/08
1. finally someone at least addressed the tethering question. thank you! this would make it worthwhile at least if possible. and tmobile actually lets people get away with a lot with data on the sneaky-cheap.
2. you mean that to get a white iphone i have to pay another c note for 8gb i dont need? that's 100% asshole.
3. locked phones suck.
4. i guess most people don't care about any of this stuff. because they have actual lives, unlike myself.
5. nokia e71
furrina
tubsdouglas
Posted 6:26 AM 15/6/08
First: Giz posted initially that people with existing att contracts that have not expired yet would have to pay "full price" for the iphone. They also said they did not know what that would be. Now they are saying that its 199 for everybody. Which is it?
Second: All you haters need to recognize. The iphone is hot because...its hot, and not because of apple fanboys. Nokia is about the only manufacturer that is not absolutely copying iphone's os. Samsung has the omnia (among other attempts). HTC has the diamond, raphael, and many others to come, guaranteed. All these run custom ui's over winmo 6.1. Blackberry, apple's chief competitor in this market, is coming out with the thunder that...looks like an iphone. Then there is android which looks promising...and exactly like iphone osx. I just don't want to wait.
Listen, i don't own anything apple and never have. Always used my phones as mp3 player: SE k750i, Nokia 6270, HTC TyTn, Samsung D900; But this is gonna be the best by far. Try and find another device for this initial price that does the same stuff. Guaranteed the browser will not be as good and it will cost more than twice as much.
Oh. And don't read articles about shit you don't even like. remember: Love=Hate
tubsdouglas
SatyakiMalik
Posted 6:22 AM 15/6/08
A lot of this information is potentially inaccurate
SatyakiMalik
ChadFeardie
Posted 6:14 AM 15/6/08
what if you have a family plan, can you keep a 2g iphone and 3g iphone on the same plan....?
ChadFeardie
Raf101
Posted 6:37 AM 15/6/08
you can aim already go to meebo.com on your itouch or iphone and you have it thats it its free and easy. log in easy way to aim
Raf101
olejacobsen
Posted 6:34 AM 15/6/08
"What's changed between the first generation and the iPhone 3G? Honestly? Not all that much."
In answer to this and to the person who asked about 3G in the US: The iPhone 3G has, in addition to 850Mhz, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz and 1900Mhz, the INTERNATIONAL 3G band namely 2100Mhz WCDMA UMTS. This means the phone will work in places like Japan where there is NO traditional GSM service. In the US, however, the 3G service will be offered on 1900Mhz (and perhaps 850Mhz as well). It's hard to imagine why Apple left out a camera on the FRONT of the phone to enable video calling which is pretty much a standard feature on all other 3G phones.
olejacobsen
Tastic7
Posted 7:18 AM 15/6/08
The quoted price is actually somewhat misleading. The actual price of the 8GB/16GB models is $199/$299 AND a two-year contract with the devil.
Tastic7
Jimmy M
Posted 8:18 AM 15/6/08
Jason - you never answered the most burning question on everyone's mind: Will it blend?
Jimmy M
Jimmy M
Posted 8:36 AM 15/6/08
^-- wow - apparently jokes aren't allowed in comments?
Jimmy M
matt buchanan
Posted 8:31 AM 15/6/08
@Jimmy M: No, but I bet your commenting account will.
matt buchanan
supersi
Posted 8:29 AM 15/6/08
Will the 3G iPhone support the Nike+ Running kit?
I love the idea of convergence. If the iPhone has iTunes + 16GB then I could get rid of my 2GB nano (1 less piece of kit to worry carry around = convergence).
But the thing is I like to go running with a Nike+ shoe sensor to record my running performance. The 2G iPhone didn't support the Nike+ kit.
supersi
scottsa2
Posted 9:21 AM 15/6/08
I have really enjoyed my iphone since day one... However I was hoping that we would see ichat video on the new 3G iphone instead of GPS. I will be curious on July 11 to see if there is a camera on the front for video conferencing (for application software in the future) as well as the back for taking pictures. I did enjoy this spoof-
[gizmodo.com]
But I am going to wait to see if later this year the iphone iChat video application will be available before I upgrade to the new model. I use my Macbook Air laptop often to speak directly with my conference room at work and they project my image on the screen so I am the same size as everyone else. The 3G network would make that possible with the iphone instead of having to find a wifi for my laptop... (thank goodness I am able to find access to people's wifi that are not password protected when I am on vacation.... so far!)
The use of still images on cell phones is an approximation of the Dick Tracy wrist phone that seems inevitable with future iphone versions. I imagine calling my friends and family and looking them in the eye when speaking with them.
Thanks,
S2
scottsa2
Trevorblanco
Posted 10:24 AM 15/6/08
When can we start expecting rumors of the iPod touch upgrade?
Trevorblanco
Bravocowboy
Posted 10:51 AM 15/6/08
I wonder if the 3G iphone can record and send video or else M. Night Shyamalan just has a vivid imagination. The Happening sucked.
Bravocowboy
jamesnaj
Posted 11:11 AM 15/6/08
should i be hesitant to buy this new iphone in fear of another at Macworld 09. this phone just doesnt seem like it has enough new advances and apple is holding back on features that would make the phone almost necessary in a apple crazed geek like myself
jamesnaj
Anticitizen
Posted 6:11 PM 15/6/08
Okay, someone tell me that the $199 price is true for existing customers. From what I've seen of AT&T, they still say there's a different price for people that don't meet the upgrade requirements, which supposedly hasn't been decided yet.
Anticitizen
Gundampilotspaz
Posted 6:56 PM 15/6/08
I just want someone to tell me if it's worth the upgrade. $300 for a 3G radio, GPS, and twice the hard drive space seems to be fair. But is it really enough to dump my $600 2.5g iPhone?
Gundampilotspaz
brandonlp
Posted 11:47 PM 15/6/08
Just a note about the following:
"...some speaker docks might have some GSM interference static if it isn't shielded correctly."
In 3G mode, this won't exist. One of the fantastic things about WCDMA (the 3G technology that ATT uses) is that GSM chatter is gone as long as it's on a 3G network.
This will be valuable for speaker docks, as well as when you're using it in a car with an FM transmitter.
brandonlp
helixtimestwo
Posted 12:25 AM 16/6/08
@Anticitizen
The $199/$299 prices are for QUALIFIED upgrades and New Activations *only*. This is the definitive word. Anyone who says anything else is misinformed and is setting themselves up for disappointment.
The UN-qualified upgrade price has yet to be determined. Stay tuned.
And to take it a step further...
Why is that the policy? Because if you are ineligible for an upgrade it means that you have upgraded <20months ago and therefore **received a discount** on the phone you currently have (in exchange for signing a 2yr contract). Cellular companies aren't in the business of discounting hardware whenever a customer decides they want a new phone.
helixtimestwo
Leonard Nimrod
Posted 4:39 AM 16/6/08
@Rand: That is correct, T-Mobile USA had to auction for an unusual spectrum for the 1700MHz band for the upload, this is also known as Operating Band IV. The tri-band chips in the iPhone cover pretty much all UTMS frequencies in the world. Those are Operating Bands I, II and V.
Besides, that T-Mobile USA only received their FCC authorization in late 2005 and have just started to build their 3G network.
Leonard Nimrod
Anticitizen
Posted 5:41 AM 16/6/08
@helixtimestwo: Okay...I'm still saving my cash just in case. Gizmodo says that ATT is not treating this like all other phones and everyone gets the $199 price, yet Engadget says something totally different.
Anticitizen
rashford
Posted 6:13 AM 16/6/08
Can you please tell me whether or not Google docs can be edited on the new iPhone? Also, can one post new blog posts, upload pics, etc. Basically, do Google apps work with the new iPhone the same as on a laptop?
I just read here that copy and paste still does not work on an iPhone?! That makes me think the answer to my questions above may very well be "no." Sigh. I heard the new iPhone would be a Blackberry killer. Not sure yet. Sure am hoping though, love the screen. Love lots about it, but need it to work for pretty much everything or not worth it for me.
rashford
XantheDryope
Posted 8:01 AM 16/6/08
HI gizmodo folks, According to 02's website, they will release the iPhone on a "pay as you go" plan as well as contract here in the UK. http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo Regards. Jim Hanson.
XantheDryope
rashford
Posted 9:45 AM 16/6/08
I can not find the answer to my question above on whether Google docs will be editable anywhere on the web. I'm kind of shocked that others are not asking this question. Surely there are others who think it's important to be able to do more than just passively read on these devices? I'm beginning to think I'm missing something.
rashford
Enrique
Posted 4:35 AM 17/6/08
What if I buy one of the million 2G iPhones that will be available on eBay come July 11? Will the data plan cost $20 or $30 per month?
Enrique
phor11
Posted 6:43 AM 17/6/08
If you can find out:
Since the 3g iPhone is no longer using a special plan, will AT&T be honoring discounted plans (for example, University or Government plan discounts) with the iP3g?
phor11
vdubguy
Posted 8:53 AM 17/6/08
yes
vdubguy
enzomedici
Posted 1:42 PM 17/6/08
Wifi is way faster than 3g, so when you are on 3g it will still be way slower than WiFi, so you will still be pissed at the slow speed.
Twice as fast as slow as fuck is still slow has hell.
I'll keep my current iPhone.
enzomedici
Leonard Nimrod
Posted 1:47 AM 18/6/08
@enzomedici: Only the theorectical throughput. The iPhone may have 802.11g, but the ability for it to process is severely hampered. This is why there is no need for an 802.11n capable radio (though 802.11a would be nice).
The real benefit of WiFi on the iPhone, over the speed increase (which is not nearly as much as the difference between EDGE and HSDPA) is the power savings from the very low power WiFi chip.
Leonard Nimrod
rashford
Posted 3:31 AM 18/6/08
Two days and still no answer on what I believe is an important though, surprisingly to me, not common question about whether Google docs will be editable on the new iPhone.
I'm beginning to feel like a bit of a freak. No one cares? But I thought we live in a participatory culture now? That has to mean more than sending e-mail and commenting on facebook. I want to participate! I want to post to my blog, upload pics and videos, I want to edit my google docs and share with others!
I will probably just wait for the Google Android devices. I am sure those will work that way. I will stop trying to find answers here because I'm not sure people here care about those things.
rashford
SalenaLobster
Posted 8:18 AM 17/6/08
@Rand:
I am 99.0% certain that the iPhone will not work with T-Mobile's 3G data implementation. The iPhone does not even have have the 1710-1755 uplink band that T-Mobile uses.
SalenaLobster
Cole_N_Reamer
Posted 11:12 PM 17/6/08
So what happens [actually] when I buy an iPhone at the Apple store and I decide to do the nasty with it [T-Mobile] and not activate it within 30 days on AT&T's "reliable" network? What is AT&T or Apple going to do? disable it remotely?... set my dog on fire?
Cole_N_Reamer