“Apple and Cingular have signed an agreement that will make the US’ largest cell phone provider the exclusive carrier of Apple’s forthcoming phone, sources report. Apple’s iPhone remains on track for an early 2007 release,” Ryan Katz reports for Think Secret.
“As previously reported, Apple’s phone will feature a candy-bar design with a 2.2-inch display and 3 megapixel camera. Robust iTunes and iSync support will also be delivered with the phone,” Katz reports. “Apple’s exclusive contract with Cingular is said to be good for the first six months, sources report, meaning other providers will be able to sell the phone in the second-half of 2007.”
“O2 had the exclusive on the ROKR in Europe, however, suggesting that provider may again be tapped to launch Apple’s phone,” Katz reports. “Meanwhile, insiders say Apple is internally estimating that shipments of the iPhone will top a staggering 25 million in 2007 alone.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “raddoc” and “Tom M.” for the heads up.]
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I’m hoping beyond hope that this rumor will finally come to pass. The rumor that will never die…. It’s funny how persistent this rumor is, given that Apple has never mentioned it.
If there’s nothing at MacWorld in January, I think all is lost.
However, the rumor will probably live on.
And I was about to switch my contract, up in January, from O2. I’ll sit it out for a bit longer perhaps
Never had a cell phone. May revise that policy.
darn… was kind of hoping that ALPe would launch its own network, that way there would be an even greater integration with .Mac and other Apple-specific features.
But on the bright side, that means that I can use this iPhone in HK on any network! Hurrah! Just as long as it has full synchronisation with OSX and works just like it, then I’m happy whatever the network!
BRING IT ON!!!
Using Cingular…good call.
Sorry for the typo! Should of course be Apple.
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Had to change the batteries on the wireless keyboard
Not good enough. I need this phone to have a mini version of Address Book AND iCal which will sync with my Mac. Then I can ditch my Treo (which really has a mediocre GUI). Of course, the best would be if it could run some version of OS X and Opera for surfing and Mail for email as well as other apps (like games). And a touch screen with virtual keypad…
Well, I can dream, can’t I?
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Why O2 in Europe and not T-Mobile or Vodaphone? The latter 2 have much more pull in Europe than O2…
why only US?? With all respect, US mobile market isn’t as modern as Europe, let alone Japan and South Korea.
Though I know it’s kinda hard to enter Japan and South Korea (because of the technology differences n competition) plus iPhone spec would be kinda old for both countries (3 MP is nothing there), at least Apple should still sell it in other asian countries because I think the market is promising.
The carriers will invest in huge advertising campaigns for the iPhone. Apple will get free publicity and sell like crazy. It’s a win-win situation. Watch AAPL getting a hike today!
Agree with you gzero, I don’t even think O2 is available here in Sweden! I have never heard of ANYONE here using them. Vodafone and Telia are the largest ones here and they have excellent reception, costs a bit more but it’s worth it. I plan to buy just the phone and continue to use my Telia.
Cingular has the worst customer service on the planet, bait and switch tactics and a ton of disgruntled former AT&T employees just for bad measure and they’re half owned by the new AT&T which is the old SBC (Southwestern Bell) another crooked phone company, what a bummer. I guess I’ll have to wait a bit longer for my Apple phone because I’m never ever signing up for service from Cingular.
HD
That sounds like all of the phone companies…or none, depending on your experience.
I use Cingular and don’t have any problems. Never had to deal with customer service.
maccam,
never had one either.
But I think Apple will change my mind for me.
AT&T are just great if you know how to talk politely to them. You need to call them every six months or so to check if they have a better plan. It has always resulted in satisfaction and a lower rate for me. I have all my communication needs with them. Takin’ care of bizness.
As someone who works in the cell industry, this is a very interesting rumor as wouldn’t it mean Apple will not be an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) a fancy name for a reseller? I would think they would use the Apple stores to sell through, and control the customer experience from a service point of view.
As far as GSM, with Apple being an international company with a strong European following, they couldn’t do anything else, however for data use and multimedia, CDMA would have been better with EVDO Rev A around the corner (Mobile iChat?) They could always bring out another version with that chipset.
Please Apple, I need a new phone!. I hate my RAZR.
As long as I can walk into an Apple Store and buy an unlocked iPhone I don’t care which carrier subsidizes the launch.
Apple needs to make this deal with Cingular ONLY if customers can purchase an iPhone at the Applestore (no need to be hassled by a slimy cell phone agent) AND customers DO NOT need a NEW plan to activate the phone AND the price of the iPhone is the same for NEW and EXISTING Cingular customers. All one would need to do is call Cingular to activate a special LOW COST iPhone Internet plan for net access.
Otherwise this is going to be another flopperamma like the Moto iTunes phones.
The best option for Apple’s success is to sell the phones UNLOCKED for all GSM carriers (T-Mobile, Cingular, former AT&T, Rogers) at the Applestore! WiFI would be a good call as well.
Cingular absolutely sucks. If Apple goes with them exclusively, they won’t get my money for an iPhone.
Too bad we’ll never see this on Verizon. Apple would have to put the standard Verizon UI on it and then strip out iTunes to put Vcast Music on it. Then it wouldn’t work with a Mac anymore just windows. At least we have the best network. Too bad we criple the crap out of our phones.
WHERE THE HELL IS CANADA’S PHONE!!!!!!
I want one too.
Need a decent Smartphone that’ll play nice with your Mac now? Try the Nokia 6682. I’m all for the iPhone but waiting for this rumor to finally pan out is getting old. My Nokia is as close to an Apple experience as I’ve had in a Smartphone.
i wonder if it’ll have a dock connector?
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i am quite interested in this, shame it’s o2 tho