“Cingular Wireless is expected to provide wireless service for a new Apple Computer Inc. cellphone, people familiar with the situation say,” Li Yuan and Nick Wingfield report for The Wall Street Journal.
Yuan and Wingfield report, “The launch of the new phone and service is expected to be announced as early as Tuesday, these people say.
“The new product could give Apple access to the huge wireless business, in which nearly a billion handsets are shipped every year, dwarfing the nearly 70 million iPods Apple has sold over the past five years,” Yuan and Wingfield report. “Apple spokesman Steve Dowling declined to comment on ‘rumor and speculation’ when asked about the Cingular-Apple phone deal. A Cingular spokesman also declined to comment.”
Full article (subscription required) here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MadMac” for the heads up.]
The Wall Street Journal is usually quite accurate when it comes to these just-before-the-keynote articles. There is nothing in the article that says the deal with Cingular is exclusive (and, therefore, no exclusivity time frame, either). There is also no information about whether the deal is for an Apple MVNO* or not.
*Mobile Virtual Network Operator: a company that buys network capacity from a network operator to offer its own branded mobile service(s).
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Cingular, huh? Dang. There went my new Apple phone.
looks like I will be paying a ‘early termination fee’ to verizon tomorrow……
Wtf happened to unlocked?
…and I’m due for a new phone on my plan next month.
Timed that right!
-c
MW: ‘brown’ (The Choice Of A New Generation™)
Fortunately, I am on a month to month with Cingular already. So, I could be set for the upgrade. If they release an unlocked version, even better.
If this is true, I hope the phone is available for Verizon eventually!
Cingular sucks, though I have to say that Verizon sucks even more.
Where I live there is a service that gives you unlimited minutes 24/7 for under $40. I know services like this are across the country, but I think that the unwashed masses haven’t revolted yet, and probably won’t. I use Cricket, but there are others that give unlimited options. Cingular ain’t one of ’em.
Oh, well. Unless the iPhone does VoIP or something, I’m going to have to say to heck with it. That would truly suck if it’s linked to one carrier. But, again, Verizon is like Microsoft, so Cingular is the lesser of two evils…and I do mean evils.
I bet it all about the VOIP.
That sucks
MDN Word: Hope, as in I hope it works with Verizon
Lemmie try that again, I bet it‘s all about the VOIP.
And the iChat AV, and the video messaging, and the hey hey hey.
Not particularly revolutionary or earthshattering. Rather unlike Apple to go with the crowd unless they offer an unlocked version at the Apple Stores at the same time. Apple becomes another Nokia or Samsung with its phone lined up alongside all the other phones for the idiots at Best Buy who couldn;t tell you the difference between GSM and DRM.
I have Cingular and am due for a new phone, but I can see Cingular limiting functions and staying with that stupid MediaNet crap they use.
MVNO over Cingular’s network + VOIP would be pretty cool. All data, no minutes.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE UNLOCKED VERSION??
I want unlocked Apple fone.
I want unlocked Apple fone.
I want unlocked Apple fone.
I want unlocked Apple fone.
…and I want it now, Steve.
Do you hear me.
Is there a cellular phone service provider that doesn’t suck? I have 14 months left on my contract with T-Mobile (who I understand uses the same network as Cingular) and I get just about ZERO reception on my phone calls. I rarely call anyone at home, even if I really want to, because it will be such a frustrating experience. I;d pay an early-termination fee if I knew with certainty of a service provider that provided quality service at a reasonable price.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE UNLOCKED VERSION??
———————-
Nothing. It never existed. It was a RUMOR.
@ Caruso
*TOTALLY* agree. I would be very disappointed in Apple if I have to look at MediaNet on that thing.
-c
Sell the damn things unlocked!
I have both Cingular and Sprint. I find Sprint’s quality much better than Cingular when I’m in a Sprint area. Unfortunately, I’m often roaming outside of a Sprint network. Cingular has greater coverage (especially since they took over AT&T’s Alaska network), but the sound quality is worse and people frequently can’t get through when circuits are busy. I am due for two new phones on Sprint and probably one more on Cingular. If Apple’s new phone doesn’t have PDA capabilty, I will probably have to wait for the Treo 750 (Palm) – IF they ever release a Palm version.
Any big launch is welcome. Money makers spread. Cingular may be the start, but it won’t be the only carrier.
Cingular is the obvious choice for the Apple mobile device because of their size and network technology – GSM. Because GSM is the most used mobile network technology in the world right now, Apple can develop a handset that is not only capable of using the largest network in the U.S. but that same handset uses technology that is used in most other countries. By using CDMA (ala Verizon Wireless) Apple would be limiting the phones availability to the U.S., Korea, & China…along with a few other small areas. GSM is available is just about every country that has a wireless communications infrastructure.
I see an unlocked phone with MVNO, VoIP, iChat, and integration with iTV. I want to sit in my living room, have my phone pick up my high speed internet connection, and conduct a video conference on my TV while watching 24.
The whole getting up to answer the phone is a waste of precious calories.
Besides, Apple is not going to carry a billion dollars worth of retail leases and a 50% increase in retail headcount just to hand their device over to BestBuy to screw up.
Lets face it, Apple is controlling about the experience and religeous about the brand. Although I would like to see their retail folks stop wearing sweat pants to work.
Maybe the phone will be unlocked but the mobile music service will be with Cingular?
Apple may use Cingular’s wireless network, but the service may be all Apple’s show. That would be ideal. Apple needs to maintain control of the user experience, as it always does. I don’t think Apple will hand over this revolutionary wireless device for Cingular to sell in its tiny one-person mall kiosks. Apple will charge “full-price” and sell the device at the Apple Store and other retailers (both online and physical), with an online sign-up process for the service (using the device or computer).
Cool! I’m on a month-to-month w/ Cingular right now. This should be easy.
unlocked is whats needed in order to have the biggest impact. I hope the iphone is carrier agnostic
Cingular is not only the obvious choice;
Cingular is the only choice Apple could make.
Verizon and Sprint networks are closed and only work in the U.S.A.
An Apple phone has to be a worldwide usable phone.
A Global Capable Phone means No Verizon and No Sprint.
Also all the talk about locked phones: All Verizon and All Sprint Phones are Locked;
both because they run propietary closed networks that are not interoperable with anybody elses;
and, because a Verizon phone only works on a Verizon network; and there are no Verizon compatible networks:
outside of the U.S.A.
Since the Apple phone is not going to be tied to a closed — MSFT lackey — network;
Apple only had to choices: Cincular or T-Mobile;
T-Mobile is a no-frills provider that doesn’t have a modern data network for broadband over cellular signals;
Thus my fellow Apple fans there was zero choice for Apple.
Until the day that T-Mobile rolls out a 3G network similar to Cingular’s;
and until the day Sprint and Verizon embrace international standard GSM technology;
Apple can only use Cingular in the U.S.
Elsewhere in the world you will be able to use Apple’s phones will all sorts of GSM networks;
which is all that exist out there.
Embrace the future.
Leave behind the obsolete closed propietary network.
Get an Apple cell phone and go Global GSM Tech.
Don’t be afraid. Your grandchildren will find it funny to hear it took you this long to get with the progra,.
Reminder: It was the WSJ that broke the news about Apple’s move to Intel.
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/5829/
I think Steve gives old Walt Mossberg a call and says “Hey Walt, want a little news?”
Why?
1) it preps the media to really pay attention to Macworld
2) it helps Mossberg out. Who in turn will help Steve out at a time to be later discussed
When Steve announced the switch to Intel at WWDC’05, He didn’t seem to hide from the rumors, rather, embrased them. His normal MO would be to flip out at a leak. Ask the guys at ThinkSecret about that.
There’s a very simple reason why Verizon will never have this phone. ITMS competes with Verizon’s services. They’d cripple Bluetooth to the point that it’s worthless, they’ll charge you for any photos you send and they’ll want to put their crappy UI on it like they do every other phone they sell. I can’t imagine Apple living under those conditions just to get the phone on Verizon.
This means I get to start lobbying hard for Cingular to put another tower in my neighborhood.
The WSJ also isn’t People Magazine. It’s read by serious types (arguably, at least).
Well sh*t. If it is an exclusive Cingular deal, I guess I won’t be getting one damn it. 🙁 Cingular absolutely sucks.
@ Investor
Indeed. Not to mention those people who ran some video card company – what was their name again?
I’m with Cingular, too, so perhaps I’ll see what the “upgrade” costs are, should this turn out to be true.
Won’t get much work done tomorrow…
Chris: If you mean that you don’t call people from home because you’re phone is too frustrating, try something else like Skype. I’ve used it before and it works great. It’s also cheap.
As far as carriers go, I use Cricket. It’s not available in all 50 states, but there are other companies that offer the same thing – unlimited airtime for a reasonable price.
Heh, it’s funny now to read the comments under that original WSJ Intel rumor. A ship the leaks from the top, indeed.
Typhoon, I checked the Cricket we site. Sounds pretty good (how’s the service and qualtiy?) but coverage is still pretty limited. As they expand, I would expect their rates will also go up as Sprint’s did when it was still a new network. I need the Los Angeles area and am frequently in one part of Alaska. So roaming would likely have to be added at some point. Interesting though. I hope they can keep growing and provide good competition to the big names.
Before Christmas, Cingular announced plans to be a new customer service facility here in eastern Iowa. The first thing I thought of was the “iPhone”, but discounted it because people seemed to be sure it was Sprint that would get the phone. The facility is not scheduled to open until July and would employ up to 500 people. Will just have to see what tomorrow offers.
http://tinyurl.com/y42tnp
WHAT ABOUT CANADA AND THE UK? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT LIKE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE? STILL CAN’T BUY TV SHOWS ON ITUNES!
WHAT ABOUT CANADA AND THE UK? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT LIKE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE? STILL CAN’T BUY TV SHOWS ON ITUNES!
WHAT ABOUT CANADA AND THE UK? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT LIKE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE? STILL CAN’T BUY TV SHOWS ON ITUNES!
Bummer. I fled both Cingular and Verizon. I am with Sprint. Though I love the idea of iPhone, I certainly will not leave Sprint for the device. I hope Sprint obtains the phone at some point.
The only way Apple will do this is with MVNO. With all there Apple stores and they can’t let Cingular screw it up…. MVNO is the only way unless there some super special plan only for the Apple phone that Cingular will sell
David, scroll up and read Edison Gates post. It will explain why Apple will not partner with Sprint.
I’ve never seen a wireless company so capable at lobotomizing the native functionality of a phone like Verizon — all so you can buy crappy ringback tones, wallpaper, and their other garbage. What they do to high-end phones is absolutely criminal.
As such, they’d be the perfect partner for Microsoft when MS decides it really does need to copy Apple once again.
Now, if Apple released an iPhone with Bootcamp Mobile, I could really go for that. My frickin’ company requires that our “smart”phones run Windows Mobile 5.
i don’t understand all this talk about locked phones.
in belgium, and most of europe ALL phones are unlocked, so i couldn’t care less (except that unlike u, i will have to pay the full price)
i doubt the deal with cingular will have any impact on the phone itself.
I read that MDN link above from ‘Invester’ and it is indeed interesting to read the comments at that time. And proof is there for all to see that MDN attracts very interesting, and correct, inputs.
How about this post for example:
“Comment: From: Insider May 23, 05 – 07:55 am
Mac OS X on Intel runs since beta versions of OS X 10.0.0″
A thowaway comment that was absolutely right.
Today, I predict many people are going to be thrilled.
And many people are going to be disappointed.
And the only sure thing, is ChrissyOne badly needing sleep later today.
Ahhh GSM is only more widespread due to illegal European industrial policy. The EU govts actively block ‘not-invented-here’ technology (against WTO commitments to the contrary)… ETSI has also been caught red-handed in this type of activity….
This would explain why the networks in Europe are hugely expensive & service lacking (I lived in London for many years & traveled around Europe, CIS & Russia extensively)….
No big minute bundles for low prices, no unlimited free nights & weekends, no unlimited mobile-to-mobile in-network calling, and no free roaming over the same geograpohic area Americans enjoy (from New York to Hawaii for free? Not in Europe!) This is why the mobile carriers became the subject of an EU investigation along w/ raids of the mobile carriers offices. Mario Monti, head of the EU Competition Comission was quoted in the Financial Times as saying; “Why are Europeans paying 10 times what Americans pay for mobile service?”
This is b/c in the USA, we embrace TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION. So there isn’t the appearance of pricing collusion by the mobile industry….
Hey Edison Gates,
How is closed, proprietary GSM (it is proprietary as the IPR hurdles for manufacturers is quite steep), that is 18 YEARS old somehow the future?
GSM is a creaky old technology. The GSM community had to embrace CDMA, something Verizon & Sprint already had, but due to the European insistence on trying to re-invent it (as WCDMA/HSDPA), have found themselves YEARS behind the times and still only ONE THIRD as effcient as the real CDMA Sprint & Verizon use.
CDMA2000 EV/DO transmits as much data in 1.25 MHz of spectrum as HSDPA/WCDMA transmits in 5 MHz…
So how is such an inefficient PIG of a technology the future?
Sorry, the future is WiMAX…. In case you missed it, both Samsung & Nokia have announced agreements w/ Sprint to roll out a national WiMAX network… Samsung has just shown over the past couple of days, phones that support WiMAX and CDMA2000 EV/DO in one handset. Nokia announced as part of their deal to develop WiMAX handsets and help promote global WiMAX roaming….
Get you head out of the past….
NOOOOOO!!!!
I’m so sad.
🙁
if you use cell phones long enough you will flee all brands at least once.
Sprint – Used to drop calls like crazy.
T-Mobile – I really liked everything about them, except their shitty coverage.
Verizon – WFT do you mean I have to email photos to my self to get them off the phone.
Cingular – never used them, but they are next in line.
Sounds like Edison Gates was correct after all.
Must be the fault of them illegal European Know Nothings.
Maybe Verizon still has a chance with Microsoft’s Zune 2.0 AKA “the squirt phone”
Hey Ballmer: I’ll Squirt you a busy signal — it expires in three days.