Vodafone likely to get iPhone contract in Europe

Will Vodafone be iPhone's carrier in Europe ?

Apple has yet to say with which international carriers it plans to partner on iPhone distribution, but one Wall Street analyst is citing sources in saying that heavyweight Vodafone is all but a shoe-in for Europe.

"Our sources indicate that Vodafone is most likely iPhone's carrier partner for Europe," analyst Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research, told clients as part of a broad research note on iPhone. "We believe Vodafone's 200 million subscriber base (compared to 61 million for AT&T, its USA partner), broad country coverage, and investment in advanced technologies make it a strong fit for Apple."

Wu, who raised his price target on shares of Apple by $27 to $145 on Tuesday, went on to say that Vodafone's presence and coverage in 59 countries gives it the global reach that Apple and its customers are looking for.

Apple has said that it hopes to launch iPhone in Europe by the fourth calendar quarter of this year. In February the Cupertino-based company reportedly sent representatives to scout out a Unipart Trade Logistics-operated mobile phone repair centre in Europe to determine whether it would be suitable to handle iPhone repairs for the region.

Meanwhile, reports obtained by both AppleInsider and other Wall Street analysts have suggested that Apple could introduce a version of the iPhone based on 3G wireless technology in Europe during the first half of 2008.

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Take part or view the results of the iPhone Europe Poll

Tentative iPhone launch dates....

According to an email published at AT&T, the iPhone might be launched between Jun 15 and July 15.....

While everyone knows that the Apple iPhone is coming out in June, there has been a significant amount of speculation as to its precise date of release. Apple has been elusive as usual on the matter, stating only that the phone is "scheduled to ship in late June." The Boy Genius Report received an interesting piece of information at our world headquarters today, and it may shed some light on the iPhone release date confusion.

According to an official letter sent to all corporate AT&T employees, the Apple iPhone launch will take place on June 15th with the launch period extended until the 15th of July. AT&T isn't even approving their employees from taking any vacations during that timeframe, due to what the company is referring to as "the biggest selling period we have seen in a few years." Way to be humble, AT&T! The reality is an iron-clad contract with Apple dictating the launch, so not even AT&T could screw this one up. Now that that's settled, why doesn't everyone sit back, buy an accessory or two, and practice some deep breathing for the sales floor rush on June 15th. Take a gander at the full email after the jump!

To: All Company Owned Retail Employees

From: [Name removed]

Subject: iPhone Launch Period

Date: May 4, 2007

As previously announced, Apple and AT&T will soon debut the iPhone,
which combines a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and
breakthrough internet communications into one small and lightweight
handheld device. The new AT&T has a multiyear, exclusive agreement to
provide U.S. service for the iPhone.

To ensure proper staffing during the product launch period, Sales personnel
planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their
vacations before June 15 or after July 15 to participate in the iPhone
launch.

Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling
is not feasible

No additional vacation requests will be approved during the launch period
(6/15 – 7/15).

I want to thank you in advance for your understanding as this is likely to
be the biggest selling period we have seen in a few years.

Happy Selling,

[Name removed]

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The Apple iPhone - Closed for Developers ?

With the iPhone closed to developer applications, do other smartphones have an advantage ? - at least in terms of the number of SDK's (Software Development Kits) provided ?

I came across a story about iPhone that claimed it didn't qualify as a smartphone because it wouldn't support custom applications. I certainly agree that open development is a requirement for a smartphone. But iPhone, closed to developers? Would Steve dare to face developers at WWDC to unveil a phone that wouldn't run user-developed software?

For a chance to be among the first to own an iPhone, a Mac developer, even the truest, bluest open source believer, would not only overlook iPhone being a closed platform, he or she would pay an extra $50 to get it a week before it goes retail. There is no outrage over iPod remaining closed to developers despite the fact that Apple is selling games for it. Apple TV is a hacker's dream toy, two thirds a Mac, but there again, there is no SDK.

That ought to make us mad, but Apple owns its customers and developers and we're all content to have it that way, a fact that will always mystify everybody who doesn't own a Mac. It mystifies me sometimes, too.

Apple wouldn't open iPhone or anything else because developers like things open. But iPhone will be open, or else, because all of its competitors' platforms support user-developed applications. Why do they all support custom apps? Because. Sometimes, somebody other than Apple gets to say, "because." Open is just how phones are done, and not just smart phones.

Three platforms dominate smartphones: Java, Symbian and Windows Mobile. Symbian (Nokia, Samsung, others) phones don't need to be very smart to be development targets. A Nokia Series 30 dispos-o-phone is as programmable as Series 60, 80 and 90 devices using Nokia's free tools and documentation (forum.nokia.com). Symbian developers can use C++ and Java across all device classes. More capable devices are programmable in Python, and Nokia will shortly release a downloadable plug-in that adds a subset POSIX (UNIX) C API layer to Series 60. It'd be a pity if iPhone came up short next to a candy bar handset that costs $99 with a 1 year contract. And if Symbian+Nokia turns out to be more POSIXy than iPhone is, well, you'll read it here first.

BlackBerry is the only competing mobile platform mentioned by name during Steve Jobs' introduction of iPhone. BlackBerry is pure Java, with free tools straight from the vendor. The company is having a show next week called Wireless Enterprise Symposium at which third parties will exhibit their wares, and there's some impressive stuff that you'd love to see on iPhone. I'll tell you all about it in my review, with follow-ups in Ahead of the Curve. And did I mention that BlackBerry 8800 has GPS and ships with navigation software? It plays audio and video, too.

Windows Mobile is obviously developer-friendly. The tools (Visual Studio) are anything but free, but a one-year membership in Microsoft Developer Network will net you all the goods you need to develop end-to-end mobile solutions in BASIC, for pity's sake. Windows Mobile 6 will be making its first major commercial appearance, quite by accident, right around iPhone time. Treo and Blackjack will be front and center with it.

Wouldn't it be a gas if Microsoft's new mobile platform turns out to be more developer-friendly than Apple's? Hiss at Microsoft all you like, but Windows Mobile sets a high bar for programmability.

I'm tingling with anticipation.

Posted by Tom Yager on May 4, 2007 05:20 AM

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AT&T's getting ready for the iPhone

The iPhone is finally arriving .....
From 'BoyGenius'...

This one came from a pretty high-up source of ours, and it turns out to be pretty interesting. Apple iPhone displays will soon be hitting AT&T stores across the country and yes, we got some details! First off, it was relayed to us that many stores will actually have to be rewired because the display demands it's own power supply, and even requires a network cable. As far as the size of the iPhone display itself, get this — 7 ft tall, and 3 ft wide! Many stores have already started installing the necessary power systems which means that working displays should be here within the next few weeks. Whether the Apple iPhone will be featured as soon as the displays are ready is still unknown, but if it is, well, does anyone remember the RIM Break In?

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ABC news Video podcast on the iPhone.....

ABC News reports on the iPhone at MAC World and Steve Jobs gives a brief interview...

Apple iPhone VS the LG KE850 Prada ?

Can the LG KE850 Prada compete against the Apple iPhone ? Well the LG KE850 Prada looks loaded according to this article....

It may be missing the iTunes music player and hefty storage capacity of the iPhone, but the new LG Prada KE850 has the design and functionality to steal Apple’s thunder. Assuming the iPhone ever arrives in the UK, that is.

The similarity between the two devices is uncanny, especially the touch-screen design and user interface. What’s more, LG is very happy for comparisons to be drawn with Apple’s handset. And who wouldn’t be? The iPhone announcements garnered the press coverage of an Oscar ceremony and LG’s Prada phone not only matches it for looks, more importantly, it beats it to market.

LG has teamed up with Italian fashion house Prada to construct the KE850, with Prada taking the design lead and LG taking care
of technology.

You could argue that LG needs little help in the design department, after the recent success of the Chocolate and Shine phones, which populate its Black Label Series of ‘iconic design handsets’. However, while the Prada may not be part of the Black Label Series, it could well become the most iconic LG phone.

In true Prada style, black is the recurring theme of the LG KE850, with its black designer presentation box, black phone holder, shiny black phone casing and striking black and white menu display (you can choose other background menu colours, but black is by far the coolest). There’s even a black polishing cloth for removing smudgy fingerprints.

You get so used to seeing everything in black and white, it is only when you click on the phone’s internet browser or on one of the downloaded or built-in games that you snap out of this surreal monochrome world.

The phone itself is similar in length and width to the Samsung D900 and, at just 12mm thick and weighing 85g, is the latest in a long line of attractive slimline handsets from the top two
Korean manufacturers.

There is no keypad for number dialling or text entry. Instead, LG has opted for a touch-screen, which covers three quarters of the phone’s area, and three hard keys: call accept, call reject and return to the previous menu option.

On the right-hand side, there is a dedicated MP3/camera button and a menu unlock key, and on the left, you will find the volume keys, a profile-setting key and the recharging socket.

The major selling point of the Prada phone is its fingertip-operated touch-screen, and this feature is likely to entertain and niggle users in equal measures.

Dialling numbers and choosing saved contacts is reassuringly straightforward, and sending text messages is fine, if a little fiddly; the touch-screen is less responsive than a phone keypad.

There are one or two other usability issues. The screen has a habit of locking quite regularly. As it is a touch-screen phone, it makes sense to have an automatic screen lock, otherwise you could be making calls and accessing the internet or MP3 player while the phone is still in your pocket. However, relentlessly pressing the side-mounted unlock key after a few seconds of inactivity can become of a bit of a grind.

You will also need to find your own method of touch-screen scrolling. You might find it easier using your thumb, or you may opt for the fingertip option. The thumb is the most comfortable method, but you will need practice to select just the options you want.

There are a few problems with the touch-screen system which emerged when browsing the web on the Orange World portal. When attempting to choose Sport, we found it easy to accidentally select the option directly below, which is ‘send us your picture’. This proved a tad frustrating.

If you’re having trouble navigating the internet browsing menu with your fingertip, we’d recommend using the touch-screen scroller arrows which appear at the bottom of the screen or the up/down keys on the left-hand side of the phone.

The two-megapixel camera relies on a combination of
touch-screen and hard key functionality to take photos and record clips. Camera/camcorder settings like auto-focus, zoom auto timer and multiple images are all controlled with the touch-screen menu, while photos are taken using the dedicated camera key.

Although it can’t offer 3G speeds, the EDGE-enabled Prada is still a great phone for accessing the internet. Pages download fairly quickly and look great on the large display. For some reason, Orange’s web portal was branded as Orange Worl, missing that
all-important ‘d’. However, the rest of the site displayed very well and you will really appreciate the display’s colour quality.

Also impressive is the quality of the phone’s display when you watch a video clip. A short clip of a train hurtling through a train station, shot by one of the LG team, was stored on the phone and the quality was excellent. You can render the clip to view it vertically or horizontally.

We could go into more detail about the Prada’s gaming prowess and its strengths as a music player. However, what really sets this phone apart is its design and finger-operated user interface.

Sure, the phone will require a regular polish. You may even have to invest in a new black cloth from time to time. And the touch-screen operation is not totally infallible; a regular mobile keypad is much more responsive for entering texts and phone numbers.

However, this phone has the wow factor of the Chocolate and should appeal to those who like their fashion accessories to carry a label with kudos.

And while the touch-screen technology may cause you to occasionally choose the wrong menu option, it is essentially a fun and savvy way to navigate your phone.

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Another iPhone survey - 6 Percent this time.....

Yes, yet another survey on the iPhone, and this time, it's six percent of the mobile carrying population that wants one......

Peter Cohen - MacCentral Tue May 1, 12:42 PM ET

Market research firm Markitecture reported Tuesday the results of a recent survey to judge interest in the iPhone among existing cell phone users. While the iPhone ranked surprisingly high in consumer awareness, most respondents said there was little, if any chance, that they’d actually buy one.

Based on a poll of 1,300 people who owned a cell phone and were responsible for the monthly payments, 77 percent of those polled said they’d heard about the iPhone. Forty-one percent of those familiar with the iPhone had a good impression based on what they’d seen and heard, according to the firm.

But despite that strong initial impression, two-thirds of those familiar with the product said there was “zero chance” they’d buy one. Six percent said they’d like one — and that’s not bad news, according to Markitecture.

“While 6% may appear low for a high-profile product launch, it actually may actually be very strong for the cell phone market,” reads a statement offered by the firm. “The highly successful Motorola RAZR after its launch in 2004 achieved a 6% market share at its peak.”

With the ubiquity of cell phones in today’s marketplace, six percent is still a big number. AT&T recently reported that it’s fielded more than a million inquiries about the iPhone since the device’s preview at Macworld Expo in San Francisco this past January.

The price was the number one factor for why respondents weren’t going to switch to the iPhone — it will retail for $499 or $599 respectively, depending on capacity. Issues related to the carrier (it will be carried exclusively by AT&T in the United States) and contracts came in a close second.