Decaflon

Everything is just speculation at this point. No one knows for sure when a 3G version will come out.

Everybody is talking a 3G iphone, but I seriously don't think apple is releasing one anytime soon if they ever go with 3G, I think edge is working fine for them and i believe they are going to stick to it at least for the next couple years.

The updates that I would worry about if you are concerned, is stuff like, longer lasting battery, better camera resolution, bigger hard drive .. besides these, most of the updates will be software based.. like I said at least for the next couple year.

One thing that you can check it out youtube, "3G vs edge" and you can see that edge iphone is faster than 3g smart phone, 3G phone will suck up the battery way faster that what you think.

Hope this helps.

Amine

Everybody is talking a 3G iphone, but I seriously don't think apple is releasing one anytime soon if they ever go with 3G, I think edge is working fine for them and i believe they are going to stick to it at least for the next couple years.

The only problem with that is Apple has no choice but to release a 3G iPhone if they expect to get in to certain markets. For example, all mobile providers are Japan have 3G networks. If Apple sticks with Edge then they will never enter the Japanese market, a highly unlikely prospect methinks.

I believe, but am not completely certain, the same can be said for some European markets.

I suspect Apple is working on, and will release later this year, an iPhone which supports 3G. This is not to say that such a device will be available in the U.S., but that one will be made available.

Hopefully that somewhere turns out to be Japan because I sure would like me an iPhone!

I'm about to bite the bullet and get one as well.

The way I figure it, by the time they come out with a 3g version, I pawn mine off on ebay or craigslist, and get the new one. Sure I end up spending another $100 or so through losses+upgrade cost, maybe more... but I'll have been using all those awesome features in the meantime. How much is that worth?

Thanks for the feedback guys, it's much appreciated.

How can you upgrade from a 2.5g iPhone to a 3g iPhone before you 2.5g contract is up?

The length of the contracts was my biggest problem with the whole thing -- 24 months is just far too long for consumer electronics -- and, of course, much of the price of the handset (apparently) is built into the monthly rate AT&T takes from legitimate customers.

So surely if you want to upgrade, you're going to add an additional 24 months onto your contract when you're just a few months through your initial contract... you're going to end up with a 32-38+month lock-in.

And if you want to stay bleeding-edge, when the iPhone v3 comes out for Christmas, you'll have to do exactly the same.

Perhaps for some of you this seems like a fair price to pay for the iPhone, but if you keep upgrading like that over 10 years, you'll have an additional 30 years of contract to pay off! With no included handset upgrades.

How can you upgrade from a 2.5g iPhone to a 3g iPhone before you 2.5g contract is up?

Simply swapping SIM cards won't work?

Oli,

Here in the states there's only a couple options for not having a contract. Virgin Mobile and a few pre-paid options are the only things that exist where you do not sign a contract. Virgin Mobile uses sprint's network, which is nice in the cities but non existent a lot of places. That's changing, just slowly. So if you have a phone, you generally have a contract. Generally if you get to the end of your contract the rates will suddenly jack way up until you sign another one (happened to me twice over the years.)

It'll be interesting to see what the requirements are contractually for upgrading the phone, but I doubt they'll be new contracts. In the past with at&t I've always been able to "start fresh." I've had a phone that would die, need a new one, and get a huge discount if I sign another 2 year--but that wasn't added on to my existing time, it took the place of it. I've been with at&t 5 years now because they've had the best coverage the places I travel, and face it, customer service in the cell industry is non existent, so I might as well stay with the devil I know. My contract is actually up again in a few days. I'm watching to see if my rates change magically like they usually do.

@amine - Everybody is talking a 3G iphone, but I seriously don't think apple is releasing one anytime soon if they ever go with 3G

They've already announced it.

"In not so unexpected news, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson confirmed that a 3G capable iPhone will be launched in 2008." [link & another link]

They will go with 3G at some point - it wouldn't make sense not to. Unless they intend to base their business plans on WiMax or something similar instead.

@JPhill - Simply swapping SIM cards won't work?

No, the technology is different. One of the main reasons they didn't create a 3G phone to begin with was battery life — current 3G tech sucks batteries dry fast. However, there've been significant (I've heard but not confirmed) advances in that area since the first iPhone debuted.

Ozone, I'm not saying that contracts are bad things completely. I would have never been able to afford my n95 at full price (£600 at that time). It was a lot easier to afford subsidised on a contract (which I'd realistically need anyway) at £30/month for 18 months.

It'll be interesting to see what the requirements are contractually for upgrading the phone, but I doubt they'll be new contracts. In the past with at&t I've always been able to "start fresh." I've had a phone that would die, need a new one, and get a huge discount if I sign another 2 year--but that wasn't added on to my existing time, it took the place of it.

Well I hope - for your sake - that's still the case because legally speaking, they can hold you to the initial contract. I had a phone break and to replace it I had to extend my contract to have it replaced for free.

For Apple and AT&T it really is in their best interest to hold you to the contract. Apple gets a rumoured $430-odd per contract over the 2 years to pay for the unit on top of the upfront costs, and AT&T would naturally want to keep you for as long as possible on a high-cost tariff.

There is always the option to hack open the activation, unless of course AT&T grows a brain cell and realises that they shouldn't be letting Apple hand out the phones without getting people signed into contracts.

Regarding your rates: the mobile phone industry in the US is completely fucked if they can just go around wanging up the rates at the end of your contract. Here almost everybody lets you keep the contract you had on a monthly basis, indefinitely (unless they're doing something with all their services or you had an introductory offer). Is there just no [real] competition for customers there?

One of the main reasons they didn't create a 3G phone to begin with was battery life — current 3G tech sucks batteries dry fast.

Faster but not too fast. I've had 3 3g phones over the years including my n95, all precursing the iPhone and all of those had a significant enough battery.

Coverage and money on AT&T's end is more likely the reason. Why bundle the feature when you have to pay billions to deploy it and you could just speed up EDGE for a smidgin of the price? And to charge enthusiasts twice, of course =)

There's competition, it's just that none of them are bothering to innovate and take the markets.

We're seeing some interesting activity in the past couple years with the growth of pay-as-you-go plans, and providers starting to let you in without a contract for decent rates. The big providers are now working at unlimited plans, so there's a lot of hope for the future.

If you travel much your main options are verizon and at&t. They both have horrendous customer service, and similar rates/plans. The smaller providers like sprint and t-mobile are fine if you're in large enough cities and don't drive between them. Then you've got all the local providers which will give you cheap unlimited service in their metro area and no where else.

Wait for 3G...

The only problem with that is Apple has no choice but to release a 3G iPhone if they expect to get in to certain markets. For example, all mobile providers are Japan have 3G networks. If Apple sticks with Edge then they will never enter the Japanese market, a highly unlikely prospect methinks.

Good Point.

@Oli - [3G sucks battery] Faster but not too fast. I've had 3 3g phones over the years including my n95, all precursing the iPhone and all of those had a significant enough battery.

Dude, the N95 doesn't have the Badass Screen from Hell™! Or a 620Mhz processor.

Even if you're in the middle of your Cingular contract, you can still upgrade to an iPhone at anytime because it doesn't come with a discount when renewing your plan.

When I called AT&T they told me that no matter where you were in your pre-existing contract, you have to start fresh with a new iPhone.

But then again, you have to take into account the possible ignorance of the employee.

In case anyones still interested.

CNET reports that a 3G iPhone is set to release midyear.

As the iPhone turns

The iPhone came out on June 29th of last year, and I think the rumors of a 3G version started on July 1st. I have a 4GB iPhone and if/when a 3G version ships, I most likely won't buy one, because I don't need it. Most of the time on most days I'm in Wi-Fi coverage or sitting in front of my computer, so surfing is covered. I've found EDGE to be fine for checking my email or the weather, or logging into my bank to get my balance. If there's a 3G version out by the time my contract is up (which there most likely will be), I might upgrade then, but as it stands I don't even need increased storage since my 30GB iPod is chugging along fine and I have yet to find an iPhone accessory to make nice with my car stereo.

The other issue is I don't know how good AT&T's 3G coverage is, so unless your area is blanketed in it, you may end up with w 3G-capable phone that is running on EDGE anyway. I agree that 3G is necessary for certain markets, I just don't know if the US as a whole is there yet.

So if you can afford to wait and you absolutely-positively-have-to-have-3G-or-your-life-is-in-danger, then wait. Either we'll see one come June with 2.0, or some special event later.

By the by, from what I've heard from some Apple folks, you can purchase a new iPhone and not extend your contract. Swap the SIM and put in a call to AT&T.

I got an iphone last week. I'm enjoying it.

I added the $20/month additional data plan to my existing calling plan. My contract did not reset. I don't know if that was due to a mistake or not.

Well, it seems like the 3G iPhone might be coming in June, according to Walt Mossberg (You can hear him say it around 6m 50s into the movie). I'm not sue if this means people have to purchase new phones to get 3G or if this is something that can be one as a software upgrade. If it means a new iPhone, I think I might go with the Nokia...not sure.

I'm not sue if this means people have to purchase new phones to get 3G or if this is something that can be one as a software upgrade.

I strongly doubt that Apple included the 3G kit into the first-gen phone. It would have been too expensive to license and not use (considering they have been taking a lot of criticism over the lack of 3g)

Yeah, that's what I thought Oli. I was hoping because I haven't had mine that long. Ironically it is due to come out approximately a year after it launched (time to get a new phone!). For the money, the Nokia is a smarter purchase (for me). I purchased the phone thinking Flash would be added relatively soon. Since that isn't happening (last I read) I can easily move on lol.

There has been speculation that Steve will possibly be announcing it on June 10th for a final release in July but I find that hard to believe. Although I have to say that iPhones are surprisingly becoming scarce here in NYC if you're looking for one.

Jorgeq: I think that a 3G iPhone will be announced then as well, it makes sense with the massive iPhone shortages across NYC and other metropolitan areas at the moment.

...and it would coincide nicely with their 2.0 upgrade in firmware if it was announced in June.

Great, now I'm going to have to spend more money on a 3G one.

If it's any consolation, I'm certain there's going to be a market for cheap second-hand, contract-free, first-gen iPhones on Ebay. Can't say how much money you'll be looking at though.

New, unlocked ones still seem to be going at the ~$500 mark so if you could get something near that, it's a lot better than a kick in the teeth. I dare say this price will start to plummet nearer summer though.

Can someone help me out and tell me what people would be missing with 3G? Just seems like a tech that has buzz, but nobody really knows how it will benefit them. You have WiFi on the iPhone, what else do you need?

@Tyme: No Flash would make you leave your iPhone? That seems silly to me considering I can't think of a single time I would use my phone and have to go to a site that requires Flash. Just one of those features nobody cares about until someone brings it up then people start thinking they need it when they really don't.

Yeah I can't think of any sites I go to regularly on my iPhone that use Flash.

I've seen side-by-side tests done with the iPhone's EDGE vs. a Treo's 3G and the EDGE service beats out 3G downloads of websites many times, so I don't exactly see what the speed difference will be. The only real positive I see to including 3G is to check off that feature that caused some people (mainly analysts) to write the iPhone off.

I've NEVER needed Flash functionality to the point where I felt I was being held back by the Mobile Safari app.

If I run into a blog that uses embedded video files or some such I simply load up my iTransmogrify bookmarklet and BAM, they work.

So 3G is just another tech to download stuff?

No Flash, to me, is a sign of progression (lack of). It doesn't have Flash, video, MMS messaging, camera options...there is a lot the iPhone STILL doesn't have. How many generations is the iPhone from video? Beautiful wide-screen and I couldn't even show anyone my own videos because of the Flash player.

The Nokia (and I have to research this) has everything I'll need for a while, meaning if they come out with a new one I won't necessarily feel the need to upgrade. I can see myself streaming video back so the kids can help me pick our new home real-time. Sending back videos of our new neighborhood, the city, etc. I can see a lot of uses for the streaming video.

My iPhone won't go to waste. My Mom would enjoy it unless she wants a Nokia (if she does, that is what she'll get) or my daughter can get the iPhone.

I believe there is the possibility of faster data speeds with 3G. Here is a quick definition of 3G. I don't think there's a huge infrastructure setup for 3G right now in the US (I could be wrong), but I don't think it's as widely available as the EDGE network, which could explain with maybe and EDGE phone beat out a 3G phone with loading sites.

What do you mean by video? Meaning record your own?

I figured it being a full-featured iPod where you can listen to music and watch video you put on it would trump using it as a shitty video camera. Lack of MMS is lame, but again I still don't see Flash as progression. If other phones can do it great, but most phones can't do what the iPhone can do already.

Guess it comes down to what you value. If you just want the phone with the most features just so you can say you have the most features then I guess you go looking for the phone with the most checkboxes.

I guess Flash wouldn't be a big deal to me because I don't see myself needing to access a specific video on whatever site to show my friends on my phone.

I really don't want flash on my iPhone. I'd love to see some video apps (recording,) and I have no doubt we will very quickly after the SDK finalizes.

The iPhone does have quicktime, so it can play a handful of codecs natively. Expanding that capability will be nice.

3G is a faster data network, that's it. It eats a lot more power to use it, which is the main reason it wasn't included in the initial go. If the batteries are better in iphone 2.0, then 3g is likely.

And don't look at this as me defending the iPhone because I don't even have one, I just found it interesting that Flash was a needed feature.

Beautiful wide-screen and I couldn't even show anyone my own videos because of the Flash player.

What videos? I'm able to pull up everything you've got on YouTube under your account, no problems... and anything embedded here in Notes pops up without issue thanks to this.

@Scrivs - Yes, with a Nokia I can record and stream it using Qik. There is a chat box on the profile page so the people I tell the view me live can interact with me. I can automatically upload videos to share with others even if I do not let them know I am recording it at the moment.

Again, Flash came into play when I uploaded videos and I couldn't show them when I wanted to. Most people start looking at other options when they, personally, are unable to do what they want to do or they want to do other things. For me video is important in the upcoming months. I think the iPhone will eventually get there and who knows, perhaps I will buy another one. Because I want to be mobile with images and video, a faster connection and a phone that can do it is important.

@RightOn - thanks for the link. I'll check it out. :)

Getting this discussion back on track...iPhone is rumored to be 3G in 60 days!

So 3G is just another tech to download stuff?

I'm not sure what the latest EDGE speeds are at, but HDSPA caps out at ~15mbps with scope (with network upgrades) for something closer to 50mbps. Absolute insane speed.

My old Blackberry was 3G and I didn't notice any difference between it and EDGE on my iPhone. Perhaps 3G speeds in the US are a lot different than abroad?

in the us there is very limited 3g coverage area. In the right areas the speed is great!

Just bought one. omg, why did i wait this long???

heaven <3