Quanta lands orders for future iPhone - report

[AppleInsider]

Taiwanese notebook manufacturer Quanta Computer has secured a contract with Apple Inc. to build the first successor to the iPhone, according to reports.

On Tuesday, Taiwan's two largest financial newspapers said the company, which already manufacturers certain MacBook models for Apple, will start churning out iPhones this September at an initial run rate of about 5 million handsets.

Both the Chinese-language Commercial Times and Economic Daily News reported that Apple is also scheduled to take delivery of the new handset starting in September, but neither cited sources.

The reports added that "the second-generation device" will reportedly offer "a different outer design to fit different markets."

In an ensuing statement, Quanta said that while it is taking measures to win new orders and increase business, it does not comment on rumors due to confidentiality agreements with customers.

Meanwhile, DigiTimes cited a source at Quanta who claims the company has not won orders for the iPhone yet, but it's vigorously competing to do so.

Apple's inaugural iPhone handset, due in late June, is believed to be manufactured by Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.).

Quanta is presently the world's largest contract notebook PC manufacturer.

[andrewcod]

Digg it

[kenaustus]

Wasn't Apple rumored a year or so ago the plan on a flash model first, followed by a HD model about 6 months later? Sounds logical to me, especially with the potential load of music, pics, movies, etc that could be downloaded onto the iPhone.

Looks like the Holiday buying season is going to be a good one for Apple.

[retroneo]

cool, I guess this is the HSDPA version that Apple promised would follow "shortly" after the first version.

This will be suitable for Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia!

[babaroo]

I'll bet that this is not the next gen iPhone, but the next gen iPod. These asian "news" sources are always off in some way, but always kinda close. Combine this news with the current crop of next gen iPod rumors...you see where this is going.

[nvidia2008]

3g 3g 3g 3g

[SpinDrift]

I got there first!

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=74865

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by SpinDrift

I got there first!

Yeah true, that's what I was thinking, I say merge these threads. I also second that it will be 3G, and the exterior will look the same.

[EagerDragon]

Not very likely a second gen of the iPhone.
With the iPhone coming out middle to end of June, the phone would be about 90 days only on the market before this new one comes out.

I highly dougth it.

This may be an international version possibly with 3G and what ever Japan uses (don't know what it is).

It can also be the 6G iPod.

But not likely a 2nd gen of the iPhone.

[Zandros]

Originally Posted by EagerDragon

Not very likely a second gen of the iPhone.
With the iPhone coming out middle to end of June, the phone would be about 90 days only on the market before this new one comes out.

Remember, they need FCC approval on this one too.

/Adrian

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by Zandros

Remember, they need FCC approval on this one too.

/Adrian

Thanks, this makes it even less likely that it will be a second gen.

New versions of the phone for USA use will need to be pre anounce, they need to send the new versions for FCC approval as Adrian pointed out.

We should know about the new versions if any shortly after Apple sends them to the FCC and the word will come from Apple.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by kenaustus

Wasn't Apple rumored a year or so ago the plan on a flash model first, followed by a HD model about 6 months later? Sounds logical to me, especially with the potential load of music, pics, movies, etc that could be downloaded onto the iPhone.

I don't ever remember seeing that rumor. I kind of doubt it. The 1.8" hard drives seem to be pretty prone to failure, and I think it would add another 1/4" to the thickness of the device because it needs a bigger battery and that the drive is about twice as thick as a card with memory chips on it.

[smokeonit]

3g and gps!!!!

[DanUK]

If the iPhone arrives in the UK with 3G that will be perfect and completely make up for the 3 month delay compared to the US release.

But one question still remains utterly unanswered... we can't cope with the uncertainty... we're holding on to old handsets not wanting to get into another 12 month contract...

Which network will Apple go with?????????????

Do they have a sense of fun and see the possibility of an Apple-Orange marriage? Will it just be a stand-alone handset with no affiliation to a network?

I crave information! (although in the absence of information, wild, glorious speculation will do).

(ps my 1st post felt really good)

[ajhill]

Another 5 million handsets ON TOP OF the 6 Million original shipment (which has an option for 6 million more before years end). For a company that said it hoped to sell 10 million in the first year and a half, they sure are ordering a lot up front (11-16 million). I think their 10 million is just a ploy to set the bar low. They are currently making 11 million, do you really think they are going to get them around for another year before they sell?

Apple has a history of setting the bar low and then smashing expectations. But when they put their money where their mouths are you gotta admire that.

This huge upfront buy of handsets bodes well for competitive pricing on their monthly plans. They will be low, because Verizon turned them down because Apple simply was asking too much. Cingular/Att was obviously more hungry for new subscribers. A better long-term strategy.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by Ireland

I also second that it will be 3G, and the exterior will look the same.

It can't be the same AND 3G, unless they've found some way of hiding a front facing camera.

Originally Posted by Zandros

Remember, they need FCC approval on this one too.

Only if it's for the USA. If is for Europe, they don't. Since you lot don't need a 3G GSM phone just yet, no big deal.

Originally Posted by DanUK

Do they have a sense of fun and see the possibility of an Apple-Orange marriage? Will it just be a stand-alone handset with no affiliation to a network?

I hope not to both of those. It'll need a good data plan, and Orange doesn't have one of those and if they just sell it standalone it will be prohibitively expensive.

Today I was out in Manchester and Orange would give me a free N95 and a free photo frame for signing up and free unlimited text and evening calls. Completely pointless I told them - I want free data not £75 a month EXTRA for an unlimited plan. Looks like it'll be T-Mobile for me next - free N95, cheaper plan and 'unlimited' data for £7.50 a month. And £100 cash for an old nokia handset that's about 6 year old as trade in.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by ajhill

For a company that said it hoped to sell 10 million in the first year and a half, they sure are ordering a lot up front (11-16 million).

Perhaps they're expecting a lot to fail and need replacing. It is an Apple 1st gen product after all

[smokeonit]

there's gonna be 2 models!

usa: edge and wifi
eu: 3g, wifi and gps

;-)

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

It can't be the same AND 3G, unless they've found some way of hiding a front facing camera.

What are you talking about? A camera is one of the uses of 3G, it's not 3G. 3G in Europe is mainly used for fast internet access, or mobile TV.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by smokeonit

there's gonna be 2 models!

usa: edge and wifi
eu: 3g, wifi and gps

;-)

When I think two models, I think iPhone and iPhone nano, not just the chips inside the phones. Hmmm chips!

[Zandros]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

Only if it's for the USA. If is for Europe, they don't. Since you lot don't need a 3G GSM phone just yet, no big deal.

Not quite sure what you try to say with this one, but I'm European, Swedish in fact. I assume they want to make sure it is CE-approved, but that won't take particulary long time.

[SpinDrift]

Originally Posted by Zandros

Not quite sure what you try to say with this one, but I'm European, Swedish in fact. I assume they want to make sure it is CE-approved, but that won't take particulary long time.

I think he was referring to the aging US networks.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by Ireland

What are you talking about? A camera is one of the uses of 3G, it's not 3G. 3G in Europe is mainly used for fast internet access, or mobile TV.

Name one 3G Cameraphone that does not also have a front facing camera for video calls. Apple, inventor of the iSight and all things iChat would certainly look a bit foolish not having one in it's 3G phone.

Originally Posted by Zandros

Not quite sure what you try to say with this one, but I'm European, Swedish in fact. I assume they want to make sure it is CE-approved, but that won't take particulary long time.

The original poster said the phone would have to be FCC approved. Obviously it doesn't if it's not intended for the USA. CE approval is another matter of course.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

It can't be the same AND 3G, unless they've found some way of hiding a front facing camera.

Is it part of the 3G standard, or just a de-facto standard feature of 3G devices?

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Is it part of the 3G standard, or just a de-facto standard feature of 3G devices?

It's not part of the standard but almost every phone sold that is a 3G phone, in Europe anyway, is marketed on it's ability to have a video phone conversation. Obviously you can't do that without a front facing camera above the screen. I don't know of a single non-business phone (ie. one that has a back camera) that doesn't have a front camera for video calling. They've all had them from the very first 3G bricks.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

It's not part of the standard but almost every phone sold that is a 3G phone, in Europe anyway, is marketed on it's ability to have a video phone conversation. Obviously you can't do that without a front facing camera above the screen. I don't know of a single non-business phone (ie. one that has a back camera) that doesn't have a front camera for video calling. They've all had them from the very first 3G bricks.

How much is that feature used? It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to watch video footage captured from any camera small enough to be put into a phone. That said, YouTube is pretty popular, and that's about as good as I would expect from a compact video phone w/ a 1 mm lens.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

Name one 3G Cameraphone that does not also have a front facing camera for video calls. Apple, inventor of the iSight and all things iChat would certainly look a bit foolish not having one in it's 3G phone.

Yeah, cause they certainly looked foolish with no fm tuner or built-in mic in their iPod's.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

How much is that feature used? It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to watch video footage captured from any camera small enough to be put into a phone. That said, YouTube is pretty popular, and that's about as good as I would expect from a compact video phone w/ a 1 mm lens.

You misunderstand. In most 3G phones sold here there are TWO cameras. A megapixel camera on the back. Typically 2-3mp but 3-5 is more typical on 3G phones released this year from European phone companies.

The second camera is front facing - ie. back straight at you like a built in iSight camera in an Apple laptop. Typically they are no more than VGA at best since they don't really have to be high quality.

Very few people make video calls because a) they don't want to appear on video and b) the call charges are higher than voice.

However, that's not the only reason they are there. Phone carriers in Europe spent a fortune buying 3G airspace and another fortune on new masts. To recoup that cost they want users making more expensive video calls and MMS. That's partly why they are there.

Originally Posted by Ireland

Yeah, cause they certainly looked foolish with no fm tuner or built-in mic in their iPod's.

You just look like an arse equating the phone market of 2007 with the mp3 player market of 2001.

[badNameErr]

"a different outer design to fit different markets"

IPhone nano for sure. Or maybe the iPhone Pro.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

You misunderstand. In most 3G phones sold here there are TWO cameras. A megapixel camera on the back. Typically 2-3mp but 3-5 is more typical on 3G phones released this year from European phone companies.

The second camera is front facing - ie. back straight at you like a built in iSight camera in an Apple laptop. Typically they are no more than VGA at best since they don't really have to be high quality.

Very few people make video calls because a) they don't want to appear on video and b) the call charges are higher than voice.

However, that's not the only reason they are there. Phone carriers in Europe spent a fortune buying 3G airspace and another fortune on new masts. To recoup that cost they want users making more expensive video calls and MMS. That's partly why they are there.

Maybe I don't misunderstand, if it's a feature that no one uses, then it's a feature that doesn't need to be there. It's hard to look reasonable in asking for a feature that no one uses, that is only there in the hopes that someone is willing to be on a video phone and spend a lot of money doing so. That does call into question why Apple includes a camera on all their notebooks though. I've never seen anyone use it for anything other than a few minutes of inane PhotoBooth amusement.

[Amorya]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

How much is that feature used? It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to watch video footage captured from any camera small enough to be put into a phone. That said, YouTube is pretty popular, and that's about as good as I would expect from a compact video phone w/ a 1 mm lens.

Hardly ever. I've used mine once to see if it worked. It did... but I never felt the need to use it again!

[wizard69]

OK wishful thinking I know, but I'd really love to see an iPhone that has a clip on battery arrangement. The idea being that a commercial user would rather swap a battery and leave the old one in a charger and keep going with the iPhone. It is common in two way radios used commercially and would really open up the markets that this phone could slip into.

So what I'm suggesting is an iP{hone HARD HAT model.

Interestingly two way radios that can't do half of what the iPhone is going cost go for about the same amount. So for some markets the iPhone isn't priced that bad. Of course you need a service contract with the phone company and that is an issue.

Dave

[SpamSandwich]

It's the Cisco/Apple branded iPhone... CONFIRMED!

[Zandros]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

The original poster said the phone would have to be FCC approved. Obviously it doesn't if it's not intended for the USA. CE approval is another matter of course.

Well, duh, I am the original poster. It just read like you assumed I was American. "You lot..."

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

The original poster said the phone would have to be FCC approved. Obviously it doesn't if it's not intended for the USA. CE approval is another matter of course.

Even if a revision might not be sold in the US, wouldn't it also get FCC & Asian certifications so that travelers can use it overseas?

[SpinDrift]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Even if a revision might not be sold in the US, wouldn't it also get FCC & Asian certifications so that travelers can use it overseas?

It doesn't have to be FCC approved for use, it just has to be FCC approved so you can sell the things.