Apple's white iPhone 4 coming in 'next few weeks'
A new report claims that Apple will finally begin selling the white iPhone 4 by the end of April after having resolved manufacturing challenges that resulted in a 10-month delay.
Citing people familiar with Apple's plans, Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the white iPhone is nearly ready for launch on both AT&T and Verizon, corroborating an earlier report from AppleInsider that the device would launch in April.
Update: Reuters reported on Thursday that Apple's suppliers have begun production of the white iPhone 4, according to "two people familiar with the situation."
In March, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told AppleInsider that a full-lamination problem had prompted necessary changes to the film material on the white iPhone 4, resulting in a now 10-month delay.
The report also tracks with a Twitter message posted by Apple VP Phil Schiller last month. "The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)," Schiller said.
Earlier this year, AppleInsider learned that Apple had turned to a Japanese company to craft a new paint material in order to overcome the manufacturing problems of the white iPhone 4.
Apple repeatedly delayed the product in 2010, citing manufacturing issues. Last October, the company announced that the white iPhone 4 would not arrive until spring 2011.
The extended delay of the white iPhone 4 has prompted speculation that Apple will hold off on releasing a redesigned iPhone this summer. Numerous rumors have now suggested that Apple will instead release the so-called iPhone 5 this fall, with one report suggesting that Apple would not release a next-generation iPhone until after Apple's fiscal 2012 begins in late September.
The Feb. 10 release of the CDMA iPhone 4 on Verizon has also fueled rumors that Apple will choose not to refresh the iPhone this summer. Pundits questioned whether an iPhone update just 4 to 5 months after the Verizon iPhone launch would anger customers who signed 2-year contracts.
The Cupertino, Calif., iPhone maker has historically released a new version of its bestselling smartphone every summer in June or July. Last week, analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities noted that Apple is "keeping its iPhone 5 cards extra close to the vest" in order to avoid a slump in iPhone 4 demand ahead of a refresh.
Insiders connected to Taiwan-based touch panel makers indicated Wednesday that Apple has yet to provide them with a production roadmap for the next iPhone. The sources were split, however, as to the interpretation of the situation. Some believe that Apple will release a slightly modified iPhone 4 this summer, while others speculated that a "major overhaul" would come at a later date.
Citing people familiar with Apple's plans, Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the white iPhone is nearly ready for launch on both AT&T and Verizon, corroborating an earlier report from AppleInsider that the device would launch in April.
Update: Reuters reported on Thursday that Apple's suppliers have begun production of the white iPhone 4, according to "two people familiar with the situation."
In March, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told AppleInsider that a full-lamination problem had prompted necessary changes to the film material on the white iPhone 4, resulting in a now 10-month delay.
The report also tracks with a Twitter message posted by Apple VP Phil Schiller last month. "The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)," Schiller said.
Earlier this year, AppleInsider learned that Apple had turned to a Japanese company to craft a new paint material in order to overcome the manufacturing problems of the white iPhone 4.
Apple repeatedly delayed the product in 2010, citing manufacturing issues. Last October, the company announced that the white iPhone 4 would not arrive until spring 2011.
The extended delay of the white iPhone 4 has prompted speculation that Apple will hold off on releasing a redesigned iPhone this summer. Numerous rumors have now suggested that Apple will instead release the so-called iPhone 5 this fall, with one report suggesting that Apple would not release a next-generation iPhone until after Apple's fiscal 2012 begins in late September.
The Feb. 10 release of the CDMA iPhone 4 on Verizon has also fueled rumors that Apple will choose not to refresh the iPhone this summer. Pundits questioned whether an iPhone update just 4 to 5 months after the Verizon iPhone launch would anger customers who signed 2-year contracts.
The Cupertino, Calif., iPhone maker has historically released a new version of its bestselling smartphone every summer in June or July. Last week, analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities noted that Apple is "keeping its iPhone 5 cards extra close to the vest" in order to avoid a slump in iPhone 4 demand ahead of a refresh.
Insiders connected to Taiwan-based touch panel makers indicated Wednesday that Apple has yet to provide them with a production roadmap for the next iPhone. The sources were split, however, as to the interpretation of the situation. Some believe that Apple will release a slightly modified iPhone 4 this summer, while others speculated that a "major overhaul" would come at a later date.
Comments
I've been waiting for four years to buy an iPhone because it didn't come in white.
Black iPhones are teh suck!
Finally I can get an iPhone!!!!!
I am sooooooooo glad the press has been keeping such close tabs on this!!!!1!!11!
</snark>
This is the most exciting news ever!!!!!
I've been waiting for four years to buy an iPhone because it didn't come in white.
Black iPhones are teh suck!
Finally I can get an iPhone!!!!!
I am sooooooooo glad the press has been keeping such close tabs on this!!!!1!!11!
</snark>
Nice try at a joke, but the previous iPhone was sold in white
So, waiting 4 years..... no.
Nice try at a joke, but the previous iPhone was sold in white
So, waiting 4 years..... no.
Yeah, nice sense of humor you got there.
The Cupertino, Calif., iPhone maker has historically released a new version of its bestselling smartphone every summer in June or July. Last week, analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities noted that Apple is "keeping its iPhone 5 cards extra close to the vest" in order to avoid a slump in iPhone 4 demand ahead of a refresh.
The trouble with the above is that Apple has generally kept their cards close (and woukdn't have last year if not for gizmodo's not so legal stunt) and yet folks still stop buying phones in April and may because they 'know' the new one is coming soon
YES, but what happened to the fact that Apple just pulled the white iPhone from its store last week???
I think those were just lingering images. They did the major removal last October.They may have taken a whole new set of pics for this release, which I hear uses a different process and paint so the colour may be slightly different (not that we?d be able to tell the difference).
YES, but what happened to the fact that Apple just pulled the white iPhone from its store last week???
What is this senseless comment supposed to be? Funny NOT, Sarcasm NO, Pointless YES!
Intrigued to see this post today, since I can say with certainty that I saw a white iPhone 4 in the wild today, on a Brooklyn-bound 3 train just after 3 pm. And yes it was a white face iPhone 4, not a white backed iPhone 3. The guy who was using it was keeping it pretty close to his chest. I tried to be non-chalant about checking it out, but he noticed me noticing the iPhone, and immediately slipped it into his pocket.
Did the mystery man look like this...... http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...=1&FORM=IDFRIR
Intrigued to see this post today, since I can say with certainty that I saw a white iPhone 4 in the wild today, on a Brooklyn-bound 3 train just after 3 pm. And yes it was a white face iPhone 4, not a white backed iPhone 3. The guy who was using it was keeping it pretty close to his chest. I tried to be non-chalant about checking it out, but he noticed me noticing the iPhone, and immediately slipped it into his pocket.
Its an after market hack. Available from any number of Chinese vendors for about n$20 a side. I know because I'm sporting a aluminum back for my iP4 with all the illegal apple logos and markings. i have a leather back and a white back/front for when i get bored.