I was listening to an Engadget podcast today in which they interviewed the product manager for Microsoft Windows Mobile. The whole thing got me thinking about how Apple really needs to do something for the mobile market. I'm sure it's a nightmare, though, for Apple to negotiate with the cell carriers. They'll probably want to do the whole thing themselves, from the OS to the hardware to the service. I fear they will take to long to get to market, when all kinds of cool stuff is happening right now.
I was listening to an Engadget podcast today in which they interviewed the product manager for Microsoft Windows Mobile. The whole thing got me thinking about how Apple really needs to do something for the mobile market. I'm sure it's a nightmare, though, for Apple to negotiate with the cell carriers. They'll probably want to do the whole thing themselves, from the OS to the hardware to the service. I fear they will take to long to get to market, when all kinds of cool stuff is happening right now.
They don't HAVE to deal with carriers if they don't want to. All they need to do is make it GSM compatible and you simply insert your SIM card from any GSM carrier and you are ready to go.
GSM would be the likely target since GSM is the worldwide standard. There are now many unlocked GSM phones you can buy that have no connection to a carrier.
Alas, as the Macbook Pro doesn't have said GSM slot, it is unlikely to appear elsewhere.
Yes, I agree; Apple does not need to deal with carriers for subsidizing. Apple customers are used to paying for an original Apple product.
However; I should remind those who do believe this to be a requirement in order to enter the phone market, there is that EarthLink and SK Telecom partnership that formed a US mobile virtual network called Helio. It is due for launch in about a month - give or take a week.
This new carrier will be very different from the other existing carriers and is predicted to give consumers a greater degree of choices/flexibility.
Also worth noting that Apple has an 8% share of Earthlink. I believe 8% is what is required to have a controlling interest in a company.
Anyone know what network Helio are based on? If its Cingular's GSM network then I can imagine them getting together with Apple. If its CDMA like Amp'd or Virgin Mobile then suddenly Apple has a phone that doesn't work with the majority of the world market.
Anyone know what network Helio are based on? If its Cingular's GSM network then I can imagine them getting together with Apple. If its CDMA like Amp'd or Virgin Mobile then suddenly Apple has a phone that doesn't work with the majority of the world market.
Virgin are GSM here so can do both. If I were Apple I'd go GSM '2.5G' as 3G isn't taking off. Throw in Wifi/Bluetooth and you have a nice package - think HTC Wizard or SE P990 but running OS X Mobile.
People will happily buy sim-free unlocked phones, and I think the carriers would ask Apple for license to resell.
The Earthlink connection is interesting, but unless the Helios network is GSM I would be surprised if Apple used it.
T-Mobile would be an interesting choice for them to partner with though. TMO has just won JD Powers best call quality for three years in a row. They also have several years of best customer service awards as well. Add to that the fact that they have a strong overseas presence and also are in a similar position to Apple as far as the David and Goliath scenario goes...
That said, I think it is most likely that Apple would release it carrier free and then have the GSM players fight to carry it. As someone mentioned, Apple users are used to paying for their hardware and it seems unlikely that Apple would connect itself to a carrier and the potential bad press that goes with it; especially Cingular and their horrid network.
Perhaps an Apple branded virtual carrier setup where the device would only work with Apple's carrier. That is more Steve's style. Sole source and Apple has total control.
Virgin are GSM here so can do both. If I were Apple I'd go GSM '2.5G' as 3G isn't taking off. Throw in Wifi/Bluetooth and you have a nice package - think HTC Wizard or SE P990 but running OS X Mobile.
Sorry I was talking about the USA, where Virgin are based on CDMA, using Sprint's network. It appears that Helios are also based on CDMA, so I would suggest that rules out a link between them and any Apple iPhone.
EDIT: There are some phones that can do both CDMA and GSM, but I would imagine this costs more, and the CDMA market is really tiny compared to the global GSM market.
As someone mentioned, Apple users are used to paying for their hardware and it seems unlikely that Apple would connect itself to a carrier and the potential bad press that goes with it
Yeah, I was the one that mentioned that.
Quote:
Originally posted by Corey
Perhaps an Apple branded virtual carrier setup where the device would only work with Apple's carrier. That is more Steve's style. Sole source and Apple has total control.
This link COULD stand as evidence that Apple will eventually be providing their own satellite service. AstroVision, together with the Australian Government, have contracted Apple Computer over a year ago to provide the research and the technology in order to supply them with "continuous, high-resolution and true-colour motion imagery and data" from a satellite. (Maybe I should have posted this info in some sort of "Apple branded movie download service" thread.) We know that Apple is capable of providing for such a service; the question now is, will they bring it to us at a consumer level. The odds are, "yes" (that is my opinion anyway). They excel at serving the consumer market.
Perhaps this is the reason for their recent purchases of the 90,000-square-foot data-center in Santa Clara and the 107,000 square-foot facility in Newark.
This link COULD stand as evidence that Apple will eventually be providing their own satellite service. AstroVision, together with the Australian Government, have contracted Apple Computer over a year ago to provide the research and the technology in order to supply them with "continuous, high-resolution and true-colour motion imagery and data" from a satellite. (Maybe I should have posted this info in some sort of "Apple branded movie download service" thread.) We know that Apple is capable of providing for such a service; the question now is, will they bring it to us at a consumer level. The odds are, "yes" (that is my opinion anyway). They excel at serving the consumer market.
Perhaps this is the reason for their recent purchases of the 90,000-square-foot data-center in Santa Clara and the 107,000 square-foot facility in Newark.
I cannot find (nor did I REALLY look?) the satellite photos, but I could swear that last I saw them there were a good number of really big satellite dishes that were part of the recently acquired data centers??
Comments
i've got a 770 and if it ran OSX (even a lite version), with bonjour etc it would be amazing.
Originally posted by othello
an apple version of the nokia 770 is what we need.
i've got a 770 and if it ran OSX (even a lite version), with bonjour etc it would be amazing.
Hell yes!
Originally posted by Silverlode
I was listening to an Engadget podcast today in which they interviewed the product manager for Microsoft Windows Mobile. The whole thing got me thinking about how Apple really needs to do something for the mobile market. I'm sure it's a nightmare, though, for Apple to negotiate with the cell carriers. They'll probably want to do the whole thing themselves, from the OS to the hardware to the service. I fear they will take to long to get to market, when all kinds of cool stuff is happening right now.
They don't HAVE to deal with carriers if they don't want to. All they need to do is make it GSM compatible and you simply insert your SIM card from any GSM carrier and you are ready to go.
GSM would be the likely target since GSM is the worldwide standard. There are now many unlocked GSM phones you can buy that have no connection to a carrier.
Alas, as the Macbook Pro doesn't have said GSM slot, it is unlikely to appear elsewhere.
Corey
However; I should remind those who do believe this to be a requirement in order to enter the phone market, there is that EarthLink and SK Telecom partnership that formed a US mobile virtual network called Helio. It is due for launch in about a month - give or take a week.
This new carrier will be very different from the other existing carriers and is predicted to give consumers a greater degree of choices/flexibility.
Also worth noting that Apple has an 8% share of Earthlink. I believe 8% is what is required to have a controlling interest in a company.
Originally posted by dr_lha
Anyone know what network Helio are based on? If its Cingular's GSM network then I can imagine them getting together with Apple. If its CDMA like Amp'd or Virgin Mobile then suddenly Apple has a phone that doesn't work with the majority of the world market.
Virgin are GSM here so can do both. If I were Apple I'd go GSM '2.5G' as 3G isn't taking off. Throw in Wifi/Bluetooth and you have a nice package - think HTC Wizard or SE P990 but running OS X Mobile.
People will happily buy sim-free unlocked phones, and I think the carriers would ask Apple for license to resell.
T-Mobile would be an interesting choice for them to partner with though. TMO has just won JD Powers best call quality for three years in a row. They also have several years of best customer service awards as well. Add to that the fact that they have a strong overseas presence and also are in a similar position to Apple as far as the David and Goliath scenario goes...
That said, I think it is most likely that Apple would release it carrier free and then have the GSM players fight to carry it. As someone mentioned, Apple users are used to paying for their hardware and it seems unlikely that Apple would connect itself to a carrier and the potential bad press that goes with it; especially Cingular and their horrid network.
Perhaps an Apple branded virtual carrier setup where the device would only work with Apple's carrier. That is more Steve's style. Sole source and Apple has total control.
Corey
Originally posted by Blackcat
Virgin are GSM here so can do both. If I were Apple I'd go GSM '2.5G' as 3G isn't taking off. Throw in Wifi/Bluetooth and you have a nice package - think HTC Wizard or SE P990 but running OS X Mobile.
Sorry I was talking about the USA, where Virgin are based on CDMA, using Sprint's network. It appears that Helios are also based on CDMA, so I would suggest that rules out a link between them and any Apple iPhone.
EDIT: There are some phones that can do both CDMA and GSM, but I would imagine this costs more, and the CDMA market is really tiny compared to the global GSM market.
Originally posted by Corey
As someone mentioned, Apple users are used to paying for their hardware and it seems unlikely that Apple would connect itself to a carrier and the potential bad press that goes with it
Yeah, I was the one that mentioned that.
Originally posted by Corey
Perhaps an Apple branded virtual carrier setup where the device would only work with Apple's carrier. That is more Steve's style. Sole source and Apple has total control.
This link COULD stand as evidence that Apple will eventually be providing their own satellite service. AstroVision, together with the Australian Government, have contracted Apple Computer over a year ago to provide the research and the technology in order to supply them with "continuous, high-resolution and true-colour motion imagery and data" from a satellite. (Maybe I should have posted this info in some sort of "Apple branded movie download service" thread.) We know that Apple is capable of providing for such a service; the question now is, will they bring it to us at a consumer level. The odds are, "yes" (that is my opinion anyway). They excel at serving the consumer market.
Perhaps this is the reason for their recent purchases of the 90,000-square-foot data-center in Santa Clara and the 107,000 square-foot facility in Newark.
Originally posted by rongold
Yeah, I was the one that mentioned that.
This link COULD stand as evidence that Apple will eventually be providing their own satellite service. AstroVision, together with the Australian Government, have contracted Apple Computer over a year ago to provide the research and the technology in order to supply them with "continuous, high-resolution and true-colour motion imagery and data" from a satellite. (Maybe I should have posted this info in some sort of "Apple branded movie download service" thread.) We know that Apple is capable of providing for such a service; the question now is, will they bring it to us at a consumer level. The odds are, "yes" (that is my opinion anyway). They excel at serving the consumer market.
Perhaps this is the reason for their recent purchases of the 90,000-square-foot data-center in Santa Clara and the 107,000 square-foot facility in Newark.
I cannot find (nor did I REALLY look?) the satellite photos, but I could swear that last I saw them there were a good number of really big satellite dishes that were part of the recently acquired data centers??