Cell Life

A report in tech publication Gizmodo on Thursday claimed that not only had the iPhone 3G been jailbroken but that the iPhone Dev Team had managed to unlock the phone, enabling people to use any carrier. At the moment, people wishing to use the iPhone must use Vodafone in India, O2 in the UK and AT&T in the U.S.

VS

Businesses always make more profits when they get early mover advantage in the market for new technologies and ideas. Individual/ end users many a times get benefited when they adopt a technology in later stages of its development. Because by then, most, if not all, lacunae would have been filled by the manufacturers.  I sincerely hope that the reader of this post is getting, what I am pointing at…Yes…U guessed it right…I am talking about Apple’s new 3G iPhone…

In India especially, there is a huge market for second hand phones and Chinese duplicate versions. When iPhone was launched first time by Apple, it became an instant hit everywhere around the world. But since it was on costlier side (Approx. Rs.30000+ in Indian currency), it could be afforded only by either business class people or people in high positions in companies. Surprisingly, it didn’t take even months or weeks but just a few days when iPhone came into market with no guarantees or warranties what so ever. These were imports from United States where iPhone was released first. Many people lost huge sums of money in buying these models just in hope that these may work just as good as the original one. There were hacking programs available in market which claimed to break the iPhone lock and make it work on the usual GSM carriers (similar story occurred in China).

And now…here you go…Apple has launched an all new upgraded version of iPhone and that too at less than half the old price (Approx. Rs.8000 - Rs.12500) in two storage versions i.e. 8GB and 16GB capacities. It has come out with more storage, better features and more affordable rates for everybody. Its 3G iPhone…and more

With fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips.And like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser. It redefines what a mobile phone can do — again.

All these features are making the old iPhone users fume as they spent more to get less and now even if they want to resell their models, they will not be able to get even Rs.5000 for the same as the new upgraded 3G iPhone version with 8GB capacity will be just Rs.8000 approx. so why will anybody buy an old one for almost the same price…This justifies the title of this post…

VS

One of the senior officer’s of Department of Telecommunication in India has informed media that “There is no problem with the BlackBerry handsets or services and BlackBerry services are not going to be discontinued in India.” This is inspite of the fact that Research in Motion — the Canada-based maker of the push-mail device — is yet to resolve India’s security concerns.

The issue rose due to recent terrorist attacks in Rajasthan. Indian security department officials had raised an objection on encrypted messaging that happens from Blackberry devices which is being used by terrorist groups regularly for communication.

RIM’s spokesperson in India informed that they are still in talks with senior government officials over this issue but he also said that till date outcomes of these meetings have been positive.

Thus, I can say that many Blackberry enthusiasts in India will now be able to buy the device and fulfill their wishes to be among Blackberry users.

VS

The new 3G iPhone is creating substantial buzz. Check out Om Malik’s interview with Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility.

http://gigaom.com/2008/06/09/att-mobility-ceo-new-3g-iphone-game-changer/

One of the concerns is that increase in mobile data usage for social networking, LBS or streaming video apps is going to cause a lot of network congestion on AT&T wireless network. Mr de la Vega is confident that AT&T network can handle it. For more power users of mobile data, the hope is that they are smart enough to use WiFi connection on the iPhone to download large data files instead of congesting the wireless network. A future filled with FMC devices like Femtocells only makes sense here. Femtocells will allow bandwidth hogging home wireless to pass on broadband wireline connections allowing the wireless network to remain somewhat available.

AT&T is taking some hits on its earnings estimates due to the lowered iPhone price and Apple is taking a hit as well as AT&T will no longer share the subscription revenue. But overall sales volume is expected to increase dramatically with the lower price and that is expected to more than compensate for the lower price on the device.

The new iPhone is loaded with good stuff. The App Store will allow for a slew of cool consumer and enterprise apps. The enterprise support is great with MS-Exchange integration. GPS is cool for LBS accuracy.

Nokia and RIM need not fear however. iPhone will only increase smartphone penetration increasing the size of the market for everybody. We feel the smartphones will cannibalize the non-smartphone cellphone market to some extent.

MT

Steve Jobs of Apple announced today the availability and details of 3G iPhone. It is available in the US from July 11 for $199. Not sure if if AT&T is discounting it or Apple is willing to sell it at a lower price (compared to $399 for the previous iPhone version). The new iPhone is a 3G device with GPS Mapping, a loaded App Store which houses some cool iPhone apps, MS-Exchange integration (attack on RIM turf - the enterprise?), and GPS. Apparently it is a 8GB device at $199. There is a $16 GB version at $299.

GPS is cool - it will drive Location Based Services and related applications like advertising, finder services and social networking.

MS-Exchange support is cool too as it will help in more enterprise adoption and cause some headaches to the folks at Research in Motion (Blackberry manufacturer).

The price is great too for cost-conscious customers.

Apparently 3G iPhone will be released in 20 countries.

We are excited and cannot wait to lay our hands on the new 3G iPhone.

MT

T-Mobile, USA announced yesterday the launch of a 3G UMTS/HSPDA based network in New York City. The plan is to rollout 3G in various metros around the country where T-Mobile offers service. This leads to intensification of competition in the 3G arena with all major US wireless carriers now providing service in 3G spectrum. T-Mobile has a niche in younger segment and has captured the hearts and minds of the college crowd with compelling products like SideKick (of course iPhone is the new fad on the campus now) and innovative rate plans like MyFaves sharing plan.

T-Mobile brings some strategic advantages in the 3G race. Though the smallest operator among the big 4 in US, they are owned by the venerable Deutsche Telekom (DT) of Germany - one of the largest carriers in Europe and a major GSM player. GSM is the dominant mobile standard in the world and T-Mobile, USA is only one of two major US carriers to support this standard (the other being AT&T). A 3G phone from T-Mobile, USA will allow seamless international 3G roaming on the parent network in Europe plus T-Mobile, USA can leverage the years of experience T-Mobile Europe has in 3G space.

T-Mobile has excelled in the younger segment in US markets - a segment which tends to use high speed data services like messaging and mobile web. So a 3G launch bodes well for this firm and one can expect high uptake in its customer base for the new service.

The chess moves in the US carrier space continue to get more interesting everyday. Yesterday, a press report suggested that DT was planning a run on Sprint, the third largest US carrier, which is facing severe operating trouble and is available for a deep discount. A combined Sprint and T-Mobile USA would face difficult integration issues but would create a dominant player in the critical US market, able to compete better with the biggies, namely AT&T and Verizon, in the US wireless space.

MT

Reports indicate that AT&T may offer a $200 rebate on a 3G iPhone to be released this summer in the United States. This is interesting news as AT&T was not willing to discount the iPhone so far. This indicates that either there is pressure to increase iPhone adoption or AT&T is trying to create stickiness in case Apple has negotiated an agreement to sell an unlocked iPhone to the public.

Note that this $200 rebate will be given if the customers sign a 2 year contract or renew existing contracts. The $399 list price is for the 8GB iPhone. The 16 GB cousin goes for $499 and may get a $200 rebate as well on a two year contract.

This strategy may help accelerate migration of customers from competitors like Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile to AT&T.

Unconfirmed rumors also indicate that the other GSM carrier in USA, T-Mobile is turning on its 3G voice network in segments in next few days. There is only a voice rumor, 3G data may not be enabled yet on T-Mobile USA network. Even it was, the frequency T-Mobile is using is different than that of Apple iPhone / AT&T 3G frequency. So it is quite likely that the unlocked 3G iPhone will not work (in 3G mode) on T-Mobile 3G network (it may work on 2.5G / EDGE band of T-Mobile network though). Then the only audience for the unlocked 3G iPhone are folks who buy it and take it abroad for use on GSM networks in other nations. The whole T-Mobile story is a based on rumors so take it with a pinch of salt.

Average iPhone user spends $100 per month due to a higher priced data and voice plan. So AT&T can recoup the $200 iPhone rebate from a customer in no time.

The 3G iPhone comes almost on one year anniversary of the original iPhone. It is a fascinating device, to say the least. It has opened up new business models in mobile space by converting a bland mobile device into a personal portable computer. We continue to salute Apple for its innovation and creativity.

MT

Here we provide a simple technology comparison for various 4G technologies in mobile space. Hope you find this useful.