Top 10 iPhone Rumors
March 18, 2007 by dennis
The web is abundant with Apple iPhone rumors – a lot of websites are reporting a lot of unconfirmed information, some of which is clearly completely made up, some looks possibly fake, while some even appears to be genuine.
This article tracks the origins of the most popular iPhone rumours floating around, in mostly chronological order (as in, how soon each rumor could materialize, or how soon we will know if it’s fake or not).
#1: Apple will release the iPhone in April.
- Whoever started this rumor probably based it on the fact that Apple asked several parts suppliers for the iPhone to start shipping them in April. However, parts still need to be assembled, shipped, and stocked before a product could get to retail…
Apple iPhone
#2: Apple will miss the release date and will delay iPhone’s launch.
- This rumor is based mostly on the fact that AppleTV’s launch was delayed, and a speculation that Apple might want to add some extra features to the device.
#3: AT&T/Cingular’s iPhone exclusivity period will last two weeks.
- This rumor was launched by a T-Mobile employee trying to sign up a customer for a lengthy contract. Enough said.
#4: AT&T/Cingular will subsidize the iPhone, so it won’t really cost $499-599.
- This one is based on a leaked online survey that Cingular refused to take responsibility for, and on a really fake looking AT&T/Cingular rebate voucher given to a BlackBerry Pearl buyer.
#5: AT&T/Cingular pays Apple for every customer Apple attracts to its network with the iPhone.
- This rumor was started by Citigroup analyst Michael Rollins, who based it on a similar existing business relationship between Cingular and Radio Shack.
Apple iPhone
#6: Vodafone already got the exclusive iPhone contract for Europe.
- This rumor is based on a number of Vodafone announcements, namely the one about them launching Google Maps for mobiles in UK (which was one of the iPhone’s major Macworld 2007 presentation points), and the one about them launching flatrate mobile Internet access in July 2007. Voda’s execs did contribute to it some more, noting how they offer more European-wide mobile service coverage than their closest competitors.
#7: iPhone will be a very powerful portable gaming console.
- This rumor is based on powerful hardware, sensors, and touchscreen controls that could make iPhone a successful Nokia N-Gage (so to speak). Namco, EA, and Popcap Games announcing that they’re making games for the iPhone, Apple itself hiring game designers, as well as our “WOW on iPhone” exclusive probably added a bit to this rumor as well.
Apple iPhone
#8: iPhone will have 3G as early as in January 2008.
- Supposedly coming from an unnamed Swedish mobile carrier, this rumor states that the carrier in question is reassuring customers that iPhone will have 3G as early as in January 2008 – only three months after its projected initial launch in Europe.
#9: Apple will license iPhone’s OS X version and touchscreen functionality to 3rd party handset manufacturers.
- This is a fairly recent rumor, coming from an unnamed Apple insider, who claims that Apple is currently holding talks about licensing out the especially-made for iPhone OS X version and its touchscreen functionality. Theoretically, it would’ve been a good move.
#10: iPhone’s multitouch touchscreen will be used in future iPods, Macs, AppleTVs, notebooks, etc…
- This rumor was started by UBS analyst Ben Reitzes, who argues that Apple will start using the multitouch technology in upcoming devices because, well, now they can do it.
Apple iPhone
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – countless more rumors are circulating on forums, weblogs, and even respectable publications. While we wouldn’t count on any of them to be true, some do sound at least theoretically plausible. The good part is that we’ll know for certain fairly soon – if iPhone comes out in July.
Dennis Sloutsky
Tags: app, Apple, application, AT&T, Europe, game, Google, hack, iPhone, iTouch, Mac, News, OS, UK
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Top 10 iPhone Rumors
Article by dennis
Dennis Sloutsky is one of the oldest members of iPhoneWorld.ca, having co-started the site in January 2007. He stills owns an iPhone 2G and uses it sometimes just for fun. His hobbies include traveling, writing and playing his guitar.
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