This is a fun time of year. The Summer sun is just starting to get its groove on, beaches swarm with scantily suited bathers, theme parks hum with throngs of thrill seekers, even the forests and national parks around the country strain to capacity as vacationers seek places to unwind and commune with Nature.
True enough, skyrocketing gas prices is dampening some vacation plans, but not all. And everyone needs to take a break from the serious side of life.
It is also a time of anticipation for Apple watchers. June is when Apple hosts its World Wide Developer Conference in San Francisco and this year’s focus is Apple’s new mobile platform, the iPhone.
Mobile platform?
Absolutely. To call iPhone a cellphone is like calling a Mac a typewriter.
It seems that Apple understands that in order to truly be successful in a new market it has to offer something that no one else does, or at least make what others offer look antiquated by comparison.
 Image courtesy of Apple |
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When Steve Jobs announced the iPhone last year he showed us just a peek of what the device is capable of, and people loved it. Now Apple has announced compelling upgrades only hinted at during the original announcement, prime among them are business oriented applications and abilities that will make the iPhone more compatible with the security minded business sect.
The big news, however, is the ability for iPhone to work with the faster 3G networks, which promises even more access to content than what the current EDGE cellphone-based networks can handle.
Everyone has a prediction as to what will be announced at this year’s WWDC and this article’s about my predictions, but before I get into what I think will happen I need to ask you a question: Do you really care about 3G?
True enough, 3G is capable of much faster Internet access speeds, but if all you’re doing is an occasional look-up while you are out about and away from Wi-Fi, is a second or two faster Web page download worth the extra cost?
There are those who will a scream, “YES!!” Faster downloads means accessing videos, maybe even graphic-heavy games while you are away from home or Wi-Fi hotspots, and for you folks nothing but the absolute fastest will do.
But for a vast majority of iPhone users, and more importantly, potential iPhone, users the combination of Edge and Wi-Fi can serves their needs more than adequately, and this includes business users.
Checking mail, even editing online documents, doesn’t require a super-fast Internet connection, and that’s likely what most folks will need a Net connection for when they are not near Wi-Fi.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with the current iPhone. It does what it was built to do and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. With software upgrades promised by Apple, and new applications from developers, the EDGE iPhone still trounces every other smart phone available, 3G or not.
It just doesn’t make any since to dump the EDGE iPhone and it makes far more sense to keep it around.
The cost to produce the EDGE iPhone has likely fallen considerably over the last 10 months and if so, Apple can pass some of those savings on to potential buyers. With AT&T subsidies we could see an EDGE iPhone starting around $200 (with a two year contract), which puts it well within reach of many more people and makes it very attractive to businesses who tend to buy devices in bulk.
So, with that in mind, here’s what I predict Apple will do come WWDC:
- Current iPhone will continue to be offered, but at lower price.
- If Apple does this it will have far more impact than any other iPhone announcement because it will put the iPhone within reach of millions of potential customers who don’t want to pay a premium price no matter of cool or useful the device is.
- 3G iPhone will assume current model prices.
- This pretty much stands to reason, especially if the former statement is true. This is for those who want the absolute top notch access and don’t mind paying for it.
- 32GB iPhone will be available.
- Why not? There’s a 32GB iPod Touch. It’s reasonable to assume an 32GB, or even a 64GB iPod is waiting in the wings.
- More Bluetooth connectivity.
- One of things that seems to be missing from the iPhone is complete Bluetooth compatibility. Expect to see upgrades that will allow the use of Bluetooth stereo headsets with mic, Bluetooth portable keyboards, maybe even Bluetooth monitor connectivity. Why not do it all?
- Vendors will unleash a torrent of new products.
- In my opinion, developers will likely make the second most important announcement at the WWDC, if not individually then collectively. No other mobile device will be able to claim the literal breath and depth of applications and peripherals that will be available for the iPhone.
In a nutshell, Apple and developers will make the iPhone more accessible, more useful, and more affordable. Basically, an iPhone for everyone who wants one.
Sign me up.
Vern Seward is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He’s been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years.
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