Jobs boasts of Apple iPod cellphone?

Apple rumor dredgin' site AppleInsider just hocked-up another canard for those of you feeling a bit shorted following WWDC 2006. AI reports that the obsessively closed-mouthed Steve Jobs is so giddy about the oft speculated iPod cellphone that he's been blow-harding its merits amongst personal acquaintances. Sources touting an "unblemished track record" in predicting Apple's future and familiar with the device's "ongoings" claim that prototypes have already been released to two potential OEM manufacturing partners with a "big bang" launch coming earlier than expected -- catching even industry insiders (such as themselves?) off-guard. Certainly analysts and believers alike have all but convinced themselves that some kind of iPhone device (like that pictured to the right) with or without an MVNO is a certainty. Still, it's hard to believe that Jobs would break character in such loose-lipped fashion even if they weren't sitting around doing nothing.

[Me @ Aug 11th 2006 8:25AM]

OH Steve, how you taunt the people who care. But I am not one of them. YOU all are a bunch of elitiest...

[oshean @ Aug 11th 2006 8:27AM]

Any deets on the FCC site?

[Paul @ Aug 11th 2006 8:27AM]

I am an Apple fan boy, but I really can't see Apple taking on the boys like Nokia and Sony in this area.

[Intrepid @ Aug 11th 2006 8:32AM]

Hrmmm, I think that someone needs to show a credible source before I will believe this. And as Paul said, Apple can't take on Nokia, Motorolla, Sony Ericsson and the ever growing Windows Mobile alliance.

[GadgetGav @ Aug 11th 2006 8:35AM]

The 'not sitting around doing nothing' comment could just as easily mean making the next gen iPod so much better that you wouldn't want a combined phone and music player...

[K MAN @ Aug 11th 2006 8:36AM]

"I am an Apple fan boy, but I really can't see Apple taking on the boys like Nokia and Sony in this area."

I think apple's competition in this round is samsung.

Nokia now only puts out absolute crap.
Motorolla Razr has become the norm and is nolonger "cool"

More phones are shipped from S. Korea(SamSung, LG) than most people think.

I for one, hope the iPhone kicks ass.

[iPeter @ Aug 11th 2006 8:39AM]

maybe they'll catch up on the design part. just maybe.

[David @ Aug 11th 2006 8:40AM]

Actually, I can't see Apple NOT competing in this space. After all, the trend is toward mobile or portable computing, and the solutions that are out there are either Windows-based, or independent in nature. How could Jobs afford to ignore mobile phones/computing?

[SubGenius @ Aug 11th 2006 8:41AM]

Apple can and will compete against the big boys.
I know few people who are happy with their cell phone

Motorola - terrible UI
Verizon - locked out features
Nokia - nokia
SonyEricson - decent

I for one welcome our new Apple MobileVirtualNetworkOverlords!

[Pietro @ Aug 11th 2006 8:44AM]

"More phones are shipped from S. Korea(SamSung, LG) than most people think."

And most of them remain in S. Korea only... Oh and everyone knows about it.

[gary @ Aug 11th 2006 8:49AM]

Unless it has the functionality of my blackberry there is no way i will ever switch.

[Dolomite @ Aug 11th 2006 8:55AM]

Please let this be true!!!

[Intrepid @ Aug 11th 2006 9:02AM]

Actually K MAN is right Pietro. I hope Apple gets crushed by the Koreans and Europeans.

[aliask @ Aug 11th 2006 9:02AM]

"launch coming earlier than expected" - what, like WWDC06? The iPhone has alread been expected for some time. What a load of wank.

[bob @ Aug 11th 2006 9:07AM]

i think engadget need to do something about the poinless and unfounded apple bashing, its not constructive, adds nothing to the debate, and is rarley related to the artical in question. if you dont like apple products (that you have probably never used anjd regurgitate crap you read on the internet with no opinion of your own) you should just not buy apple products, for us that do, we enjoy some of the best hardware and software products available, ever wonder where the term apple fanboy comes from, its brand loyalty, i have had nothing but GREAT expieriences with the apple products i have bought over the years, unlke a lot of other tech companies, so i will continue to buy / use apple products, so get over it, and reboot! you need to do another virus check!

[GregP @ Aug 11th 2006 9:08AM]

This story is complete and utter B.S. Steve Jobs leak info like that....Hell, most people at Apple don't even know what's going on and they're all bound by rock solid NDA's.

I don't think he's going to mention jack to anyone including his mother, unless they have one of those infamous Apple NDA's.

[The Grand Master @ Aug 11th 2006 9:11AM]

Methinks an Apple phone would pwn almost everything else out there if they did it right. Oh and someone mentioned the 'windows media alliance' I've seen no evidence of anything like that here in the UK, ok the occaisional Windows Mobile phone but the market here is still saturated with motorolas and Nokias, all of the formats used in these phones (3gp for video, jpg for pics, vcard for contancts, etc.) work perfectly with the Mac OS so it could be very easy to add funtionality for people wanting to switch and take stuff with them. 3gp is based on mpeg4 (or so I've been told) so quicktime funtionality already exists and if Apple released a combination of iSync and Addressbook with the device for windows and OSX they could have a real winner.

The RAZR has had it's day and if the iPhone had superb design and good features it could gain a substantial foothold, at least over here. I'd expect it in time for christmas, along with new iPods, say late november maybe?

[Intrepid @ Aug 11th 2006 9:11AM]

Fanboy... bob, people (Apple fans and the like) pay out my precious Microsoft all the time, and there are many more of those people than you have bashing your precious Apple. Think of us as a 'counter-balance'.
Anyway, can't you get Steve Jobs to make up a lie about us? Like "MS fanboys are obviously a copy of Apple fanboys, stupid photocopiers"

[AndrewJ @ Aug 11th 2006 9:13AM]

Well MS is starting to play in the phone space with the release of the WIN1200 (http://www.uniden.com/products/productdetail.cfm?product=WIN1200)

Ok its not a mobile as such, but its a house phone. The next step from here is to go mobile for sure.

[psxp @ Aug 11th 2006 9:18AM]

for farks sake.. these predictions and rumours are so off its becoming a joke.

I do hope Apple produce an iPhone (Quad band GSM) with some style and class. I want to laugh at the people who boutgh RAZRs with 3 year contracts! ha ha!

[Jonathan Graft @ Aug 11th 2006 9:26AM]

Even if they did come out with one, I wonder how well it would catch on...up until now, they have only done MP3 players...iPod that is.

[Terral @ Aug 11th 2006 9:27AM]

I would check out an Apple phone if were a Smartphone/PDA. They had the first cool PDA in the Newton way before its time.

[Jason @ Aug 11th 2006 9:33AM]

I would prefer an Apple version of the Sony Mylo device. Cell networks are for geezers. Skype/IM is what counts with the kids.

[Chris C @ Aug 11th 2006 9:39AM]

"I am an Apple fan boy, but I really can't see Apple taking on the boys like Nokia and Sony in this area."

I seem to remember when Sony and Ericsson were seperate entities...both with crappy phones. Is it that far fetched that Apple could be working under NDA with another manufacturer? I mean, who wouldn't want the guaranteed PR time that working with Apple would garner. As for Jobs letting anything slip...think again. I used to work there and I have met "the man". He's a nice guy, but there is no way he would ever change his stance on secrecy. That's what brings in the free advertising - people want to be surprised.

[Chris @ Aug 11th 2006 9:42AM]

"YOU all are a bunch of elitiest..."

Thanks. I take that as a compliment. By the way, nice spelling.

[Joe Alien @ Aug 11th 2006 9:46AM]

This looks very much more like a VOIP phone vs. a cellphone; especially with a name like iChat Mobile. But then again, we'll all just have to wait for the big announcement which may or may not be coming sooner rather than later, maybe.

[David Mendez @ Aug 11th 2006 9:50AM]

I do believe it was leaked on purpose. Apple has been in the spotlight lately re: stock options and re-stating earnings etc....

It was obviously leaked to keep the floor solid for Apple and not crumbling in light of anything negative that may come about from this news.

I'm not excited at all about an apple cell phone. I don't like the mock-ups that i've seen neither. I'd expect something slicker looking from apple, not the pics of fisher price look-alikes that have been posted.

I'd like to see something along the lines of the Motorola Q/ipod on the corporate end and a Razr style phone/ipod.

[Justin France @ Aug 11th 2006 9:59AM]

aliask has the right point here: we've been hearing bullshit rumours for nigh on 12 months now, it's long overdue as that "one more thing..." announcement.

AppleInsider is blathering crap - true or not - lets just wait until we see the damned thing. These rumours are boring me to tears.

[nate @ Aug 11th 2006 10:02AM]

Could this be the "as-yet-unannounced product" that is talked about in "The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs"?

Yes, I know it's a fake blog. But, perhaps written by an insider!

Excerpt
====
The good news is that while sitting in my cell, meditating and humming my syllable or whatever, I totally had a breakthrough and realized how we could eliminate an unnecessary button on the user interface of this as-yet-unannounced product by combining two function sets into a click and double-click arrangement.
=====

Food for thought perhaps on the identity of this mystery 'FakeSteve'

http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2006/08/unfrigginbelievable.html

[Roger @ Aug 11th 2006 10:07AM]

I was actually thinking about this the other day when I plugged my new Motorola SLVR into my computer. Instead of showing up as an "ipod shuffle" as some sites said it would, it showed up as "mobile phone" and there was a whole menu of mobile phone specific items and preferences for me to pick and choose.

I wonder if this is the code that was erroneously cited as "proof" of iPhone.

[Blix @ Aug 11th 2006 10:22AM]

First of all, this subject is getting a bit boring. Second of all, I don't know if you people are thinking clearly. People are all emotionally tied up in one side or the other (hating or loving apple) and seem to forget some things. Apple can obviously compete with any other big hardware manufacturer. Their industrial design and strategic planning make their products highly appealing, and they tend to have a pretty comprehensive way of integrating new items into an overall workflow or product family (you may have iTunes, but you still use it). Does anyone have any numbers about how apple's hardare sales stack up to Dell or HP? I think they do pretty well.

[shirizaki @ Aug 11th 2006 10:39AM]

OK, so if an Apple phone comes out:

Who's going to carry it? My money's on an Apple MVN company getting started soon. No way Apple is going to let this phone go to any other phone company and let that company control features and programs. If Apple goes this route look for widget-like prgrams that can be downloaded for the iPhone. The Leopard might be able to sync with the iPhone on some level, like moving contacts from the address book to/from the iPhone. It may not be a mobile music player like some people might be hoping for, but I'll be happy for something that looks nice, doesnt break, has nice features, and won't try to nickle and dime me everytime.

That being said, I think with Apple's preicing structure the phone might retail for around $600 (less with plans).

The only problem with an MVNO is that you limit yourself to mall kiosks and the internet. Sometimes I like to hold a phone and try it out before I go all willnilly and buy something.

So the big question: CDMA or GSM? My money's on GSM, so that it can be used globally.

My only worry is that Apple starts going down the "micro transactions" road that every other cell phone company has gone down. Nothing makes me more pissed than to buy soemthing and have to pay $20 more for programs for it. Of course knowing apple it'll be included int he cost and all the programs I'll ever need will be on the phone.

Hey, at least if they use Java you can say Macs do gaming!

[Anonymouse @ Aug 11th 2006 10:47AM]

Apple....technology for idiots...

Ok so they developed a simple product to do a simple job, yipee, if they honestly think they are going to develop a cellphone and have even a prayer of the poularity of the ipod id sell my shares now. The ipod while it is nice is a fleeting star in the apple lineup, people like pretty technology IF it does what its supposed to.

Playing mp3's and a video, not hard to make easy and flashy, something apple sucks at is multitasking, exactly what all the big names are being pushed to offer because of the need for it from consumers. If apple gets into this market thinking a phone that plays mp3s is sufficient someone needs to take the acid away from Jobs.

[David @ Aug 11th 2006 11:11AM]

Wonder if it'll already have speed-dial programmed in for Apple Support.

[Cnet Guy @ Aug 11th 2006 11:21AM]

This leading to the merger of Apple and Samsung.

[Chinese Wonton @ Aug 11th 2006 11:23AM]

Huh?
Who is Apple?
and what do they make?

I only know of Benq and Haier.

[Q @ Aug 11th 2006 11:30AM]

Apple + Virgin Mobile + Boost + Tracfone + Net10 + Ampd = serious competition for AT&T/Cingular, Sprint, T-mobile and Verizon.

Taking a bunch a smaller companies and evolving into a major player.

[Aaron @ Aug 11th 2006 11:47AM]

Bob, the word 'fanboy' has nothing to do with great products. A fanboy is someone who stubbornly stands behind their brand or product despite all its flaws. You know, flaws. Like having a hefty pricetag just because it's shiny, or not being compatible with, I don't know, the rest of the world. A fanboy is also someone who spouts stupid crap about competing products. Reboot? Virus check? Maybe you're living in 1996, but nobody else is. Yes, you're a fanboy. And no, it's not a good thing.

So, onto the topic... An iPhone would be pretty cool, actually. I predict a shift away from the traditional cell phone. All these companies keep trying to cram more features into phones, but I think that's the wrong way to go and everyone will soon realize it. Instead of a phone that includes a bunch of other devices, I'd like a multi-functional device that includes a phone. If Apple wanted to, I think they could pull it off. I just hope they have the sense to make it affordable.

[Wry Cooter @ Aug 11th 2006 11:52AM]

_Hey, at least if they use Java you can say Macs do gaming!

seen any decent dashboard widget games?

Gaming has not yet worked that well for Phones, or even the PDA market. I don't really care about Itunes/iPod functionality that much either. Smart syncing with ical and address book (heck even a little app for storing and analyzing Caller ID would be nice), and availability with my current carrier would be enough for me to consider an iPhone. I would expect a little bit more.

People don't really say what they WOULD expect though.

[Jason T. @ Aug 11th 2006 11:52AM]

What the hell does Apple bring to the table in the cell phone market???

Most phones can already play music, and Pocket PC based phones can do even do much much more then that. Not to mention blackberries, Treos, etc.

Since most of the telecom parts of the phone is going to be designed and made by second rate Chinese maker BenQ/Hair etc. Sorry no sale,

[vince @ Aug 11th 2006 11:54AM]

Shirizaki (and even apple fanboy Paul), what you said is exactly why I would be willing to bet that the iPod Phone will be VoIP based and not a true cell phone. Think about it...if Apple launches an MNVO, their iPhone will effectively become US only. Choosing GSM, UMTS, CDMA, EV-DO, PDC, PHS...whatever, will inherently lock them out of some markets and forcibly lock them to individual telecoms. Again, I just can't see Apple carving up their market like that.

Additionally, just about everyone already has a cellie. So, for most of us, jumping to the apple ship would require either breaking a contract or waiting until that contract is up. That barrier to adoption will undoubtedly keep a lot of people out. Apple has to fight that sort of battle every day in the PC market, I can't see them choosing to do that in another market.

To me, still, the only option I can really see Apple taking is to go with a WiFi based handheld. At first I thought it might be something like the Nokia 770, only much better, but now I think they could also go the way of the MYLO. Though, I'd hope for something in the middle. And frankly, that's something I would buy.

[Bart Lee @ Aug 11th 2006 11:55AM]

"I am an Apple fan boy, but I really can't see Apple taking on the boys like Nokia and Sony in this area."

Yeah, they should stick to the easy opponents, like Microsoft and Dell.

[shirizaki @ Aug 11th 2006 12:17PM]

@ Q

All of those companies you just mentioned are MVNO (mobile virtual network companies). They purchase the ability to use their serivces on the other networks. In a blink of an eye any one of the big 4 (VZW, Cingular, Sprint, T-Mo) can kick them off. I don't know anyone that realisticallly uses those services except for teenagers.

@ vince

The only reason I hoped for the MVNO route is because I'd serious want a cellphone that worked and didn't try to nickel and dime me and disable features(I'm on VZW, so I use this term alot).

I guess for those people that use VOIP on a regular basis and are looking for something like this then it's a good buy.

[Oprah @ Aug 11th 2006 12:25PM]

no one has tried going to http://www.iphone.org yet.... very interesting

[Jeff Foster @ Aug 11th 2006 1:10PM]

why are all you fools so emotional about this crap?

my god.

This is a pathetic rumor... and it probably does nothing but keep people feeling artificially disappointed with any future Apple announcement because they dont get the iPhone they've been wanting, though they never give any thought at all to how horribly the mobile market is right now for interoperability, standards, etc.

The whole mobile market (as far as any standard compliance or ability to make a device work as intended) is a fucking joke with carriers controlling features to squeeze every penny out of their subscribers, and split technological choices with the Inferior-but-widespread GSM fighting the Superior-but-expensive CDMA...

the market is a mess. Do you really think apple want's to come in and play janitor? i doubt it. so all this rumor is good for is inflating hopes of some new device so that you can be bummed when it doesn't come out for the next 40 keynotes.

[manicpanic @ Aug 11th 2006 1:22PM]

Picture must be a fake. Apple would not reuse the name iChat unless this phone had features of iChat as we know it. I would assume feature packed video chatting would play a part in anything to recycle the iChat name. Video chatting would be impossible on this phone it's camera/iSight look-a-like is on the back. Imagine two people both with this phone screens turned away neither able to see the other. iChat has really become all about live interactive see me as if I was there commutation. That's my 2 cents...

[Ndoc @ Aug 11th 2006 1:41PM]

MVNOs limited to Mall kiosks and the internet??

This is different. Think about it. They have the Apple Store infrastructure in place. They have the iTunes store structure in place, and can easily sell you ringtones and games via it. They thrive on direct internet sales.

They don't need to become the biggest wireless company, that's not the point of the device.

[zachary @ Aug 11th 2006 4:28PM]

"Sources touting an "unblemished track record" in predicting Apple's future..."
i predict there will be another ipod in the future
dam im good
every post just makes the "iphone" seem more laughable

[I,Robot @ Aug 11th 2006 4:38PM]

@Bob

What the hell is engadget supposed to do about the Apple bashing? They just report the information already on the wed, they don’t write it. They are NOT OUR Mom’s, we can’t go running to them went something is written on a BLOG SITE that we do not like. So why are you crying foul? That’s how it goes? The reason that it’s so EASY to Apple bash is because, Apple fans have NO SENSE OF HUMOR, and you ARE elitist when it comes to MAC products.

Look at all the fuse you lot made over that, “I’m a MAC/PC” commercial parody on “Youtube.com” a couple weeks back. OMG, what an OVERREACTION! It could have been a religion debate, about abortion and witchcraft. And it WAS funny… and the fact that Apple Fanboys took it to heart SO seriously, only proved every point those guys made.

I, myself, was a true Apple hater for years, right up until they invented the dam Nano. My friends laughed at my ass for buying one, after all the smack-talk about the iPod. Well, a year and a half later, I haven’t once regreted the decision to by it.

[sisco @ Aug 11th 2006 5:16PM]

I call bullshit