3G iPhone for Europe to be announced Monday?

Oh man, here we go. Another rumor about that 3G European iPhone. This time, the source is Guy Kewney of Newswireless who, until recently, doubled as eWeek.com's European wireless editor -- i.e., he's the real deal. As the story goes, Apple is set to announce a four-way deal: Vodafone and T-Mobile on the carrier front with Carphone Warehouse out in front as the MVNO. Hmmm, well, this kind of deal would certainly provide Apple's upstart mobile phone with far broader coverage than a Vodafone exclusive could muster while providing a solid brick-and-mortar base on a continent (mostly) void of Apple stores. Best of all for Europeans, the announcement expected on Monday will be 3G. That's right, while you're queuing up for EDGE data, Europeans might be unwrapping an HSDPA iPhone in a 4-way press release. Here's the rub, bub: do you really think Apple will provide Europe a 3G iPhone before the end of the year and not release it in the US at the same time? Now the tough choice: stand in line for your 2.5G iPhone or wait and see what happens on Monday with this rumor (and we repeat, it's just rumor at this point). Decisions, decisions.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[andrew harrison @ Jun 29th 2007 7:13AM]

you're kidding, right?

There is NO way Apple will release a 3G iPhone 2 days after they release a non-3G iPhone.

We'll see one probably in the next 6 months in Europe [and here's hoping Australia too] but it's not going to be coming Monday.

[martin @ Jun 29th 2007 7:27AM]

i agree it's ridiculous to even think apple will RELEASE a 3G iphone in europe on monday.

However, they may well announce it right? they'll have to go through all the approvals again for europe, so they may as well announce it themselves first?

Heres hoping the UK get an apple product before the US for the first time in history....

[Thomas Ricker @ Jun 29th 2007 7:36AM]

They are not releasing the phone monday -- the rumor is that they will **announce** it for delivery near the end of the year. Even an announcement so soon after today's US launch seems foolish. We would discard it as pure rumor if not for the guy's credentials.

Thomas

[martin @ Jun 29th 2007 7:40AM]

I seem to remember there was a report the other day about vodafone carrying the 3G iphone into europe by the end of the year. This new report sure does back up the 3G rumor that in my opinion is sticking...

[Cleverboy @ Jun 29th 2007 9:43AM]

Who knows WHEN it will come, but Europe's model WILL BE 3G. Period. Not 2G. I can't believe I have to repeat this (like everyone has amnesia), but the talking points for "why no 3G in US" are: Chipset not mature as it sucks battery life AND coverage not good (with at&t HSDPA). RIGHT? Ok, so, as Europe uses a DIFFERENT implementation of HSDPA, its not clear to me if their chipsets suck the same power. Also, their converage is gangbangers, no doubt. Will Europe get a 3G iPhone before the U.S.? YES. Is this preferential treatment? No. It's cold cruel logic, and utter ignorance to cast it as ANYTHING different. --But of course, stirring up trouble for Apple is what Engadget loves to do, eh? Brings out all the haters and fanboys alike, doesn't it?

[it's me @ Jun 29th 2007 4:03PM]

If Apple announces the iPhone for Europe, it is certain that it will be 3G.

The country where I live Edge has already been shut down, no provider has it anymore, because it's just too old-fashioned and slow.

3G is fast, works well, and really doesn't take that much battery life. The Apple dude is just talking crap when he says a 3G chip is large and immature.

[uberfu @ Aug 24th 2007 2:22PM]

Why the hell would Apple release anything elsewhere BEFORE it releases something in it's "hometown" first ?

That's like Marvel releasing Spiderman 3 or 4 in Japan and Australia before they release it in the US_

That's like Sony or Nintendo releasing the Wii 2 or the PS4 in the US before they release it in Japan_

Or Micro$oft releasing Windows Vista 2 in Europe or Asia before it hits the US stores_

[nxs @ Jun 29th 2007 1:55PM]

NYC area is getting 3G in September...T-Mobile!
SINCE people are paying full price anyway, buy the phone from Europe in September and call T-Mobile to activate it.

[fontendet24 @ Jun 29th 2007 3:31PM]

HACKERS! WHERE ARE YOU?

You do not needed any contracts or providers for iphone!

SOON will be a little program that can unlock and turn on your new shiny iphone from Apple store.

HACK iphone! NEW CONTEST!

[fontendet24 @ Jun 29th 2007 3:35PM]

Grab iphone for $499, insert your sim-card and you're FREE!

UNLOCK iPhone! New contest with prize!

[mir @ Jun 29th 2007 10:33AM]

We've already heard that EDGE was preferred over 3G because 3G is a power hog and has size issues, so probably not.

[juan @ Jun 29th 2007 8:42AM]

I would rather have EDGE and longer battery life then 3G and have to charge it every 4 hours. He's not alone jesse

[Monekywrestling @ Jun 29th 2007 10:33AM]

Juan its just as well your battery will last longer to allow you enough time to open a couple of web pages using EDGE.

[Mike @ Jun 29th 2007 9:20AM]

i would love the eu to get something better than the US for once! it would be amazing, we allways have to wait till last if this is true this time it will be worth the wait. we will finally win one.

[Nando @ Jun 29th 2007 9:38AM]

EU has already won...you don't have Bush.

[Leemo @ Jun 29th 2007 7:24AM]

Is it really going to be a 3g announcement though? Doesn't this contradict what Steve stated about the power/size constraints of a 3g chipset?

Don't get me wrong, being in the UK this would be fantastic news - but I'm not holding my breath! I'd be happy with EDGE to be honest, I'm stuck with GPRS on my BlackBerry and I cope just fine!

-L

[Mile @ Jun 29th 2007 7:23AM]

Wesley, if that were true you would already be in line somewhere.

[Inside man @ Jun 29th 2007 7:30AM]

As i predicted several weeks ago...!

[AdvWar @ Jun 29th 2007 7:32AM]

If Apple was going to create a 3G iPhone, why would they restrict it to Europe? The absence of 3G has been sensationalized in the media, so why give detractors another point to put down the iPhone? Besides, when has Apple ever given anything unique to any country other than the USA?

[MrViao @ Jun 29th 2007 2:13PM]

Why should Apple offer anything unique to any other country other than the US? The size of the US economy means a bigger initial payoff, besides... they can screw up here because the US consumer can be fairly forgiving not to mention stupid. Screw up in Europe and you have to spend millions in marketing to stroke the fragile European ego. My biggest complaint is with companies like NOKIA who have colluded with US carriers to offer the crappiest products know to man and then like the Robber Barons they are, take billions of US dollars back to europe where the US consumer then gets to subsidize the "European Experience." I would tell all US consumers, buy nothing from companies like NOKIA and MOTOROLA until they force our carriers to offer the same quality products.

[AdvWar @ Jun 29th 2007 2:16PM]

Motorola are American, and as far as I can remember, have never released anything other than crap, so why change now?

[Benny @ Jul 1st 2007 12:43PM]

Uhh... Motarola's output EVERYWHERE is crap. Yes, even here in "fragile Europe".

[danbar_pdx @ Jul 8th 2007 2:42PM]

Oh buddy! You are soooo...ignorant! It is NOT about Apple it is all about the American networks! They sucks, are cheap, whit extremely low coverage and uncapable to supprt 3G. That's it, like it or not! Sorry for my honesty but this is the thrue

[geezer @ Jun 29th 2007 7:33AM]

I'm pretty sure we'll see an 3G iPhone here in Europe. 3G is nearly avaliable everywhere here - not like in the US. It would make sense.

T-Mobile & Vodafone? Cool, at least one would have a choice!

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jun 29th 2007 10:10AM]

I agree. Despite all the complaints in the US, the Edge version makes sense right now. 2008 might be a different matter, we'll see. If Apple is not bringing a 3G version to Europe, they may as well not even bother coming.

[AdvWar @ Jun 29th 2007 5:29PM]

I'm not too sure about this one- I'm from Europe (Northern Ireland, UK!!!!) and most people I know couldn't tell you what 3G is. A common misconception is that it is some kind of updated mobile design....

[geezer @ Jun 29th 2007 7:33AM]

I'm pretty sure we'll see an 3G iPhone here in Europe. 3G is nearly avaliable everywhere here - not like in the US. It would make sense.

T-Mobile & Vodafone? Cool, at least one would have a choice!

[ukbigbird @ Nov 13th 2008 3:27PM]

I agree - 3G is where it's at in Europe! I'm not sure about the US, but in the UK the Nokia N95 has started to get some real traction. Neither will make tea and crumpets however.

[Daniel D @ Jun 29th 2007 7:51AM]

@ ukgeezer - Neither helps you make funny jokes either.

[Brumbo @ Jun 29th 2007 7:38AM]

they have to do it, the European mobile market is the real deal, and no two yrs plan, or it'll be a failure, it's mostly pay as u go down here

[gareth @ Jun 29th 2007 7:41AM]

Its an announcement, that doesn't mean a release. I would imagine they would keep with the Q4 estimate for europe but let us know on Monday what we are likely to receive at that time..

[thegrey @ Jun 29th 2007 7:40AM]

Now that i think about it. If Fine EDGE holds up this might not be so bad. The average person doesn't even know what EDGE is but Europe would strangle Apple if it came with EDGE...

[Gavin @ Jun 29th 2007 7:41AM]

Hmmm. Why do I get the feeling that iPhones sold today will already have the physical capability to connect to 3G... Would it make sense for two models of the iPhone to be built seperately, one 3g capable the other not? Why not just build them all 3G capable and then software activate (eg 802.11n on Macs earlier this year). I'm inclined to believe the rumours here, 3G in Europe is more pervasive and network providers will fall over themselves to sell iPhone.

[ps @ Jun 29th 2007 9:00AM]

i understand the antenna's for different bands are actually physically different. but, i guess then we'll know when some iphone purchasing crazy (or investment firm) dismantles their new toy to see what's in it and who made what part. maybe there will be a secret extra antenna for 3g later.

[Argot @ Jun 29th 2007 7:44AM]

NO WAY!

Jobs said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the reason why they didn't incorporate 3G in the iPhone was the fact the the 3G-chip was to big and to power consuming and that it was not ready for the consumer market.

And he said that last night.

[ukbigbird @ Jun 29th 2007 7:54AM]

I can't square that comment at all. Most of the current-gen 3G phones are neither excessive in size or poor in terms of battery life.

I suspect SG is saying "as applied to Apple deign/tech". And obviously whatever SG says is wholly true etc - right?

[Argot @ Jun 29th 2007 7:58AM]

@ukbigbird: I agree. I'm just saying that these were the arguments that Jobs used last night. So that he would announce a 3G-iPhone just a few days later seems a bit odd?

[Lars @ Jun 29th 2007 8:32AM]

Funny how numerous mobile phone makers can create small 3G devices with user replacable batteries without "size and power issues". Pfrt!

[ukbigbird @ Jun 29th 2007 7:45AM]

People seem concerned that an early announcement of a US 3G variant might damage pending sales of the current model. Might Apple not counter that by price-pointing both models accordingly? A la Shuffle, Nano etc?

[Gaz @ Jun 29th 2007 3:18PM]

well something needs to be announced either way, something needs to stop me buying an 810i in august when my contract is up! An date of arrival 2.5G or 3G would be fantastic

[Phil Perman @ Jun 29th 2007 7:45AM]

Nice, but would prefer to see O2 on that list. Not had much experience with Vodafone, although I understand them to be good, but I was using Virgin Mobile for quite a while (who are an MVNO running on T-Mobile's network)and the signal was very poor nearly everywhere I went.

Anyone know what network Carphone Warehouse operate on?

[halfeatenfish @ Jun 29th 2007 7:50AM]

Here's an interesting thought: Parts of the iphone FCC application are still secret. What if the damned phone is 3G all along, and apple just doesn't say so until later today?

It's certainly not beneath them to do something like that! I know it's a wild idea, but certainly possible, no?

[MS @ Jun 29th 2007 8:13AM]

Carphone Warehouse arn't a network, they're a dealer who will sell you a phone for any of the networks.

btw, I'm with TMobile and thier coverage, in my experience, is pretty good. I've changed between O2, Orange and TMob over the years as I've moved house and found I'm in a poor reception area. All the networks are much of a muchness I think you just need to go with the one that has customer service you can get on with and deals you fancy.

[Thomas @ Jun 29th 2007 7:49AM]

:O Oh no, not Carphone Warehouse. There is going to be a marked contrast between the theirs and Apple's customer service.

Shame, I wish o2 had it :(, but still Voda or T-Mobile isn't all that bad.

Just the issue of price now.

[Leemo @ Jun 29th 2007 8:15AM]

Personally I'm chuffed o2 don't have it - and I bloody work for them!

-L

[Peter-P @ Jun 30th 2007 12:13PM]

Totally agree with your comments, Thomas!

CarphoneWareHouse have the lousiest customer services set-up I've ever experienced. They may offer all networks, but I'd rather deal with the network operators directly on a free call than have to use costly 0870 connections to the CPW team.

What about Orange? I know they were supposedly 'excluded' by Apple because they demand too much of their own branding. Maybe instead of the word 'Phone' on the keypad they could have the operators branding in the form of the logo?

[Daniel D @ Jun 29th 2007 7:52AM]

@ukbigbird

[ukbigbird @ Nov 13th 2008 3:28PM]

Wheras complaining about other people is SO much more constructive, Daniel.

Back @ ya, windowlicka.

[mentalsticks @ Jun 29th 2007 8:26AM]

Wow this is easily the most aggressive thread I've ever come across. Enough already!

[dec @ Jun 29th 2007 8:28AM]

Interesting rumour but sounds too soon after the initial release to be talking about announcing a 3G version. Hope the rumour regarding T-Mobile is true as I have never and will never get a mobile from Vodofone. They cripple phones with their crap software and awful logos.