3G iPhone for Europe to be announced Monday?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jun 29th 2007 7:09AM
posted Jun 29th 2007 7:09AM
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]
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.
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....
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
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...
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?
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.
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_
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.
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!
Grab iphone for $499, insert your sim-card and you're FREE!
UNLOCK iPhone! New contest with prize!
We've already heard that EDGE was preferred over 3G because 3G is a power hog and has size issues, so probably not.
I would rather have EDGE and longer battery life then 3G and have to charge it every 4 hours. He's not alone jesse
Juan its just as well your battery will last longer to allow you enough time to open a couple of web pages using EDGE.
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.
EU has already won...you don't have Bush.
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
Wesley, if that were true you would already be in line somewhere.
As i predicted several weeks ago...!
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?
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.
Motorola are American, and as far as I can remember, have never released anything other than crap, so why change now?
Uhh... Motarola's output EVERYWHERE is crap. Yes, even here in "fragile Europe".
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
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!
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.
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....
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!
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.
@ ukgeezer - Neither helps you make funny jokes either.
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
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..
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...
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.
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.
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.
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?
@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?
Funny how numerous mobile phone makers can create small 3G devices with user replacable batteries without "size and power issues". Pfrt!
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?
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
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?
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?
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.
: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.
Personally I'm chuffed o2 don't have it - and I bloody work for them!
-L
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?
@ukbigbird
Wheras complaining about other people is SO much more constructive, Daniel.
Back @ ya, windowlicka.
Wow this is easily the most aggressive thread I've ever come across. Enough already!
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.
Actually, most people in Europe know what EDGE and 3G are, expecially in those two mobile crazed countries (UK&Italy). They know they have to deliver the goods before landing an EU distribution deal
http://phones2udirect.co.uk/Products/type/phones/ProductID/7817/NetworkID/6
:)
Why can't you just wait today until MacFixit is going to pull apart an iPhone and dissect its innards. Maybe they can tell what chips are actually being used instead of just guessing about it.
I would be happy if there really is a 3G chip in it and it just needs to be enabled via software. You people are complaining about what the iPhone does and does not have and yet the only people that had them might have been using pre-release versions and not retail versions. Just wait another twelve hours or so.
As stated before, it is either a 3G iPhone in Europe or no iPhone in Europe.
In the Netherlands, there was only one carrier operating EDGE, and even this carrier recently shut down the EDGE network forcing mobile internet users to move over to 3G.
So at least in the Netherlands, EDGE is not even a possibility.
On the other hand, 3G coverage is now 95% of the country over here and close to 100% in any major city.
Actually, Vodafone were giving away a free iPhone Ringtone on Voafone Live! in Australia a few months back.
I find the idea of Carphone Warehouse selling the iPhone especially exciting since they sell all their phones sim-free.
Sounds like great news, Asfor the carphone not having networks they have 3 fresh mobile worls and talktalk mobile. i beleave these run on tmobile.
The 3G setup in the US must be radically different from here in the UK where it's rapidly becoming the norm. Like other posters I have no idea what's stopping Apple putting 3G in the iPhone as plenty of other manufacturers manage without creating huge phones.
The other factor for Europe is cost. You'll struggle to get me to pay 300 quid for a phone regardless what features it has. (And that's presuming $2 = 1 pound!)
What are the battery specs on this thingamagik? Is it user-replaceable? Or has it to be sent to Apple for a battery replacement, from where it'll be returned to you with a new battery, and some bonus unsightly pry-tool marks?
Hellooooo! You are forgeting (intentionaly or not!)that every cell phone producer is manufacturing its products that can match as much as possible to the CARRIERS capabilities.Why Apple should deliver 3G iPhones to the crappy American mobile mobille networks which, just between us, are not capable of such performances (3G sic!)as those from Europe.That's why you should point to the american mobille carriers not the mobille phone producers. They charge american people high prices for crappy services.And you can say that those guys,are beliving that american consumer is stupid. At list, it appears to be like that if you ae looking at their attitude versus the usual american consumer.So, the Apple Company, will launch the 3G iPhone where it can be eficiently used at the full extend of its capabilities. , like it or not. And this is natural ant logical. Period!
!. Carphone warehouse sells its phones unlocked, which apple would hate
2. Carphone warehouse no longer sells vodafone
Makes me extremely skeptical of a vodafone/carphone warehouse iphone anytime soon
Even if I wanted to replace my TyTN with an iPhone (which I don't), I would be a little apprehensive about buying a 1st generation release of the iPhone. I would like to hear from actual customers in the field and see how the device matures (and upgrades). As far as I'm concerned, the iPhone's technology (if not its interface) is already obsolete.
No A2DP
No Cut-and-Paste
No 3G
Fairly Closed System
Let's see what can be upgraded via software...
Seriously? I didn't know i couldn't use bluetooth stereo headphones with it - thats rubbish!
Phone in Europe and Asia always get 3G these days. iPhone can not compete on looks alone in those markets.
Almost all Nokia phones are 3G in Europe and Asia and they are not in America, like the N95.
I would have preferred to see Orange over any other, they have a better price/ customer service balance than any other operator.
In the time I spent in the UK I found Orange to be the best in coverage and certainly in Customer Service. I don't see why it has to be exclusives (as that would sell more phones, not that I want the iPhone to sell more...). I guess Vodafone is more of a global network than Orange.
What's so strange about T-Mobile is that they are quite global and also exist in the US so smarter thinking would have put T-Mobile exclusive on both sides of the atlantic.
And then you have to think of places like Norway that have none global networks. The only two are Telenor & Netcom and Telenor is consistent in making available unlocked phones even on contract.
Orange is good for phones coverage - they are who i have my voice contract with but their largest data plan is 30MB (they class this as unlimited!) and it aint cheap so they wouldn't be a good choice for the iphone.
There's no way it'll launch with just EDGE here in the UK - it'll be doomed to failure as there is bugger all coverage of EDGE in the UK that I've seen (and I live in London where it should be everywhere right!?). Its gonna have to be 3G speeds cos GPRS doesn't cut it on a WAP phone with pages of a few Kbs let alone full web pages on a 'full' browser!!
Guys, as far as 3G radios being too big, the Blackjack has one and it weighs a lot less than the iPhone. And to conserve power, you can drop a 3G phone down to a slower speed. I think folks are dreaming if they think the iPhone has a secret 3G radio that isn't being used because Apple would prefer to get blasted for the iPhone's speed.
I've heard it said the iPhone wi-fi support compensates for Edge, but you know 95% of the time if I'm in a wi-fi area, I have access to a PC. And if I have access to a PC, I'm going to surf the web on a 19 inch screen, not a 3.5 inch one.
EDGE just doesn't click to the more sophisticate EU users, I'm not buying that battery life crap. I bet Carphone Whorehouse and others will be licking their lips in anticipation, but I'd put my money on Vodafone, if only because they are the biggest competitors and cover all the major markets, UK, Germany, Italy, etc.
Here's a video of Guy Kewney, who would trust anything that guy has to say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5evS-ApSNQ
If it's on two different networks in Europe, does that mean it will not have a sim-lock on it? Then I could use it on my T-Mob US. That would be sweetness. Here's hopin'!
I asked a T-Mobile person and they said that unless the iPhone is 3g that carriers in the UK might not accept it!
Will vodafone (hutch) will launch an iphone in INDIA.
In response to this article, I went to the Grand Opening of an AT&T store here in
Winston-Salem, NC to inquire about the iphone. The sales rep told me that I could pre-register for the phone when it came out in June, or wait until December 2007 and get the 3g version which will be able to do video. I am taking her advice and waiting. I asked her why they did it this way, she said to keep the hype up about the phone six months after the debut.
3G is almost the nom here in the UK so it wouldn't surprise me to see a 3G iPhone. As for cost Apple will have a hard time charging £250 over here for the phone considering most contracts come with a free phone. Two year contracts are pretty unheard of too with 12 or 18months being the norm.
YAY LETS MOVE TO KOREA!
It's like this, Apple can PRESENT a 3G iPhone on Monday but not release. I mean if noone knows early enough when the iPhone will be avaible in stores it's going to et a fight. Another problem with Europe is that the only official Apple Stores are in Italy and GB! THe others have to order on the web.
Imagine that lol! Lets say abou 100.000 ppl on one website at the same time ordering IPhone and theres not enough for all of them!
Apples website would go DOWN!
iSuckers! I'll wait in ver 2.0 w/3G!
Crazy! US gets played!
According to pre-release info Apple chose EDGE/GSM so it would be compatible with EU and wouldn't require a new rev. The 3g phone was purportedly planned for Asia, no?
All of this pissing & whining about this silly phone from Apple, from the same people stupid enough to go buy a music playing device crippled with DRM & Apple's proprietary software. Wake up, smell reality people. Its not like this is the only PDA phone on the planet... :/
Having the MAC OS on your phone.
Apple WILL announce the iPhone's European debut on Monday, but won't mention anything about 3G. But, the iPhone released in Europe WILL in fact be 3G (i.e. iPhone 2nd Gen) and not out until early 2008.
Wow.... thats alot of comments.
There is NO edge network at all in the UK. And very few in Europe. But it does have a great area of 3G coverage.
Apple really has no choice but to release the iPhone with 3G in Europe if it wants the phone to have speeds faster than GPRS (typically less then half the speed of dial up). Being that the iPhone centres around the internet a GPRS only phone is highly unlikely.
I believe (correct me if I am wrong), that 3G coverage in America is very weak as compared with edge. Apple wants to keep the iPhone's form factor as small as it can, so adding both technology's to the phone may prove a little pointless until 3G's coverage in America is higher. So it's possible that America will not get a 3G version for a long time.
I guess its also possible that the iPhone is already 3G ready and apple will activate this feature at a later date, just like it did with Airport Extreme. Although I can't see a huge benefit in doing this.
It's nice that Europe will have an iPhone this year. Here in Japan all the major carriers, KDDI, NTT, and Softbank desperately want to carry the iPhone. I hope all of them do, compete aggressively and we can have a great discount subscription service for owning an iPhone in Japan.
Of course, if it's not even at least 3G, nobody is going to shell out over 50,000 Yen for a mobile phone. Although during the Windows 95 craze, there were old people lining up to buy one even if they didn't own a computer.
Both my girlfriend and I have recently acquired new phones, my girlfriend an LG Prada on Orange, I a Sony-Ericsson w880i on Vodafone.
Besides obvious comparisons of the Prada and iPhone, hers has no orange branding whatsoever apart from one link to Orange World in the browser, and a Orange customer support option in SIM services. My w880 in contrast has a completely bastardised set of keys, replacing the toolbar and web buttons with answer/reject buttons and a huge vodafone logo emblazoned on the front. Software-wise, it gets worse. The toolbar is jammed-full of vodafone bookmarks, with its core functionality of multi-task switching destroyed due to the lack of a hardware key. The browser itself is also completely invaded by the same vodafone bookmarks, with none for common services like google, which the Prada possesses.
Note also that vodafone clearly gets any money from data fees, and with easy-to-access links and non-descript items, surely they will get a lot of money off 'accidental' clicks.
The walkman icon is replaced with a music menu option, which then displays the walkman app along-side 4 useless premium vodafone services.
My need for a rant has at last been satiated, but my point is this: I would hate to see what vodafone could do to the iPhone, I doubt they could curb their corporate money-grabbing for long enough.
I live in the UK and think apple are mad. They should just have launched the iphone worldwide, unlocked (any network) with 3G and other formats. Then they could have made the history books with the worlds biggest / most talked about phone, selling millions around the globe. kicking ass on there ipod success story.
Apple seems to have confirmed a release in Denmark some time within the three last months of the year to a Danish tv station. And it would be 3g
What do I care? We aren't scheduled to get the iPhone in New Zealand until 2008. And not just the beginning of 208, oh no, the word is 'sometime' in 2008 - after the demand everywhere else in the world dies down, we then might officially get the iPhone. Sucks to be us. I hate you all, you lucky little bastards ;)
Well, today is the day. Where is the annoucement?
but vith edge and 3g this european iphone will be fast as us iphone????
Who said that the US iPhone IS fast????!!!!
Monday has been and gone and everything has gone quiet, to be honest I'm not surprised at all - it's all hype!
@MrViao
Whats wrong with having an iPhone capable of 3G in Europe but not in America. America gets a lot of things Europe doesn't, but only you seem to complain.....
You get the 80GB PS3, right? You got HDTV and blu-ray/HD-DVD first. You got other hardware and games first. If networks don't ask for 3G, why would Apple be bothered to put it in.