Where the hell is the 3G iPhone for Europe? We might know.

The only thing more slippery than an iPhoneSIMFree release date has to be the magically, mystical 3G iPhone rumored for Europe. At least with the latter, Apple has been kind enough to drop a few dreggy hints. Add 'em all up and Apple Expo -- kicking off September 25th -- seems to be the prime time for Apple to announce a new flagship 16GB, 3G iPhone. Don't believe it? Check this:

• Berlin's IFA show is over with nay a peep from Apple or from the major European carriers about a European iPhone, even though the deals seem pretty well sewn-up.

• Apple's current top-o-the-line 8GB iPhone just received a remarkable $200 drop in price. That opens the door for another iPhone priced at what's been proven to be a consumer-acceptable, $599 price point.

• That $200 easily buys Apple a total of 16GB of NAND flash (about $70 for the extra 8GB) like that found in their new iPod touch as well as a tri-band HSDPA radio with plenty of profit left over.

• Apple told us during the Q3 fiscal call that more information about the European iPhone would be made available at the end of their current -- big product transition -- fiscal quarter which ends September 30th.

• Apple Expo has seen the launch of the redesigned iMac G5 and other Apple products in the past.

Pretty strong case eh? Of course, we're only speculating, but we're not alone. In fact, 9to5Mac who burst onto the rumor scene recently with their nano "fatty" and iPod touch details was humming a similar tune just a few weeks ago. Apple Expo kicks off in 20 days, anybody else booking their flights?

Read -- 9to5Mac rumor from 17 August

[NSoria @ Sep 5th 2007 5:37PM]

w3rd, but I guess I want my OWN 3g iphone... not read about the european's and theirs? :-\ that's the last thing holding me back from purchasing an iphone.

[stillen @ Sep 5th 2007 5:51PM]

A $200 price break makes it very tempting, but lack of 3G as well as lack of stereo bluetooth is what is holding me back. Stereo bluetooth wouldn't be as high on my list, but I have it now....once you have it, it's hard to go back. I guess we'll have to just hope for these in a Gen2 *US Version* iPhone.

[T H @ Sep 5th 2007 6:22PM]

I agree 100%.. 3G (plus some sort of chat client) and I'm SOLD.

[EdZ @ Sep 5th 2007 6:51PM]

Oh yeah? Well us europeans want to get our hands on our OWN iPhone, and not read about Americans and theirs.

It looks like a toss-up between getting an iPod touch now and for 'cheap' £200), or waiting a month and /maybe/ getting an iPhone for a fair chunk more (SIM-free = price hike, contract = no thanks).

[Mike @ Sep 5th 2007 7:34PM]

@EdZ

iPod touch seems to be shipping on the 28th of Sept. I'm going to wait. I don't see the harm in it.

[NSoria @ Sep 5th 2007 8:19PM]

nah dude... I mean you europeans get yours, I'm all for that... but why would an american company give more features to their european model that a lot of us AMERICAN'S want to get their hands on. It just doesn't make sense to me. I want 3g, punta final.

[LordFarkward @ Sep 5th 2007 10:10PM]

while i agree that there'll be a $599 iphone soon again, i don't think it'll be 3G AND 16gb. knowing apple, i think the future iphone line up will be:

1) 8gb EDGE iphone @ $399
2) 16gb EDGE iphone @ $499
3) 8gb 3G (i doubt that it'll be HSDPA) iphone @ $599

[LordFarkward @ Sep 5th 2007 10:13PM]

actually, having given it more thought (for like 10 secs), extra $200 bucks just for 3G does seem ridiculous. ok the $599 iphone will iether be a 16gb 3G one or an 8gb 3.5G. still not *really* worth it, but it seems plausible.

[jjunkers @ Sep 6th 2007 12:56AM]

There is no way that they would come out with a 3G model and still sell EDGE models. Has any phone ever doen that? Its not like it is that much different for them to allow the phone to use 3G. I think apple preys on the people that need to be first to have the new technology. They waited 10 weeks to drop the price, now everyone that didnt buy them in the first 10 weeks will pick one up and then on the 25th they'll release the 3g models so all these techophiliacs (myself included) will upgrade and sell their EDGE iphone on ebay to all the patient people that dont care if they are first or not.

[Arjy @ Sep 5th 2007 5:37PM]

Hmm, would the 3G 16gb iPhone be europe only?

[Shon @ Sep 5th 2007 5:42PM]

only until it gets unlocked

[eh @ Sep 5th 2007 6:23PM]

After todays ridiculous price drop I can only think that they will be replacing ALL iphones with 3G models at the end of the year. You simply dont give a $200 price drop after just a couple of months unless you are trying to liquidate your stock.

[Michael @ Sep 5th 2007 6:23PM]

Better not be Europe only. I'm sick of Europeans getting better phones first.

[Twitchy @ Sep 5th 2007 7:42PM]

Europeans getting all the goo phones first? They still don't have the iPhone, nor the full selection of T-Mobile phones (like the sidekick), although T-Mobile is Deutsche Telekom. At least you can console yourself with the fact that here in New Zealand we are one of the last to get anything.

And yes, the 3G iPhone will most likely be released worldwide - makes more economic sense (with economies of scale and all that). Also, that way Apple pockets all the profit, instead of those unlocking 3G iPhones and selling them to everyone else.

[Gerry @ Sep 6th 2007 1:08AM]

'This month, iphone software update' slide would point to this being not just for Europe. Hopefully they'll keep first gen iphone owners happy with new updates.

Also, please bring it to Canada!!

[Ian Rendall @ Sep 6th 2007 12:02PM]

Europeans are sick of Americans getting stuff like Xbox 360's PS3's and games first. Touche.

[brooke r. @ Sep 5th 2007 5:39PM]

Hmm... 16GB 3G Euro iPhone + iPhoneSIMFree = TMobile device to make everyone drool?

[ItsTheOMGShow @ Sep 5th 2007 5:50PM]

T-Mobile's forthcoming 3G is incompatible with European and AT&T 3G.

So, no.

[synthaxx @ Sep 5th 2007 5:42PM]

Actually you'd be talking about only an additional 8Gb which according to the NAND Exchange would go for as little as $16 ($29.73 for 16Gb)
(see http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20070828PR204.html for the full report).

[jasondefaoite @ Sep 5th 2007 6:00PM]

That's 30 bucks for 16Gb (ie 2GB). Times 8 will give you 240 bucks for 16GB of flash. Why o why did they not put a hard drive in the iPod touch :(

[synthaxx @ Sep 5th 2007 6:06PM]

Official: I am idiot, thanks for correcting me ;)

[DaveC @ Sep 5th 2007 5:42PM]

It's funny, I haven't spoken to one person who thinks the iPhone will make it over here. Too expensive, and the UK/EU mobile phone market offers alot more different quality phones which more than likely all go for less than the iPhone will, I somehow think the iPhone might not be as well recieved over here.

[AC @ Sep 5th 2007 5:53PM]

Tell that to everyone who has unlocked the present iPhone so that they can use it on their European service....

[TMLC @ Sep 5th 2007 5:54PM]

I'm danish, and I would buy one, if I didn't already have an N95. Besides I think germans would go for it too. My impression is that they love hyped tech gear.

[Joey @ Sep 6th 2007 9:05PM]

yeah, even when Apple said late 07?

[The Grand Master @ Sep 5th 2007 8:06PM]

I'd buy one in an instant, even if it does come with the standard Apple Euro price-gouge.

[Alex @ Sep 5th 2007 5:42PM]

To point something out, your math is a little flawed...

You basically said that an extra $200 buys Apple a 16gb chip and a 3G radio... But you also kind of need to subtract the cost of an 8gb chip. Point being, it gives Apple room for more profit.

But yeah. If Apple came out with a 3G iPhone with 16gb in the US I would be on it like no other.

[Thomas Ricker @ Sep 5th 2007 5:48PM]

@synthaxx and Alex,

You're right, I've corrected. Thanks.

Thomas

[David @ Sep 5th 2007 5:43PM]

Can I come please? lol

[thegrey @ Sep 5th 2007 5:44PM]

3G better be hidden inside my iphone....

[McGinley @ Sep 5th 2007 5:49PM]

I'd be more excited about this (being from Ireland) but I expect that the iPhone here will be more expensive than in America.

Im just going by the fact that everything apple here is more expensive.For example on the Irish Apple store the iPod classic 80gb is listed at 249 EURO.Thats the equivalent of 340 dollars or thereabouts.The 160gb model is 349 euro.Thats 476 US Dollars.

Absolutely unacceptable.

[Tom Jackson @ Sep 5th 2007 5:58PM]

yeah, i hate the cost of living here in the UK everything is twice as expensive as it is in America, shame. I also agree with DaveC, the Iphone is going into mercy waters when it comes to the European mobile phone market.

[RoCKSTaH226 @ Sep 5th 2007 7:11PM]

Yeah but what's your salary like in a year? If you make something similar to someone in the states doing the same job only in EURO, then it all evens out. Not to mention is an American based company (albeit producing products in places like Taiwan... but who isn't?), wouldn't it be expected that having to ship something across the pond would raise your price? Don't get me wrong... I'm not justifying an extra $100 per item, but there are a number of factors that don't make it SO unacceptable.

I'm hoping by some miracle that it will be possible to open this 16GB 3G version up to the states... I still have to stick with AT&T, but it's still better than the version available today.

[Brad @ Sep 5th 2007 8:27PM]

T-Mobile USA 3G is in the FDD4 frequency band of WCDMA. AT&T uses FDD2 and FDD5.

[Jason Carroll @ Sep 5th 2007 5:50PM]

Check out the pics of the iPhone w/ the new iTunes WiFi store...the icon is on the far right. Likely total coincidence, but what if this was another gap in the Springboard like the iPod Touch announcement? What if there is room for more apps like iChat, etc?

[RoCKSTaH226 @ Sep 5th 2007 7:20PM]

I would agree 100%. I am a UI designer myself (who would love to work for Apple someday Steve Jobs if you're reading this gimme a ring), and there is no logic to putting that all the way on the right, especially when all the initial iPhone shots before they added YouTube had the bottom 3 icons left justified. I agree that iChat could be coming, but what are the others? a few more widgets?

By the same logic, it was obvious they would add apps from day 1 just by the homepage design... again as a UI designer, it would make no sense to leave a blank row if that was all you planned on putting in there. And a company that prides itself on usability and such, they wouldn't just up and make a mistake like that.

WiFi iTunes has been in the works for a long time... they said they'd been working with Starbucks for 2 YEARS on this idea... kinda makes you wonder what they're coming up with now that will be released in 2 years...

However, if they left off YouTube while making everything look final (left justified), why wouldn't they go to the effort of making this look left justified too? It's a simple photoshop job... unless they consider it part of the bottom menu items in which case they are adding it in the right place in my opinion.

[Santz24 @ Sep 5th 2007 5:54PM]

I live in Spain, and after today's events I'm seriously considering buying the 16GB ipod touch. I'm desperate to use the multitouch magic, and i quite honestly cant wait for it to come out here! Plus the prices will be sky high, the ipods actually cost about 130$ more over here. I think I'll wait until this conference, see if they announce a decent date for it to come out in Spain and if they don't, ill just go for the touch.

[FireFox @ Sep 5th 2007 5:56PM]

You can't deny this : it's about bloody time we fellow europeans deserve an iPhone!

[Jason @ Sep 5th 2007 5:57PM]

Lack of 3G and GPS are what keep me from buying the iPhone. If it had those two features I would buy it instantly.

Imagine Google Map directions with live GPS on your iPhone. Mount that in your car and now you have a GPS navigation unit, mp3 player, and phone all in one. One can only wish.

[Todd Long @ Sep 5th 2007 6:30PM]

Oh yeah, the GPS would be killer and the 3G would be an added bonus. Though I couldn't wait and ended up getting the iPhone. But, if they do release an updated iPhone with 16GB along with GPS and 3G then I will definitely hop on board. I think it would be bad ass if you could mount this in your car and get turn-by-turn automatically with GPS.

[Chrisphillers @ Sep 5th 2007 7:33PM]

Erm, that already exists! Its called the N95 - It has GPS, google maps and mp3/video functionality, indeed mine has 4gb storage already, and an 8gb card is coming out in Oct.

[Jason @ Sep 6th 2007 1:09AM]

Yes, but the N95 is $750. I doubt adding GPS and 3G to the iPhone would make it $750. Probably back to the $600 pricepoint.

[sam @ Sep 5th 2007 5:57PM]

sorry about my language, i start to believe that you apple fanboys like getting scr****d in the ass. slap your face with a $100/month early adaptor tax and you beg for more...

[Brad Sanders @ Sep 5th 2007 6:01PM]

3g and more memory is nice and all but the only real thing keeping me from going out and buying one today is that is has no exchange push support. With my Cingular 8125 that has gone from neat new feature to absolute must have in a phone.

[RazorD @ Sep 5th 2007 6:04PM]

Also, i'm pretty sure i read its law that any phone sold locked to a network in the UK *HAS* to be unlockable, with a minimal charge to cover the hassle of it (in reality, that minimal charge is always about £30/$61)

[FireFox @ Sep 5th 2007 6:10PM]

Great law! In Belgium we have a different variant of that law. Apple will NOT be allowed to be selling an iPhone fixed to one carier/operator only. They just can't !! That is either great for us OR there won't be a phone.

[Joel G @ Sep 5th 2007 6:04PM]

wth?

[Chrisphillers @ Sep 5th 2007 6:59PM]

@ The iPhone Unlock - 3g isnt expensive in Europe - Im on unlimited 3.5g tariff with Tmobile for just £7.50 a month.;)

[The iPhone Unlock @ Sep 5th 2007 6:07PM]

Seriously, i just bought an iPhone from USA.. they now drop the price with 200 USD, whenever it comes out in europa it probably still has a lock but then for those providers who will sell them. Then all those people who bought their iPhone are like.. WTF? i paid 600 USD for a phone which is replaced by the same fucking brand in 6 months, for the same price i paid for it? HELLO? The iPhone is really a great phone, but i think those who bought it probably too early feel kinda fucked.. seriously i paid 750 EUROS for my 8GB iPhone.. now i see this 4GB iPhone for 220 EUR (300 USD) at the apple shop.. haha.. i just bought a phone for my girlfriend.. a nokia 6300 for 280 EUR, thats like 'a cheap' phone in Holland.. if you compare it to the HTC models, BlackBerry's, HP iPaq's, and phones like N95, N73, U700/600, G600.. it's cheap. EVEN A FUCKING IPHONE WITH 4GB IS CHEAPER THAN A NOKIA 6300!!! im going insane.. are you guys in USA all poor or something (no offense) you're not but why these prices are so low anyway.. like 599 USD for an iPhone in first place, is only 420 EUR.. it's not cheap, but also absolutly not expensive.....

/me crazy

[FireFox @ Sep 5th 2007 6:11PM]

Calm down you angry dutchman !