3G iPhone confirmed in Italy without revenue sharing?

We've been avoiding the 3G iPhone rumor mongering as much as possible recently. After all, we know it's coming as both AT&T and Apple have confirmed. Now this: one of Italy's most respected newspapers, La Repubblica (like the WSJ with red sauce), is claiming in no uncertain terms that the 3G iPhone is coming shortly to Telecom Italia without a revenue sharing deal and without long-term exclusivity. If true, this change in strategy opens the doors for a true, global, 3G iPhone launch on UMTS networks around the world come summer time.

We contacted Telecom Italia who refuse to comment on the matter.

[Thanks, jimbojambo and Claudio]

[Liam @ Apr 21st 2008 5:58AM]

UTMS... Bleh... Where is the HSDPA lovin I am so used to on my HTC Tytn II?

[JAmerican @ Apr 21st 2008 6:08AM]

There are tradeoffs to everything. You got HSDPA. iPhone got video drivers. Everyone is happy.

[Sukhminder @ Apr 21st 2008 6:20AM]

Ouch. Low blow

[Nick @ Apr 21st 2008 7:37AM]

Hello.. the N95 has had HSDPA AND decent Video Playback for well over a year now.

[john @ Apr 21st 2008 8:07AM]

What makes you think it wont have HSPA? HSPA sits on top of UMTS. You might very well have HSDPA and/or HSUPA, depending on how exactly they have implemented UMTS. Or may have UMTS in general, and be compatible with certain HSPA on certain networks.

[Phoenix @ Apr 21st 2008 8:32AM]

HSUPA without HSDPA is a bit silly, you'd be uploading faster than you'd be downloading, who wants that?

[Brendan Sheehan @ Apr 21st 2008 8:39AM]

It's looks like Apple might finally be waking up the reality that if they want their phone to be a worldwide, huge hit they can't lock it down to one carrier per country.

[AutoTom @ Apr 21st 2008 5:59AM]

no no no! they did try to comment, people talking in italian isnt doesnt mean 'go away' anymore

[Enzo @ Apr 21st 2008 9:42AM]

Cosa hai detto? Nessuno ti capisco.

What'd you say? No one understands you.

[Rayan @ Apr 21st 2008 6:00AM]

We all know that its coming, the real question is WHEN ? and HOW MUCH ?

[johnwiles @ Apr 21st 2008 6:07AM]

And: If a HSDPA version will also be delivered alongside a UMTS version. Perhaps the HSDPA version will come later/sooner ???

[JakePT @ Apr 21st 2008 6:13AM]

This sounds consistent with the rumours about the Australian iPhone being 3G and not having a revenue deal.

If both rumours are true it certainly sounds like the next iPhone will be a 3G version released globally without a carrier lock in.

[gad get @ Apr 21st 2008 6:36AM]

Huzzah!

[roole @ Apr 21st 2008 8:33AM]

'Huzzah?!"

Do you live in Southern Connecticut?

[max @ Apr 21st 2008 6:26AM]

Italy has the largest cell phone penetration per population in the world. 4 major carriers with lots of competition, TIM has 100 per 100 territory EDGE coverage and almost total 3G UMTS and HSPDA up to 7.2 mbits connection. It's the only country in europe to offer DVB-H content.
It was a big marketing failure for Apple to not introduce the EDGE iphone in Italy before last christmas, no surprise this new deal has something special.

[SPR000X @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:30AM]

FALSE ! Ever heard of Finland? Look it up.

3G,UMTS,DVB-H we have had those for a long time now.

In 2002 we had 80 Mobile phone contracts to 100 citizens.

[Antonio @ Apr 28th 2008 12:42PM]

@SPR000X

Sorry mate, but in Italy there's 122 Mobile phone contracts per 100 citizens.. so Italy 1, Finland 0.. :)

we're crazy for mobiles, that's sure

[PMK @ Apr 21st 2008 6:30AM]

I quit my mobile contract in germany with vodafone cause I wanted to switch to T-Mobile for getting an upcomming 3G iPhone.

A Service lady from vodafone called back and said that the iPhone will also available via vodafone this year. Don't know if she told the truth or was hoping that I stay with vodafone.

[dagamer34 @ Apr 21st 2008 7:15AM]

You were getting played.

[Twitchy @ Apr 21st 2008 7:52AM]

Those Vodafone call centre ladies are such teases.

[Johan S @ Apr 21st 2008 6:32AM]

"3G iPhone confirmed in Italy without revenue sharing?"

You're asking us?

Well I'd say that based on the fact that the sentence ended with a "?" that it's NOT confirmed.

[daniel @ Apr 21st 2008 9:24PM]

Ever heard of rumours?

[giuliop @ Apr 21st 2008 9:16AM]

"Ever heard of rumours?"

Is this a rumour?

[Peter @ Apr 21st 2008 6:41AM]

I seriously hope this does NOT just launch on GSM (2G) networks - otherwise all the 3G would be for nothing :)

[Thomas Ricker @ Apr 21st 2008 7:01AM]

ok, ok. Post updated to be more clear.

Thomas

[joey @ Apr 21st 2008 6:53AM]

to the people asking why theres no HSDPA:

you do realize that UMTS is just referring to the 3G network right? the network that uses HSPA for data. just like saying the original iphone is GSM but asking why no edge.

[Nish Vamadevan @ Apr 21st 2008 6:54AM]

It would be great if it is equipped with GPS

[Twitchy @ Apr 21st 2008 7:55AM]

In all seriousness, as much as I want GPS in the iPhone v2.0, we all know that the most likely scenario would be that GPS would not be available until v3.0. What other draw card could Apple add otherwise in order to force you into upgrade you iPhone again?

[Nish Vamadevan @ Apr 21st 2008 8:02AM]

You're right; Apple is going to save GPS and better Camera for the future versions of iPhone... Preferably 3.0 o even 4.0...

[sd @ Apr 21st 2008 7:36AM]

I live in Europe and my guess is it's true because the problem in some European countries is it's not possible to sell a phone and a mobile contract together. It's illegal to do so in some European countries.
Apple waited for the 3G in those countries but the customers aren't waiting for it, I know quite a few people who buy up to 10 phones in the US, unlock them, charge 30 euros extra for them and sell them over here.
And Bell Company now sells those unlocked phones in their stores!
Some people don't buy them because everytime you update those phones you need to unlock them again, not only that, and perhaps it's a coincidence but they are having some problems with those unlocked phones.
I'm not sure whether that's because they're unlocked but my guess is this does hurt the Apple brand somewhat.
Anyway, in those countries where it's illegal, why fight it or try to restrict people from buying those phones?
Nokia is moving in fast with its N series.
Apple's feeling the heat, let's not fight, let's embrace the demand.
The customers want the iphone so let's give it to them as fast as possible.
That's what this is all about.

[codespiro @ Apr 21st 2008 10:03AM]

Ever heard of Pwnage and BootNeuter (ing)!!! No matter what firmware the phone stays unlocked...

[Zut @ Apr 21st 2008 7:36AM]

How on earth does any of this rumour, speculation, and a mish-mash of unverified reports count as confirmation?

Just wanting this thing doesn't make it exist you know!

[cmc @ Apr 21st 2008 7:44AM]

The "?" is a way of getting round that for a good headline

[valerio @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:41AM]

I think when they report that the CEO of TIM has flown to Cupertino to sign the deal, and no one denies it, that's pretty much confirmed.

But sure enough this must annoy Steve who normally likes to keep things hush hush...

[John @ Apr 21st 2008 7:44AM]

Please people! The semen is all over the place here!

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 21st 2008 10:10AM]

...

[Nik Schubert @ Apr 21st 2008 7:46AM]

Hey guys, i know its second or third hand info but a friend of mine who is going to be working at the up and coming George Street Apple Store, in Sydney, Australia (he will be working at the genius bar) happened to mention to me that it has been confirmed that it IS coming and it should be by the end of june/early july.

Hope this is useful!

[Zut @ Apr 21st 2008 7:57AM]

Well, I'm convinced.

Thank you so much for providing such an important public service. So many morons on the web would just make up crap like this, but we ALL know that friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of yours is a source we can trust.

[b@sil @ Apr 21st 2008 7:57AM]

This sounds consistent with the rumours about the Australian iPhone being 3G and not having a revenue deal, plus the rumours about the Greek 3G iPhone (http://www.iphonehellas.gr/537/iphone-cosmote-iphone-hellas). Iphone is coming to ALL major European countries!!!

My guess is that Apple learned from their mistake (Over 1 million iPhones sold via the Black Market!) and they are going to cut loose the revenue deal with exclusive Carriers (At least at some countires where the law forbids it)

[bladeslap @ Apr 21st 2008 12:40PM]

Greece is almost out of money. Not quite sure they can afford it ;) Seriously, I think it's just going to be an easier strategy in the long-term to sell the unlocked version as opposed to getting all these exclusive contracts, having so many different variations of the phone ... Perhaps they're realizing that the sheer number of unlocked phones they can sell without a 2 years commitment may far outweigh the potential profit that can be had by forcing people to lock into a contract.

On another note, do you think Apple was REALLY upset that people figured out how to unlock the phone? They love the fact they can sell more phones now!

http://www.3GiPhoneInfo.com

[ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 21st 2008 8:26AM]

Interesting...

[Surur @ Apr 21st 2008 8:58AM]

So after the relative failure of the iPhone in Europe (selling at half the rate of the iPhone in USA), and with European carriers taking a hit in their expensive inventory, it seems Apple has lost the negotiating power to force a revenue sharing deal on the carriers.

Or maybe they relaized if they want to sell their expensive product they need to have the phone subsidized, just like many other phones in some parts of Europe.

Having lost the upper hand thus, one wonders what else will be left out of the iPhone in Italy- maybe no visual voice mail and unlimited data plan like in Ireland on O2?

[Icchansan @ Apr 21st 2008 9:05AM]

why need to lock the iphone, let it free n steve will be more rich gosh!

[d4rk_b@dg3r @ Apr 21st 2008 9:21AM]

I still can't believe that peeps would be willing to part with so much cash for a phone, there is definitely a problem here.
God bless free UK phones with contracts, so many more features on the current phones available for an 18 month contract but sadly no access to the wonderful apple *"community" .
If one more person says "it just works" to me, I will loose it.





(*see suckers).

[Paul @ Apr 21st 2008 2:38PM]

"If one more person says "it just works" to me, I will loose it."

Does anyone study English in school anymore?

[BK @ Apr 21st 2008 9:31AM]

When did Apple confirm the 3G phone?

[IndiaTech @ Apr 21st 2008 1:37PM]

Well it wasn't exactly Apple. Just Walt Mossberg at the Finnish Embassy. So this does mean uncle Walty was right!

[hwoarang27 @ Apr 21st 2008 9:38AM]

"Ever heard of rumours?"
Yes, but the LG Rumor is not considered a "power user" phone.
It's for the texting noob masses.

[Richard NL, European Union @ Apr 21st 2008 9:42AM]

Hmm.. I hope they're gonna put both european AND american 3G bands in the phone instead of making two versions, i need to buy it in the states, it's a helluva lot cheaper over there!

[ace @ Apr 21st 2008 10:11AM]

give me 2100mhz!