T-Mobile admits that 3G iPhone will be tested in Austria

derStandard, the same publication that announced that the iPhone would be sailing into Austria via T-Mobile is now reporting that the same carrier will be testing the 3G iPhone in the aforesaid country. During a press conference in Vienna, T-Mo Austria reportedly affirmed that a UMTS version of Apple's handset would "soon be available," and that Austria would be the "testing ground" for the new mobile -- not to mention "among the first countries in the world with the UMTS iPhone." Furthermore, bigwigs stated that "more flexible" offers would be made available, but details beyond that were scant.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[ThePremierAssassin @ May 6th 2008 10:31AM]

3G iphone CONFIRMED!?

[ThePremierAssassin @ May 6th 2008 10:37AM]

P.S. Engadget try to come up with a NEW picture for 3G iPhone rumors/stories...that one is sorta getting old.

[Khattab @ May 6th 2008 10:46AM]

Yep.

[Adam @ May 6th 2008 10:31AM]

Cool.

[Argot @ May 6th 2008 10:34AM]

Just buy the Touch Diamond instead and get a real phone. The iTurd is really left behind in the dust at this stage.

[Alex @ May 6th 2008 10:46AM]

lay off the crystal meth

[Richy @ May 6th 2008 10:54AM]

And you know this because you have such great first hand experience of both?

[Xtole @ May 6th 2008 11:07AM]

.... and use a Microsoft OS? I think not.

[geekmorgan @ May 6th 2008 10:35AM]

Does AT&T use UMTS in North America?

[Rich @ May 6th 2008 10:39AM]

Yes, AT&T uses UMTS/HSDPA.

[X-BLADE @ May 6th 2008 10:40AM]

Give me some blurry-"in the wild"-images too

[Blake @ May 6th 2008 11:04AM]

They were going to be the testing ground. Apple does not like companies that give away Apple secrets so they may move it to a different company.

[Ali Noor @ May 6th 2008 11:07AM]

Well from what I have seen and heard IF there is a new iPhone in the mix the best time for it to come out would be sometime after July may be in august because by then the people who bought the phone in June July would be half way through their current contracts with AT&T and it would be easier to finish the old contract with a lump sum payment and opt for a new contract with a new iPhone for $199.
I mean from a strict business point of view this would help them secure all the initial customers apple hooked on the iPhone back in June July for 18 more months.

Ps What a phone though(wrote all this from the comfort of my toilet seat)

[Steven Eckelberry @ May 6th 2008 11:14AM]

Stupid question... but is there any chance of importing a 3g iPhone to the US? Would that work?

[Derry Quinn @ May 6th 2008 1:03PM]

But it will be introduced there anyway *puzzled*

[toto @ May 6th 2008 11:20AM]

thats a misunderstanding t-mobile said that "austria is a good market for testing 3g phones" in general not in particular the iphone

plus the iphone didn't sell that well yet so its doubtful we are first to get the 3g iphone

[Adam @ May 6th 2008 11:50AM]

Im glad that someone can read between the lines or for that matter just read the lines. This is a perfect example of what happens when everyone reads and listens to everything they see on here.

[doc_fun @ May 6th 2008 11:59AM]

I can second that, the statement is misinterpreted. Actually at the press conference it was stated that the current sales of the iPhone were disappointing and as an explanation they stated that it was because Austria was a test market for 3G and hence people aren't willing to buy outdated phone technology anymore. In another quote later it was simply stated that a 3G iPhone is coming and that T-Mobile will sell it in Austria but that they are not authorized to disclose when this is going to happen.

Just to further explain: in Austria 3G has been available for about 3 years now and there are 4 different carriers with over 90% counrtywide 3G coverage up to 7,2 MBit each. So it is not surprising that a 2G phone doesn't sell like hotcakes.

[mountaindeeew @ May 6th 2008 1:04PM]

doc_fun: Actually, 3G has been around in Austria since 2003 (first provider was Hutchison).

[Seth A @ May 6th 2008 12:32PM]

What do we exactly mean by "Test Market" though. I can't see that as something Apple would do publicly. I am still betting on a Global release on the same day, more than likely June 9th.

[nikster @ May 7th 2008 4:58AM]

Austria is a test market for mobiles because you can test price point and acceptance; it's a highly competitive market; it's very small so if you get it wrong - no big deal; 3G is available everywhere.

I know several hard-core Apple fans and gadget freaks in Austria and none has an iPhone. Reason: Current one too expensive with that 2 year contract, and unlike the U.S. you can't just buy and unlock it b/c they won't sell you one without. And they're waiting for 3G.

That said, Apple really isn't a company that has ever done "test markets" so I don't think it will suddenly start doing this with the 3G iPhone. Apple will go all out and release it everywhere, and is not afraid to change the deal completely if something doesn't work. See the $200 price drop, and now the non-exclusivity, which it's switched to as quickly as was possible without violating existing contracts with exclusive carriers. At last. I told them that from the beginning but they wouldn't listen ;)

[shellac @ May 6th 2008 1:27PM]

T-Mobile should make sure there is adequate coverage of cellar dungeons, since that appears to constitute a significant market share in that country.

[fannon99 @ May 6th 2008 4:12PM]

so does this mean there won't be a 3G iphone release in june? it seems like testing will take loner than a month.

[nikster @ May 7th 2008 5:02AM]

Maybe they're already testing it?

AT&T basically has given away the release date by telling employees they can't take a vacation between mid june and mid july.

[pushplay @ May 7th 2008 5:26PM]

the hills are alive with the sound from ear buds