New iPhones approved in capacities from 4GB up to 32GB?

4GB to 32GB -- that's one hell of a range, but we're hearing from a trusted source that new iPhones in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities just garnered approval by the PCS Type Review Certification Board, the standards body responsible for certificating handsets for use with some carriers (AT&T, for instance). If true, this would lend credence to the belief that Apple will be introducing at least two new models this summer -- ostensibly at WWDC, until we're told otherwise -- because it seems unlikely that the company would be looking to wrap high-end hardware around ridiculously light storage or vice versa. If this means AT&T's going to be able to sell sub-$100 iPhones, it reinforces a precedent set by devices like the E71x that consumers can (and should) expect hot smartphone hardware for shockingly little cash. We'll drink to that.

[Bosco @ Jun 1st 2009 4:48PM]

It would be way better if Apple got some other carriers too! Bring it to Sprint, and I'll buy one of each size.

[Idlemind @ Jun 1st 2009 4:57PM]

yeah.... "way better"

[Tair @ Jun 1st 2009 5:13PM]

Surely 4GB and 8GB capacities would point towards the iPhone Nano? It's not like Apple to downgrade models, and the PCS didn't state what TYPES of iPhone the capacities referred to...

...to much to think about. Bring on WWDC.

[Tair @ Jun 1st 2009 5:14PM]

EDIT: "too" much to think about.

I hate making silly mistakes.

[snowglyder @ Jun 1st 2009 5:30PM]

I might think about getting one if it were on Sprint. Been holding off on an iPod Touch for a cheaper 32GB, but I would love to combine it with my phone.

Could this hurt the Pre if they sold the 8GB for $99 or $149? Different beasts, yes, but they keep getting compared to each other, so...

[IWantAniPhone @ Jun 1st 2009 5:56PM]

Will the data plan be cheaper with the cheaper iPhones? I am forced to use http://interactiveiphone.com because I can't afford the $30/month for data.

[iphonerulez @ Jun 1st 2009 6:47PM]

A $99 iPhone would stomp the crap out of Palm Centro sales, not to mention any number of low cost WinMo handsets. $99 iPhones are supposely going to be available with lower carrier charges which will be their lure. Once AT&T doubles their network speed, there is most likely going to be a drop in charges for lower speed handset. Don't get all bent out of shape with this BS about offering a $99 handset with $80 a month fees. That's just totally absurd if you think about it because then they might as well offer the handset for free for a 23 month plan.

iTouch = iTouch myself. Mostly everyone knows what the person is talking about when they say it, so why bust their balls. It's a decent contraction for i(Pod) Touch so it's not like they confusing the crap out of anyone at all. I see this iTouch term used all the time.

The next iPod Touch will be at 64GB capacity. Until there is a way to quickly reduce memory chip size or Apple produces the iPad/iTablet which will have a larger size, you are not going to jump to 128GB memory capacity. Producing a larger iPod Touch/iPhone is not likely to happen anytime soon. I think it's a great idea for a version that has a higher capacity battery and more memory, but Apple is not producing those products for me or the average iPhone user with an average size music library. Apple is doing a good job in keeping memory size up-to-date in a pocketable-size package.

Apple is going to destroy the mid-range and high-end smartphone market by flooding it with various cost and capacity iPhones. They're going to offer games, music, videos and a solid mobile platform (same OS and almost the same hardware) on both of those levels and most competitor companies aren't going to stand a chance. Apple retail stores are going to come into play with informed employees and plenty of devices to play with. Nearly no other company can do that. iPhone sales will just take off just as the iPod did. The only drawback is the one carrier exclusivity deal but that will likely last just one more year.

Apple is seriously going for the throat. I'll bet that all those remodeled Apple retail stores are going to accentuate the mobile experience for users. Apple is gearing up while most other companies are pulling back. Time to harvest the crop and start using their competitors as compost.

[darkmax @ Jun 1st 2009 11:25PM]

this news is so.... YAWN....

[Scarhawk @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:29AM]

@iphonerulez - sounds like the Apple roadmap is to make the current iPhone a little worse (~same specs but less memory, 4GB & 8GB, but fresher 3.0 software) and a new model with massively better 3D graphics chip, compass, etc., with more memory (16GB & 32GB). The lower end users will be in a quandary whether to get the cheap new model or a used 3G model on eBay. The Apple elite will have no problem following the crumb trail to the more expensive "no compromise" models. Much like they did with the iPod 160-->120GB while introducing the Touch, or for that matter how they left the camera out of the Touch so it'd be enough weaker than the iPhone.

This is how Apple marketing really works - use the wealthier customers to put peer pressure on poorer customers to covet, if not buy, the overpriced high end model instead of the half-cool, half-crippled low end model. All models but the best one are purposely designed to be not quite satisfying to own. Apple only really wants the high-margin customers. Also, the press concentrates coverage on the elite product, so any bugs in the lesser models get mostly overlooked.

The irony here is that the next-gen iPhone may not even be about hardware pricing anymore. The cost difference between an AT&T plan at $50/month vs. $80/month is $720 over two years. They could sell all the models at $0 with a contract and constrain the higher end models to a more expensive plan. Most customers aren't really going to care if their web pages load in 2 seconds or 4 seconds if it saves them $30/month, so there will have to be other incentives to stay on the expensive plan.

[jon @ Jun 1st 2009 4:48PM]

This should also basically confirm iTouch and possibly Zune HD in 64GB flavors.

[Phoenix @ Jun 1st 2009 4:49PM]

what's an iTouch?

[lalondegeoffrey @ Jun 1st 2009 4:50PM]

What's a noob?

[Serg @ Jun 1st 2009 4:51PM]

LOL i have when people call it an iTouch too

[Aaron @ Jun 1st 2009 4:53PM]

Who cares if people call it iTouch. If you know what it means, then shut up. If you don't know what it means, then use your brain!

[jon @ Jun 1st 2009 5:00PM]

I tried, but I can't help myself.

@Aaron

You just gave us posters a choice between keeping our mouths shut, and using our brains.

You don't come here often, do you?

[qwack @ Jun 1st 2009 5:17PM]

But seriously, what's an "iTouch"?

[David G. @ Jun 1st 2009 5:26PM]

I introduce to you, the iTouch: http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/26/keepin-it-real-fake-part-lxvii-the-pasen-itouch/

[NonTroll @ Jun 1st 2009 6:06PM]

Why don't you google "iTouch" and find out for yourself.

[ShirkPower @ Jun 1st 2009 7:45PM]

nahh zune HD most likely wont have 64 GB.

They need to keep it real cheap to compete with the ipod touch and its 50,000+ Apps it ships with.

[Andrew @ Jun 1st 2009 4:50PM]

You don't mean "certifying"?

[Chris Ziegler @ Jun 1st 2009 4:57PM]

Nope.

[ash @ Jun 1st 2009 5:20PM]

Diss!

[NickBitch @ Jun 1st 2009 5:54PM]

hahaha NOPE!

[ToasT @ Jun 1st 2009 8:27PM]

My thoughts exactly
Yet another fine example of American 'grammar'

[DirtyVegas @ Jun 1st 2009 10:39PM]

@ ToasT

Or, a sense of humor.

[Duh @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:51AM]

Wow. Even if it is correct, I kind of wish he had just said "certifying"...

[Chris Ziegler @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:56AM]

@Duh: If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. You just think about that for a bit.

[Aaron @ Jun 1st 2009 4:52PM]

Lower-end iPhones with low cost plans?

[gareth @ Jun 1st 2009 4:53PM]

$99 4GB iphone FTW

[Dave @ Jun 1st 2009 4:59PM]

Really? 4Gb (presumably without an expansion card - this is Apple after all) would suck. Thats barely enough for a device that pushes seamless voice, video and music as a major selling point.

Certainly, if Apple continues to seek the "premium" end of the market then 4Gb isn't enough. There must be better ways of trimming the cost than crippling one of the major functions of the handset.

[hahahaa! hackingyyourcomputerrightnow @ Jun 2nd 2009 1:42AM]

well, if you dont want it for videos, and are ok with not listening to music and doing other things whilst listening to music, then you could just use pandora for music and the 4 gbs should be fine for apps and photos

[masterhalo @ Jun 1st 2009 6:33PM]

@Dave Didn't you read the article? It says first of all maybe that Apple is aiming that the 4GB and 8GB is for the iPhone NANO! The higher end of the iphone in the article says that the 16GB AND 32GB will be for the higher up. Got it?

[ShirkPower @ Jun 1st 2009 7:46PM]

Dave do you realize that the pre doesnt have expandable memory either..

[Matthew C @ Jun 2nd 2009 1:00AM]

If you don't like movies

or music

or photos

or apps

but still have an abundance of cash, then sure

[nikster @ Jun 2nd 2009 8:48PM]

@Matthew C: Don't know, my 4GB iPhone 1st gen does just fine on music and apps.

[vvkmrl @ Jun 13th 2009 4:41AM]

i want 4gb apple i phone can u contact me in my mail

[Chris @ Jun 1st 2009 4:54PM]

iTune 8.2 just got rolled out to all users adding support for OS 3.0. C'mon WWDC.

[Jamus @ Jun 1st 2009 4:55PM]

Bah! a sub-$100 iPhone. Who cares if they give the thing away, if they still charge $70 minimum a month. Give me a decent price on an iPhone that you can use as a GoPhone and then I will get excited and give up my Touch.

[Chris @ Jun 1st 2009 5:58PM]

I don't see the sense either. People that can't afford a $200 iPhone but can afford a $100 one probably aren't ready to pay another hundred each month for the privilege of using it. But I guess that won't stop people from trying, or AT&T from selling to them.

[krische @ Jun 1st 2009 4:56PM]

So does this mean the current price points are going to change?

99 - 4GB
199 - 8GB
299 -16GB
399 - 32GB

[Jon @ Jun 1st 2009 5:00PM]

How's this for crazy:

4gb - 49
8gb 99
16gb 199
32gb 299

Now THAT's aggressive pricing... I think at this point they'd rather have more handsets out there and collect revenue from the App Store and whatever they get from monthly bills.

[krische @ Jun 1st 2009 5:03PM]

Except aggressive pricing usually isn't Apple's cup of tea.

[jon @ Jun 1st 2009 5:03PM]

@Jon

Your list seems likely, possibly 4GB free on contract. Before or after rebate.

[George @ Jun 1st 2009 5:26PM]

Price point of $50 would never happen. Even subsidized that price point is waaaay to low. We're talking about the cheapest part of the phone here, the memory. That's not enough to drop the price that much. Who the hell knows nowadays though.

[james @ Jun 1st 2009 4:58PM]

Am I the only one who is OK with 8GB? (I hear crickets chirping). But then again I don't exactly fill it up with video (my 800 mp3s is enough to entertain me).

[Michael Scrip @ Jun 1st 2009 5:10PM]

>> "my 800 mp3s is enough to entertain me"

Put a movie on there or subscribe to a couple daily video podcasts. It will take up space.

[Yahhoun23 @ Jun 1st 2009 5:22PM]

You may be ok with 8 GB currently. But if there's rumored video and all other types of apps that will take up more space than the norm, 8 GB may not be enough. It all depends what you use it for. If you'll only use it to play music, then 8 GB is probably plenty. I on the other hand, use it for alot more other things. Music, Pictures, apps, videos, and I am coming close to the 16 GB mark.

If you only need 8, don't buy 32. If you need 32, don't buy 8.

[M. @ Jun 1st 2009 5:40PM]

I'm one of those crazy dudes that wants his whole music collection with him on a device that can do it all, 32 gb would be a great start, my 16 gb iPhone is not enough. And I don't want to carry around an extra iPod Classic or whatever with me. But at that point battery life is actually more important to me than double the storage. If they increase both I'd have to seriously consider the new iPhone.

[Idlemind @ Jun 1st 2009 4:59PM]

Seriously, they should add Bluetooth Sync, and A2DP

[persianemu @ Jun 1st 2009 5:02PM]

They already added A2DP