WSJ: Apple 'developing new iPhone,' plus another for Verizon (update: iPhone HD, front-facing camera?)
By Darren Murph 
posted March 29th 2010 5:26PM
posted March 29th 2010 5:26PM
Update: We're now learning that the "next iPhone is being manufactured by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry," which just so happens to be the same outfit responsible for crafting all prior iPhones. That's according to "people briefed on the matter" and sourced by the WSJ. It's also stated that the world's first CDMA iPhone will be manufactured by Pegatron Technology, which we caught just last week dabbling in some of NVIDIA's Tegra 2-based wares. If all goes well, Pegatron could begin mass production of the CDMA iPhone (exact model not disclosed) this September, so it's hard to say if Sprint or Verizon would have access before the all-too-lucrative holiday season. As for quotes on the matter? Most everyone involved wouldn't say a word, but an AT&T spokesman did utter the following: "There has been lots of incorrect speculation on CDMA iPhones for a long time. We haven't seen one yet and only Apple knows when that might occur."
On a week that couldn't possibly get any bigger for Apple, that's exactly what just happened. Everyone suspected that a fourth-generation iPhone was in the works, but having an outlet like the WSJ confirm it just makes the summer that much harder to wait for. There's also the possibility that 2010 will be the final year that AT&T retains its death-grip on the iPhone, but by the sound of this report, it still seems as if the nation's largest GSM carrier may nab exclusive rights on the latest iPhone. We also can't help but wonder about the future of a true 4G iPhone -- will Sprint manage to grab a WiMAX-enabled version? Will Verizon get its grubby paws on an LTE model? We figured only Jobs would know, but now... there might just be someone else out there willing to spill the beans.
Update 2: Soon after the news broke, we were informed that the next-generation iPhone would be announced on June 22nd (a Tuesday, naturally) and would be dubbed the iPhone HD (a name that has been tossed around before). That certainly makes sense given that Apple almost certainly has to up the pixel count in order to rival the EVO 4G, HD2 and all of those other high-res handsets, but we're still reserving judgment until we see that fateful media invite hit our inbox.
Update 3: John Gruber's just weighed in with some more tidbits, in his characteristically polite way. Gruber says the next model will have an A4-class SoC, a 960 x 640 display, a front-facing camera, and that iPhone OS 4.0 will enable third-party multitasking. A pretty safe set of predictions, in all, but Gruber's done pretty well in the past, so we'll just have to wait and see.
[Thanks, Chris]
wait i forgot to say:
"my rebuttal"
@xtian63
WHAT??
@onlymyrailgun The latest about the verizon iPhone is that, it could be released later on 2011, and in fact, a rumor that an "iPhone HD" version will be release this year. http://bit.ly/4g-iphone-going-to-verizon
Really? Oh shit, and hear I thought they were going to discontinue it.
@TheGM +1 for well placed sarcasm
@TheGM
hear = here
Helps to know 4th grade English.
@TheGM
A hardware vendor working on new hardware..... is that really worth any news tag let a lone be "breaking" news
@TheGM
-1 for using "hear" instead of "here"
@Rpie74 :(
I demand Engadget add an edit button.
@Rpie74 His highest ranking annuls your grammar nazi objection. I move for a 15 minute recess.
Yeah! Engadget posts way too much Apple news!
...
Even if the new hardware is no big deal, the Verizon availability is.
Annnd there goes half of my argument (shit AT&T network) against the iPhone.
@Alex
Engadget very recently posted a link to get Apple free Engadget. Stop whining and pay attention.
@Theory28
i dont think so...
what kind of fool wouldnt create a new generation of rip offs?!
theyve made tonnes of money from a basic thing, makes sense to continue
I hear ATT beginning to spontaneous combust onto itself.
"and if the Cupertino-based company keeps with its historical refresh pattern, we're just a few months out from seeing the latest and greatest iPhone."
That is exactly what I am not hoping for - their "historical refresh" of iPhone. If Apple pulls out another 2008 or 2009, I am so gonna buy a Windows Phone or an Android one (right now I am more inclined towards Windows Phone because I too feel that Apple may pull another "historical refresh" and not a complete makeover of the phone to make something truly revolutionary.) I desperately want iPhone, Windows Phone and Android OS to succeed. Hope this year sees something truly amazing.
Who care? EVO 4G is coming to Sprint... FOR SURE!
SOLD!!
@HerbieDerb
You don't even know what it is going to be... For all we know, it could be better than the EVO 4G...
Oh and some of those first posts in this little thread are wincakes.
@MosesusedaniPad The spellchecker won't auto-highlight "hear", so the typo went unnoticed.
Browsers should be able to auto-correct internally. How awesome would that be? Yes, I'm looking at you, Firefox 3.7. ;)
@mbordenkircher
Sarcasm buddy. I know about the exclude tag feature. :)
@Kevin6432 If it's made by Apple it can't be better than the Evo. Gated app store FTL.
@cloud858rk
Well then have fun with your 1000 apps while I enjoy 100k+
@Kevin6432 Objection! http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/03/16/google-android-market-now-serving-30000-apps/
@Kevin6432 Its going to be a marginally improved version of the 3GS.. thats how they roll. Theyre in the business to slll you upgrades.
@HerbieDerb
Yes, but will we have to pay for PAM. As it stands now you can't add PAM to Everything Data plans.
@HerbieDerb
You are right, an HD screen, more memory, faster processor, larger camera... is an upgrade.
@Mentat What will it use for the cell radio? I've been hearing about the new CDMA (SVDO) coming this year.
@TheGM
I think they should launch a CDMA iPhone with Sprint. Hear me now and listen to me later...Sprint is the best kept secret in wireless. They may have lost some market share in the past but that's just it...the past.
With an iPhone in the offering Sprint would be able to handle every type of user. In the future customers would come into a Sprint store and the friendly greeter would welcome them and direct them to one of two lines. The line to the right for those users looking for the HTC Evo 4G and other smartphones, or the line to the left for the iPhone and several other devices.
@Target0362 You're a little late and if you're going to criticize my spelling, you might want to work on your grammar and capitalization skills.
Nice try though.
@DaveBach
Your idea is bad and you should feel bad.
@TheGM Now I look like an idiot for replying to a now deleted post. All the more reason for Engadget to implement an edit button.
With all these objections and recesses, I'm feeling so left out. :(
@HerbieDerb
YOU care, other wise you wouldn't have responded! c
@TheGM this literally made me laugh out loud.
@HerbieDerb Yep, I hear the commercial now: "Had a girlfriend there. Nothin' came of it."
@Target0362 I care to respond to your comment
@TheGM
Where does the unicorn comes in? It's a safe bet that these predictions are way off.
@Kevin6432
pretty sure it will be on AT&T though without any 4G speeds.
@Mentat
i should have capitalized 'MARGINALLY' upgrade. get the camera to 5mp when phones are moving to 8mp, screen from 3.5 to 3.6/3.7.. maybe even a replaceable battery but i doubt it. sell the razor with the blades permanently attached.. so you have to keep buying the whole thing. ahh.. but i keep having to remind myself.. its about the 'experience'.. hahaha. its really a great business model.. i love the stock : )
@thedankone
Not sure what PAM is.. im not a Sorint customer yet.
@HerbieDerb every company is. And they are selling to normal upgraders, not tech, buy out contract early, to upgraders.
iPhone - to - 3GS = big jump
3G - to - 4G = big jump
upgrading yearly never feels that big regardless of phone.
@Kevin6432 I think the specs are likely to be on par with or lower than EVO: Apple is not known to cram tons of hardware features in their products, since they want each precious feature to be "revolutionary" or "magical" and have a focused highlight/theme for each version. I bet front facing camera will be missing, so they can release that with the 2gen iPad. Of course, this is just a wild guess.
@trainwrecka
its seems big for Android and WM.
@Kevin6432 lol iphone better than am android phone, lol. Who cares of the hardware is equal or slightly better? Being locked into apples drm and sure to be hobbled os and locked down app store makes it a losing proposition.
@lecti
When you ASSUME the Apple iPad will make it to a 2nd generation you make an A$$ out of U...not ME.
@TheGM It's funny how these same rumors have been around since the launch of the second Iphone. Every time we are disappointed, every apple device rally is underwhelming. I give up on apple.
@trainwrecka So the G1 to N1 isn't a big jump? i disagree with your comment completely
@Killer9013 Leave it to Apple to keep on alienating its users. I'm ashamed to tell my friends that I have an iPhone 3G nowadays.
960 x 640 is wrong. Why would Apple make it a different aspect ratio than the iPad?
@HerbieDerb You think the iphone will come before the EVO ?
Why does sprint announce phones a year ahead?
@DaveBach
Ive been a sprint customer for nearly 8 years and would LOVE a sprint iphone. but chances are that people would flood to sprint to take advantage of their plans (69.99 All you can eat!) and then sprint would be overloaded and would face the same problems as ATT.
but my fingers are still crossed for an iphone. :]