New iPhone in June, claims SaskTel CEO (updated)
By Ross Miller 
posted April 15th 2010 7:33PM
posted April 15th 2010 7:33PM
Saskatchewan-based SaskTel isn't the biggest Canadian carrier out there -- it's very regional, along the lines of Cincinnati Bell for the US, in terms of subscribers -- but it's definitely a legit company, and its CEO Robert Watson has casually divulged some potentially major news to the Leader-Post. In a discussion on its 3G network set to launch July 1st, he had this to say: "The good news is that (Apple) is coming out with a new version of the iPhone in the June time-frame and they're going to put us on that. So we're quite excited about that." A new version, you say? We wouldn't be that surprised, frankly, since new iPhones have launched every summer for the past three years, but there's still been nary a peep yet from the folks in Cupertino. Is Watson mistaken or speaking way out of turn? The man would be in a position to conceivably have the inside scoop. Guess we'll find out soon enough.Update: Just to be clear, while SaskTel is currently CDMA, the 3G network it's rolling out is an iPhone-friendly HSPA.
Update 2: Seems SaskTel is now claiming that those comments were actually not confirmation of a forthcoming iPhone. See the full clarification after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
SaskTel Excited About New Wireless Network; Clarification of comments made regarding iPhone
REGINA, April 16, 2010 – In 2009, SaskTel announced the construction of a new $172 million Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)/High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) wireless network. The first phase of the new network build, which will provide coverage in the major Saskatchewan centers, is expected to be available mid- 2010. Full coverage, similar to today's digital cellular coverage, is anticipated to be available by the end of 2010.
At this time, SaskTel is currently working with cellular device vendors and partners, both current and new, to offer our customers a wide variety of devices to meet our customers' individual needs, including the iPhone.
The comments made by the SaskTel President and CEO in a news article on April 15, 2010 were not a confirmation of a release of a new version of the iPhone. The President was commenting on information that has been reported publicly and on the Internet for several months, which has speculated on the timing of a new release.
So, is HSPA+ completely different from CDMA? I'm not too savvy with HSPA, other than what it stands for.
@zdrucker Check out wikipedia articles Evolved HSPA (HSPA+) and Code division multiple access (CDMA), they explain the two pretty well.
Someone speculate June => SaskTel CEO reads it and repeats speculation => original speculator, and all who trusted the original speculation, see it as confirmation of speculation.
:)
Should the summer ever come that Apple does NOT announce a new iPhone in June, surely the world will end.
Lol The bigger news for me it that Sasktel is Swiching to GSM as where i am there is know GSM service but what ever, new iphone yeh just what everyone needs.
Well my friend sasktel isn't switching to gsm so no need to worry! Umts on the other hand or w-CDMA yes the network will be umts only. NOT GSM. And only partial service will be available in july when the UMTS service is turned on. The rest of the province outside Saskatoon and Regina should be up in early 2011
In other news: Obama claims that there will be a new year in 2011.
Google's coming out with a new phone in June too. Sorry I mean Android comes out with a phone every other day lol
holy shit its like they got espn or something!
@WillSmith holy shit Will smith, any movies coming out soon?
i hope they change the design... am i the only one that hates that silver outlining?
I hate you all.
"but it's definitely a legit company" - really Engadget? Next, you'll be telling us that there's a country called Canada to the north of the US. What sort of wind-up is this?!
Look for 720p30 video and some nice new things you can do with the 30-pin socket.
I work at a sasktel store and In an official release from sasktel in response to the leader post article sasktels official stand has and always will be that no devices have as of this day been officially announced for this carrier. Also for those that don't know. If sasktel says "june-ish..." they actually mean roughly a year after the date they imply! But seriously people the next gen iPhone will be announced in June! You don't need to be the CEO of a cellular company eagerly awaiting the arrival of a key product to your company to know that the new iPhone is coming this June.
Yeah pretty inevitable...
I seriously think this will be a disapointment considering the specs of the evo 4g apple can't beat those specs can they?
News flash new iPhone to be released June 9 2010! This is official I can tell u with total accuracy that next gen iPhone released June 9th 2010
funny how new iPhone rumors are becoming more popular with the release of the incredible.
I wouldn't be surprised.
OMFG! A new iPhone in June!?!?!
How can this be possible?
In other news: Water is wet, claims an Engadget commenter.
give me an 720p hd camera, so i can leave my flip cam at home, that alone would be enough for an upgrade.
they are going to call it the eh' Phone