iPhone Improvements - An Article for Apple

This Computer World article is looking to give Apple a few pointers for their second crack at making the most accessible and feature-full mobile device on the market. As mystery shrouds the next generation iPhone release, one can only speculate as to what improvements will be made.

The first one on the list is a big one. 3G technology is where we're going. WiMax is where we're eventually headed , but for now, 3G chips should become standard in the US, and the iPhone should follow suit. Furthermore, the applications would run much smoother - mobile YouTube might even be able to run a few more videos.

Adding mobile iChat would be another huge feature for the iPhone. As mobile broadband steps up, mobile video conferencing would become possible.

Adding push email to the iPhone would help with enterprise solutions. Businesses might even pick it up as the primary work tool, as its features overshadow RIM's Blackberry or Palm's Treo.

There are others on that list, all of which would vastly improve the second generation iPhone.

MySpace Mobile

According to this Engadget Mobile article, mobile versions of MySpace are expanding past Helio's scope. As social networking goes mobile more and more carriers are going to cash in. In this case T-Mobile and Danger have included customized versions of MySpace Mobile for the Sidekick.

Soon enough we'll see MySpace Mobile, Facebook Mobile, even that Sprite Yard Mobile on every platform, from Windows Mobile, to Blackberry (and maybe even Apple's platform). I have a feeling that Mobile Social Networking, in fact, the mobile web itself, is not going to fade away. In the same way that word processing and spreadsheet creation were killer apps for the Apple II platform, social networking may be a must have for mobile technology. With Blackberry users are evolving from businessmen to socialite teens, the mobile web and applications like these are going to be used heavily.

Competitor's Take on the iPhone

This Laptop magazine article gives an amusing look at some of Apple's largest mobile competitors. The interview is with Helio, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung - pretty much the biggest players of the handset business.

Some of the thoughts were a bit backwards. The Helio rep doesn't believe that the touch screen will be a mainstay in the near future. The touch screen essentially allows the user to mimic "real" web browsing on a mobile device. This is probably the best feature of the iPhone, considering the terrible browsing experience on almost all other smartphones. As a Blackberry user, I can say that a 3.5" brilliant screen with actual pictures and formatting is a step up from a text-based display with a less than ideal user interface.

When asked about convergence, Helio, Motorola and Nokia all answered that consumers are looking all-in-one devices, and then give a free plug about their own devices, such as the N95 or the Ocean. Samsung, however, seems to have little to say on the subject, grabbing hold of GPS. All in all, convergence in the style of the iPhone is here to stay, according to these big players.

Nokia seems to place functionality over slimness of the device - which makes sense. Phones can only get so thin before they become frail and unusable.

Helio keeps finding a way to talk about the Ocean - when asked about a positive feature of the iPhone, the rep mentions the difference in feel between the two devices. Nokia does so as well, with the N95. Those two are probably the only two phones on the market that serve the same market as the iPhone.

Saving the best for last, Laptop Mag asks the four reps the dislikes that they have about the iPhone. Helio jumps on the lack of tactile keypad. To be honest, the software based keypad on the iPhone takes some getting used to, but actually provides a larger surface area and far more room for error than any tactile keypad could. With slimness, durability, and screen size all being taken into account, the lack of keypad is going to become the industry standard. As long as the software solutions are smart enough to compensate for potential mistakes, keypads will become a thing of the past. Nokia makes some fair points - the lack of 3G and and GPS. The lack of 3G is a big deal, but will soon be remedied in Apple's next generation (hopefully). Samsung also jumps on the battery life and lack of expandable memory. Fair points, however no other phone can compare with the amount of memory on the iPhone - it's still about 7 gigs ahead of the competition, with or without expandable ports.

Then, of course, Motorola tactfully declines to speak negatively about the iPhone; how classy.

iPhone anySim Solution

According to this Engadget Mobile post, anySim from the iPhone Dev Team has gotten a pretty good software unlock GUI. The source code for the application will be released in a few days.

The glaring T-Mobile up on the top left of that screen shot gives me great confidence in this unlocking solution. Although Apple seems to fall in the chic company category along with Google, they are not outspoken about open networks. Their silence with all the hacks going on may be their quiet condoning this practice. They certainly don't want to annoy their provider (although they might wield the power over AT&T with the killer product and all of the press and fans etc. etc.). Furthermore, AT&T is making some enemies with their 30 pound phone bills and poor service.

As Apple's iPhone finds its way to Europe, these unlocks will become more common and common. Next step - 3G.

Apple To Obtain Wireless Spectrum?

According to this eFlux Media article, Apple may enter into competition for the wireless spectrum to be auctioned off on January 16, 2008 (the 700 MHz band).

According to the article, Apple is also interested in competing for the White Space that the FCC has been hesitant to release for broadcast, despite the urging of a Coalition of Technology's Biggest Players (including Microsoft, Google, Dell and Intel). This space is becoming even more valuable as analog TV is going digital by February 2009.

Using analog signals to provide internet access provides many advantages. Increased speeds (from 50 to 100 Mbps), decreased prices, and more accessibility are all claimed to be obtainable using this coveted white space.

With Apple's having sold 1 million iPhones in a little over two months, their deeps pockets could make them serious contenders. One conflict of interest presents itself as Eric Schmidt, the outspoken Google CEO who also sits on the board of Apple. Google is also looking to purchase the 700 MHz spectrum in January.

The White Space, or the spectrum ranging from 43 MHz and 698 MHz, is still facing issues with the FCC, as television broadcasters fear interference with their programming.

iPhone - 1 Million Served

According to this New York Times post and this Apple Press Release, the number of iPhones sold has topped 1 million units.

This is remarkable, as the holiday season is still approaching. The iPod sold 1 million units after two years, making the 74 day/1 million mark for the iPhone pretty incredible. Also, with ostensibly very little marketing (mostly relying on hype from excited users), the iPhone is selling purely because of its innovation. The advertisements are simple - just examples of the functionality - and were not too heavily laden upon the public (at least in my experience). Granted the music used is really cool (and the "Hello?" advertisement tapping classic movies that premiered during the Oscars was super-hip), the iPhone's success isn't as reliant on marketing as one might think.

The pricing "fiasco" that occurred in the past week isn't as big a deal as most make it out to be - at least it won't be remembered in a few months. In fact, the market that it opens with the iPod Touch and the new Nano will probably make up for the angry customers (who were already so into Apple that they jumped the gun, bit the bullet, and spent $600).

O2 Bolsters EDGE Network in the UK - Indicates iPhone Launch

This Engadget Mobile article mentions some EDGE upgrades to be made on O2's UK network, which sort of seems like a backwards step, considering most of Europe is already enjoying 3G mobile broadband networks. O2's updating current towers with EDGE technology may be a precursor to an iPhone release on O2's network. That would be a major disappointment - Apple being unable to optimize their battery technology in order to include 3G chips in their product (especially in such a 3G laden environment).

The two may not have anything to do with one another, but the European release of the iPhone is fun to speculate about.

iPhone Drama and Applications Galore

At Mod My iPhone.com, you can do exactly that - modify your iPhone with their vast array of aggregated iPhone programs. This is good timing, as the iPhone has been given a $200 price drop (and early iPhone buyers will be given $100 back to compensate for this drop).

The iPhone price drop caused quite an uproar among early adopters, which resulted in Jobs Writing a letter to the iPhone users apologizing. He stated that at Apple, they are really "going for it" this holiday season (as I'm sure hundreds of thousands will be surprised to find the hottest new gadget in their stocking).

New iPod to be Phoneless iPhone

According to this New York Times Bit's blog post, the new Apple product that has been hyped recently is a touch-screen Wi-Fi iPod - essentially the same design as the iPhone except without the phone service. It has the same 3.5' screen, the same touch interface and the same Wi-Fi chipset with the Safari Web Browser. However, it's substantially cheaper. Starting at $299 for 8 gigs and $399 for 16, maybe some future iPhone converts will realize just how cool an integrated phone would be with this device. Sounds kind of backwards, doesn't it?

What's quite awesome is that there is a wireless version of iTunes available on this iPod, which means you can bypass the computer and purchase songs straight to the iPod (and transfer it to your computer later).

The bigger picture points to products that won't be limited by hard disk or flash memory space. The 16 gigabyte iPod Touch is far more limited than the newly renamed 160 gig iPod Classic. You would want to load your iPod Touch with loads of videos, as the 3.5" screen is the best portable display available, but the 16 gigs aren't quite sufficient for, say, all 10 seasons of "Friends" and your entire music collection.

Enter streaming content.

With the Wi-Fi connection on the new iPod and iPhone, and with mobile broadband pointing to easy, inexpensive and constant high speed connectivity, a lack of flash memory might not be so bad if you can find a way to stream the content wirelessly.

It could even work the same way as a SlingBox, with content broadcast over the internet and your wireless device picks it up through an open port in your network. Imagine purchasing a video off iTunes or Nokia's Ovi, and then broadcasting it to any wireless device you own. Your only wireless memory limitations are posed by your home pc or network storage space. Of course it must be more complicated than this, but hopefully this is where it's headed.

Hardware and Service Converging?

This is a pretty good read - an interesting New York Times Article on the convergence of "Gadget Makers and Service Providers." Google used to be a search engine, but is now knocking at the door of mobile telephony with their new Google Phone, which may attract the same hype as the iPhone. Both Google and Apple are chic companies known for their innovation - Google more on the software side, so it would make sense for a hoard of tech-heads following the development of Google's first crack at hardware.

With Nokia's new Ovi network, the tried and true hardware developers are cracking in on the space that Apples' iTunes has carved out.

These cross-market products put out by these growing companies are great for innovation. Maybe Google will put out a product that uses VoIP to a higher degree, harnessing its power, or even its own search technology. These benefits will certainly move technology and services forward. With big, well known names adding new services to different markets, those already in these markets will have to step up their services as well.

Mobile TV - The Next Killer App?

After setting up my SlingBox, and reading more about it on their website, I realized that the mobile application for use with Windows Mobile could be the next Killer Application for 4G wireless networks. Using SlingPlayer with high speed mobile broadband network, such as Sprint's new Mobile WiMax Network, could deliver good enough video quality to meet most people's standards. With the current EDGE network or other 'less than 3G' networks, the idea of streaming video is unfathomable. However, with Mobile WiMax, bandwith issues will be a thing of the past. Hopefully this WiMax network's unlimited data plan will truly be Unlimited, or else that will vastly limit the picture quality of the streaming video. While broadcasting over the internet, my SlingBox typically transfers 1500 kbps. Furthermore, the current state of mobile video includes short video clips and sports highlights. SlingBox may monopolize a cable box in your home, but it delivers full length television - just like at home.

Apple's deal with YouTube has certainly sparked more interested in streaming mobile video, especially with the iPhone's penetration of non-tech-centered consumers. Maybe SlingMedia can grab a hold of that.

Smartphones - Why Does Size Matter (and what does it mean for the Mobile Web)?

According to this Wirelessweek article, screen size is the key factor to a successful smartphone. Smartphone sales are ramping up; their sales have grown by 50% over the last year, distributing over 72.9 million units. Gartner even estimates that 450 million smartphones will be shipped internationally by 2010. This is a huge number, and a great indicator of the power of the Mobile Web.
A study by Berg Insight predicts that 113 million smartphones will be sold this year, reaching 365 million units in 2012.

According to Thomas Thornton, a senior research scientist at Perceptive Sciences in Austin, Texas, screen size matters. As the screen size increases, the displayed content also increases. Thus, popular websites like MySpace and YouTube can be accessed with higher quality displays. With the screen resolution available on some smartphones, specifically the iPhone, loads of multimedia options are readily available.

Also, with the developing high speed wireless broadband networks emerging, the experience on a smartphone will further resemble the experience through a wired connection. As more and more smartphones are sold, the Mobile Web will inevitably develop. If the goal is for the "Mobile Web" and "Web" to converge and have the experience be consistent, then larger displays on smartphones will be necessary. With the hardware keyboard taking up valuable real estate on the phone's body, the most logical solution is to implement a software solution, much like the iPhone. Another solution, as seen on AT&T's 8525, can be a sliding keyboard, but this just creates a brick of a phone - and there's nothing hip about a square smartphone.

Nokia's Ovi to Rival Apple's iTunes

With some new phones coming out, Nokia is poised to take on Apple's iTunes market with its new Ovi web site. Ovi, which is Finnish for door, will offer music, games, maps and photo services. According to this CNN article, Ovi indicates that Nokia's ambition transcends their hardware development.

Ovi's game service coincides with their new N series phones, which are more geared to multimedia and gaming. Some have even ventured to say that the N95 is superior to the iPhone. It's surprising that Nokia is gearing up to re-enter the mobile gaming market after their failed N-Gage.

According to Kevin Burden, an analyst at the research firm Telephia, Ovi will let users "totally bypass their carrier." Useres will be able to download through their wireless provider as well as on their computer and then transfered to the phone via a wired connection.

To take down Apple's iTunes will be a difficult task for Nokia. Their parallels with Apple are twofold - both are prolific hardware designers (Nokia being the world's leading mobile phone handset provider), and both have entered the multimedia download market. Apple, ostensibly, seems to be doing very well with their iPhone - they've at least created more buzz than any other handset release. Nokia has some ground to make up.

It's certainly great to see a competitor keeping Apple's iTunes honest.

AT&T Too Touchy About iPhone Unlock

After several iPhone unlocks (and here) have been made available, AT&T has gotten a bit anxious. According to this Tech Dirt article, lawyers from AT&T contacted iPhoneUnlocking.com, saying that the software they were about to release would present issues "such as copyright infringement and illegal software dissemination." This has stopped up their release of their iPhone unlocking software solution.

Note how Apple is not complaining - they have far less to lose. They are clearly being weighed down by their relationship with AT&T. If there is enough demand to unlock the hardware in order to use it with another service provider, then Apple shouldn't re-lock the phone with their own software updates. Sure they have a stake in the service agreement with AT&T (and if they are contractually obligated, then they certainly should honor said contract), but they also have to think about the customers two years down the line when the next generation of iPhones are released, available on any service provider.

Why the iPhone's Lack of 3G is Good for Sprint's XOHM

One major complaint about the iPhone is that the phone itself is not 3G enabled - it will not run on AT&T's HSDPA/UMTS data network, but instead runs on the older and slower EDGE network. Steve Jobs attributes this to battery life - a 3G chip in the iPhone would cut the already short battery life down even more.

Because the iPhone is exclusive with AT&T, many users opted to switch out of their old network, or pick up a second network. Some analysts say that more than 800,000 iPhones are estimated to have been sold by the fourth quarter. Almost all of these phones come with new plans.

This jettison of 3G technology will be one of the largest contributing factors to the success of the new WiMax network from Sprint - named XOHM. Sprint's XOHM is dodging a bullet - had the iPhone included 3G technology, the vast amount of users who were willing to switch would probably not see the reason to switch networks yet again two years down the road. The advantages of switching to WiMax from 3G are not as compelling as the advantages of switching to WiMax from EDGE.

Boasting a larger, more vivid display with more multimedia solutions, the marriage of the iPhone and a wireless broadband network would seem natural. In order to fully unlock the capabilities of this smartphone, one would need a higher speed connection. The 3G HSDPA/UMTS network may have been sufficient for most new iPhone users who would not be willing to reap the advantages of an even faster and less expensive network - a true wireless broadband network.

One thing to keep in mind is that most Americans at this point do not use 3G (or really even know about it) - they're still using EDGE or GPRS or other, older 2-2.5G networks. Sprint might believe that if they deploy their network fast enough, they'll catch most iPhone users as they upgrade from their slower network - they'll give them the choice between the expensive and slower 3G and the cheaper and faster WiMax. This is, of course, relying on Apple's adoption of WiMax technology. The poor results and hidden charges from AT&T, however, might persuade Apple to go a new route.

iPhone Unlock 2;

An Engadget Mobile article discusses another unlocking software for the iPhone. UniquePhones, a Belfast firm is promising a downloadable application that will "allow customers to unlock their Apple iPhones so they can use SIM cards from carriers other than AT&T to activate the mobiles." Their engineers are looking to "break the encryption process that protects the token sent through the iTunes activation process to an iPhone's firmware."

This should be active tomorrow: iPhoneUnlocking.com.

Hardware - iPhone Unlocking Tutorial and Palm's Revival

The folks over at iPhone JTag have produced a step by step instructions (with photos) on how to unlock your iPhone. No longer will your chic, overpriced device be shackled by the even more overpriced service from AT&T.

On another note, rumor has it Palm is going to set an October release date for their Linux based device. According to Engadget Mobile and DigiTimes, this new device will have Opera and Chattermail. Here's an article that helps sum up their new operating system strategy.

Hopefully this product will be WiMax enabled, as both Sprint and Palm need to boost their new products (although I doubt Palm is spending $5 billion on this one). Maybe Palm will start chipping away at RIM's Blackberry sales, which is made especially difficult since Blackberry's release in China.

Apple Rides iPhone Carrier Announcement

According to a Wall Street Journal Article , Apple shares have climbed throughout today due to reported contracts with three European carriers. It must have to do with Apple's breakthrough deal - raking in a 10% cut of the revenue made from calls and data.


People might also have more faith in O2, Orange and T-Mobile's networks in England, France, and Germany than they do in AT&T's - with their 300 page phone bills and hidden charges.


In other iPhone news, a new website promises a software solution to unlock the phone. This seems like a promising alternative to AT&T's poor coverage (if it can be easily transferred to another carrier), but it still isn't 3G enabled.

iPhone to choose T-Mobile, O2 and Orange as European Carriers

The Financial Times is reporting that Apple has finally reached an agreement with three separate European wireless carriers to exclusively act as iPhone partners in the UK, France and Germany.

T-Mobile of Germany, Orange of France and O2 in the UK signed with Apple, agreeing to give them 10 per cent of the revenues made from calls and data transfers.

The Financial Times also commented that this marks the first time a handset manufacturer is being given a direct percentage of the revenues made from calls and data transfers. This could pave the way for handset manufacturers to cut themselves in on some of the carrier's profits.

Now that Apple has finally settled on a few European carriers, one has to wonder if these carriers will urge Apple to make their iPhones 3G enabled. With 3G networks far more prevalent in Europe than in the US, it might make sense for Apple to solve this battery issue and vastly improve their phones. Don't get me wrong, the EDGE network is awesome - but it's 2007. With LTE, WiMax/Xohm , and other 4G solutions around the corner, the 2.5G Edge network isn't quite cutting it anymore.

Point in case - combine the burgeoning WiBro network in South Korea with the innovative interface of the iPhone and you could download video and music at broadband speeds, possibly incorporate some VoIP solutions, and watch all of the stupid YouTube videos you could possibly watch.

Mobile Tech Daily

Testing, testing. This blog will chronicle my exploration into the Mobile Technology sector. It will be focused on upcoming mobile technologies - phones/smartphones, pda's, laptops and other gear, nationwide networks, emerging standards, chipsets, telecom companies, etc. Here you will find my thoughts on data transfer in general - its convergence toward the mobile space and who's playing a big role bringing it there. From iPhones to WiMax, Mobile Tech Daily will provide interesting and insightful commentary.