Apple says that it has received FCC approval for the iPhone and that it will be released, as planned, in late June 2007 in the United States. Initially, Apple will sell the iPhone only through Cingular, a US mobile operator. Apple says that it has received FCC approval for the iPhone and that it will be released, as planned, in late June 2007 in the United States. Initially, Apple will sell the iPhone only through Cingular, a US mobile operator.
The iPhone blends cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity in a beautiful device that has a large screen, but no buttons. The first version does not come with 3G, although there are reports that a later version to be released in Europe in 2008 will have 3G (which is faster than EDGE).
No one knows if Apple will sell the iPhone in Europe through one operator. I think it would be a mistake to do so because phones here are sold locked (through an operator) or unlocked. Certainly Apple will have to compete with Nokia which has a large market share. The N95, Nokia’s latest product — a mobile phone with Wi-Fi — is available in the Netherlands for 349 EUR (with 2-year contract) or 699 EUR (unlocked).
Over the next two years, we can expect more mobile phone manufacturers to release portable devices that have Wi-Fi. These devices allow people to take full advantage of municipal Wi-Fi networks because you can carry them in your pocket. When I don’t want to drag around my iBook, I use the Nokia N800 Tablet, which has built-in Wi-Fi, a large screen for web browsing and reading emails, FM radio, etc.
I have also been using my Nokia N80i on Wi-Fi networks wherever I go and it is indeed much faster than 3G. Emails get downloaded more rapidly, web pages appear quickly and best of all, no roaming charges when I am outside the Netherlands!
See my earlier post on the iPhone.
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