[UPDATED with Telecom comment. See end of story.]
Details of the new iPhone 4 are out, and Vodafone will be cheering the fact that, for the first time, Apple's handset will support its 3G network at full-speed, nationwide.
The new 900MHz 3
[UPDATED with Telecom comment. See end of story.]
Details of the new iPhone 4 are out, and Vodafone will be cheering the fact that, for the first time, Apple's handset will support its 3G network at full-speed, nationwide.
The new 900MHz 3G support (alongside 850MHz) will help stop iPhone owners from defecting to Telecom's XT.
Vodafone's position is also bolstered by the fact the iPhone 4 uses a smaller format SIM card called a "micro-SIM", hitherto never seen in a cellphone in New Zealand. That means Telecom subscribers will no longer be able to simply pop in an XT SIM card.
Via its Twitter account, Telecom has pledged to support micro-SIMs in future, but has yet to put any date on the initiative, or respond to formal queries.
The three previous iPhones have only supported 850MHz (used by Telecom’s XT network nationwide) and 2100MHz (used by Vodafone and Telecom in larger urban areas).
The lack of 900MHz 3G support meant Vodafone users had to trip down to slower speeds when outside cities - and allowed Telecom to boast, correctly, that its XT network offered superior performance for the iPhone.
Now, iPhone deals like Gen-i’s guerrilla offer no longer look so appealing.
An interesting wrinkle: 2degrees' 3G upgrade, due by the end of the year, will also support 900MHz - and the mobile newcomer has already been naked in its ambition to steal iPhone customers from Vodafone.
"Stop me if you've already seen this"
Apple boss Steve Jobs unveiled the fourth-generation of the iPhone at an event in San Francisco this morning NZ time.
So far there have been no big surprises, with most pre-launch rumours confirmed.
The design is the same as the one so infamously lost in a California bar ("Now stop me if you've already seen this" joked Mr Jobs shortly after walking on stage).
New features include:
The only major let down is that the higher-end model retains a relatively modest 32GB of internal memory.
Some were also disappointed that no tethering support (using your iPhone as a modem) was added for iPad.
Early coverage has made scant mention of iAds, Apple's putative mobile competitor to Google's AdWords, which will debut with the new iPhone - and could potentially annoy Mr Jobs' famously loyal fans. iAds will debut on July 1 for iPhone 4 and iPad users.
The iPhone 4 will be available in the familiar choice of black and white (some things never change) from Apple’s US carrier AT&T for $US199 ($NZ274) for a 16GB model and $US299 ($NZ412) for 32GB on contract. Off-contract pricing has yet to be released.
No NZ release date yet
The fourth generation iPhone will be released in the US, Japan, France, Germany and the UK, on June 24, and be available in 18 more countries in July, Mr Jobs said, then a further 40 countries from September.
This morning, Vodafone New Zealand - Apple’s only official carrier in NZ - could not offer a release date, with a spokesman offering only that the company will release iPhone 4 at some time "in the coming months".
UPDATE
Asked if Telecom would make a bid to become an official carrier for iPhone 4, and whether the telco otherwise had plans to support iPhone 4-style micro-SIM cards, a spokeswoman replied:
"To date, Telecom has chosen to not have the iPhone as part of its retail range of handsets. As the NZ market allows for unlocked handsets, we continue to see thousands of customers using iPhones on the XT network, with widespread reports of iPhone users enjoying the fast data speeds. We will continue to review the opportunity.
"We do not as yet have any phones in our current line-up that would require a micro-SIM."
MORE:
Apple: iPhone 4 complete tech specs
Gizmodo: iPhone 4 - the definitive guide
MacWorld Liveblog: Steve Jobs' keynote
Below: CNet video of Steve Jobs' keynote this morning:
