Some users of gray-market iPhones will soon be eligible for an amnesty in China, writes the China Business Times. Official products for the region are set to go on sale later this week, after an unusually long negotiation period with Apple. Prices will be considerably higher than many Chinese are able to afford however, which could lead a number to choose unlocked import phones, which are also frequently less expensive.
Oct 26
Orange UK To Sell iPhones On November 10th
The Guardian reports that Orange UK will launch the iPhone on November 10th in the UK, the day after the end of O2’s two-year exclusive contract with Apple. The iPhone will be sold through the Orange’s own stores as well as Phones4U. Carphone Warehouse is also expected to sell the iPhone on behalf of Orange. This announcement makes Orange the second carrier in the UK to offer the iPhone. Two other carriers, Vodafone and 3, are also expected to begin offering the iPhone on their networks in the UK in 2010.
Oct 26
iPhone Coming To Telus Canada Nov. 5
Telus announced today that it will begin selling the iPhone in Canada on Thursday, November 5th. Although specific iPhone plans have not yet been announced, Telus will be selling the three current iPhone 3G and 3GS models at the same subsidized three-year contract pricing as Rogers Wireless. Until now Rogers and Fido have been the exclusive iPhone carriers in Canada by virtue of having the only 3G network rather than any exclusive agreement with Apple. Telus and Bell Canada have recently upgraded their carrier networks to provide 3G capabilities, and Bell Canada is also expected to begin offering the iPhone sometime in November, although no specific dates or prices have yet been announced by that company.
Oct 22
iPhone Helps Boost AT&T Third-Quarter Financial Results
AT&T reported their third-quarter financial results today, crediting the iPhone for stronger-than-expected profits. AT&T reported 3.2 million iPhone activations during the third quarter with nearly 40 percent of those activations coming from new customers.
Oct 13
Apple Denies $10K iTunes LP Production Fee
Following a report from last week indicating that Apple was barring independent labels from releasing iTunes LP-formatted albums and charging a $10,000 production fee to create the associated files, the company has responded saying the prior accusations were false. Brian McKinney of Chocolate Lab Records was the originator of the prior information, and later contacted MusicWeek to add, “I should note that it is currently possible to design an iTunes LP independently. I’ve tested a couple designs on iTunes and they work great. The problem is that Apple won’t let you sell them through their store. So, the $10,000 production fee isn’t the barrier, it’s the exclusion of indie labels and artists by Apple. We love iTunes, hate exclusion. Hopefully that will change. Hopefully we will speed up the process.” An Apple iTunes spokesman dispelled the notion of any production fee in a later email, stating, “There is no production fee charged by Apple. We’re releasing the open specs for iTunes LP soon, allowing both major and indie labels to create their own.” Apple launched the iTunes LP format alongside iTunes 9 at its Rock and Roll media event on September 9.
Oct 08
AT&T Updates Carrier Settings For U.S. Apple iPhones
Following Apple’s release of iPhone OS 3.1.2, AT&T has released a carrier settings update for its U.S. iPhone customers. Listed as AT&T 5.6, it is unclear what improvements the new settings file may offer; the last carrier settings update activated MMS service for U.S. iPhone customers. AT&T announced earlier this week that it will now allow VoIP iPhone applications to operate over its 3G network, but it is unknown whether this new update is in any way related to that announcement.
Oct 08
AT&T: ‘Fine Tuning’ Still Required Before Offering Internet Tethering Via iPhone
The Wall Street Journal reports that, given AT&T’s recent move to allow VoIP services over its wireless network for the iPhone, users are wondering whether support for Internet tethering via the iPhone may also be launched in the near future. Tethering and MMS were promised as future features by AT&T when iPhone OS 3.0 was launched in mid-June, and MMS was finally enabled late last month with no update on the tethering situation at that time. AT&T is continuing, however, to reiterate its position that additional network upgrades are required before it can support tethering via the iPhone.
Tethering is officially supported on wireless networks in some countries, and allows users to connect their computers to the Internet via their iPhone’s mobile connection via Bluetooth or USB.
Oct 08
Apple Releases iPhone OS 3.1.2, Fixes Sleep Issue
Apple has released iPhone OS 3.1.2, its first major update to the iPhone’s and iPod touch’s software since the launch of version 3.1 and 3.1.1, respectively, on September 9. According to Apple’s release notes, the update “resolves a sporadic issue that may cause iPhone (or iPod touch) to not wake from sleep,” as well as an “intermittent issue that may interrupt cellular network services until restart.” It also fixes a bug that could cause occasional crashes during video streaming. iPhone OS 3.1.2 is available now for both iPhone and iPod touch users through the update feature in iTunes.
Oct 06
Bell Canada To Offer iPhone In November
Bell Canada has announced that it has reached a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Canada beginning in November. While Bell has made an official announcement, a Globe and Mail article states that both Bell and Telus will offer the phone. The two rivals have partnered to build a new HSPA network, launching later this year, in an effort to extend their networks and match the global standard used by Rogers. The iPhone has been exclusive to Rogers Wireless and its subsidiary Fido since its launch in the country in 2008.
Oct 06
AT&T Opens 3G Network To iPhone VoIP Apps
AT&T has announced that it has taken the steps needed so that Apple can begin allowing VoIP applications on the iPhone to run on its 3G network. Prior to the announcement, AT&T had blocked VoIP applications on its network, forcing applications such as Skype and Truphone to run over Wi-Fi only. The company previously allowed VoIP applications on other wireless devices, and has informed both Apple and the FCC of its decision. It will likely be some time before VoIP-over-3G applications begin appearing in the App Store, however, as the developers of VoIP apps will need to update their code to allow for 3G connectivity, and Apple will then need to approve the updates.
“iPhone is an innovative device that dramatically changed the game in wireless when it was introduced just two years ago,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets. “Today’s decision was made after evaluating our customers’ expectations and use of the device compared to dozens of others we offer.”