Is iAds Apples New Revenue Stream Or A Developer Support System?

Apple CEO Steve Jobs says the companies new ad platform for mobile devices, namely the iPhone, iPad, and iPod, is not a get rich quick scheme for his company but a support system for application developers by which they will be able to keep the cost of apps down, increasing the likely hood of continued interest in app development. The iAds program offers developers a platform onto which they can "build complex interactive ads into apps..." according to the NYTimes. Apples plan is to keep 40% of the revenues with 60% going to the apps creator, following a similar model as the iTunes App Store. “This is us helping our developers make money so they can survive and keep the prices of their apps reasonable.” said Jobs. When comparing his iAds network to Google's Adsense Jobs said “Search is not where it’s at” on phones, he said. “People are not searching on a mobile device like they are on the desktop.” I tend to agree with the observation but I have a hard time believing it's all about helping the developers...

New iPhone Rumoured For This Summer

According to this article in the Globe and Mail, the Wall Street Journal is citing unnamed sources as responsible for rumors surrounding an upcoming new iPhone from Apple and in particular a version designed specifically for the Verizon network. Currently AT&T is the only authorized carrier of the iPhone in the U.S.

Both Apple and Verizon are refusing to comment.

Apple Smack Down Ads Continue...

With a plethora of smartphone choices in the marketplace Apple has taken to the air waves again in a show of oneupmanship with the holiday season in full swing. This time however, Apple has not been so bold as to name it's rival, perhaps that's because there are multiple targets? It'll be interesting to see how the competition reacts and who will fire the next volley? Will Google stick to it's "do no evil" motto or will Microsoft see this as an opportunity to shoot back for the I'm a Mac... I'm a PC ads in the wake of the recent iPhone security problems?

Apple iPhone Ad - Did You See My Email? from Arik Hesseldahl on Vimeo.

New iPhone Worm Targets Netherlands Users

A new worm detected that targets the iPhone is specifically directed at users in the Netherlands who use their device to do online banking with Dutch online bank ING Direct according to security company F-Secure.

"It's the second iPhone worm ever and the first that's clearly malicious - there's a clear financial motive behind it," F-Secure research director Mikko Hypponen told the BBC.

"It's fairly isolated and specific to Netherlands but it is capable of spreading."

The worm again attacks iPhones which have been "jail-broken" and have SSH (secure shell), a file-transfer program that enables users to remotely connect to their phones, installed.

I wonder how long it will be before we see Microsoft adds poking fun at iPhone's security? "I'm a Windows Mobile, and I'm a iPhone OS"

iPhone 3G S Unveiled

At it's Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple Inc. demoed it's next generation of iPhone dubbed the 3G S. The S apparently stands for Speed and it is reported to be as much as two times faster than it's predecessor the iPhone 3G. As for new features the iPhone 3G S is reported to have:

• The long anticipated Cut, copy and paste capability.
• Internet tethering, which allows the iPhone to share its 3G wireless network connection with laptop computers.
  
• Video recording ability.
  
• A three-megapixel camera with built-in autofocus and the ability to focus on individual objects by tapping their image on the screen.
  
• Voice control.
  
• A digital compass.
  
• A larger keyboard that can be accessed by rotating the phone into the "landscape" orientation.

Many of these features were obviously missing from the 3G and/or are found on competing devices and therefore causing mixed sentiment amongst reviewers.

The 3G S will sell in the United States for $199 for the 16 GB version and $299 for the 32 GB model. The 8 GB 3G model will remain in play for a reduced $99, all prices require a 2 year contract commitment. The Canadian prices are to be released on June 19th.

Source: CBC

Analysts Agree Apple May Cut Price Of iPhone

Speculation is that Apple is getting ready to cut the price of the iPhone and create a two tiered offering of Basic and Pro models. The feeling amongst analysts is that Apple will offer an 8GB model for $99 which would prop up sales in a slumping economy. "We expect a price cut to the current generation iPhone to drive 50 per cent to 100 per cent incremental unit demand," said Morgan Stanley analyst Karen Huberty. RBC analyst Mike Abramsky expects three prices -- $99, $199, and $299 for the 32GB iPhone Pro.

Source: Globe and Mail

Curve Out Sells iPhone In Q1

The LA Times is reporting that "Research in Motion's BlackBerry Curve replaced the iPhone as the best-selling smartphone among consumers in the first quarter, the NPD Group said Monday. The iPhone came in second, with two other BlackBerry models -- the Storm and the Pearl -- right behind." The NPD Group is attributing the shift to an aggressive advertising campaign by Verizon Wireless who offered a buy-one-get-one deal on Blackberrys. "The more familiar and less expensive Curve benefited from these giveaways and was able to leapfrog the iPhone, due to its broader availability on the four major U.S. national carriers," Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD, said in a report.

iPhone Sales Strong In Weak Economy

Apple Inc. reported Wednesday that it had sold nearly 3.8 million iPhones in its second quarter, ended March 28th. Both revenues and profits for the quarter were up for the company with iPhones and iPods leading the way, computer sales were down 3% from 2008 figures. "We are extremely pleased to report the best non-holiday quarter revenue and earnings in our history," Peter Oppenheimer, CFO, said in a news release. Investors reacted on the news with Apple stock jumping $2.75 to $124.26.

iPhone - iPod Touch Becoming Part Of Soldiers Kit

According to News Week the U.S. military is turning to Apple to help equip it's soldiers with portable computing devices in the form of heavy duty iPhones and iPod Touches.

"Using a commercial product for such a crucial military role is a break from the past. Compared with devices built to military specifications, iPods are cheap. Apple, after all, has already done the research and manufacturing without taxpayer money. The iPod Touch retails for under $230, whereas a device made specifically for the military can cost far more. (The iPhone offers more functionality than the iPod Touch, but at $600 or $700 each, is much more expensive.) Typically sheathed in protective casing, iPods have proved rugged enough for military life. And according to an Army official in Baghdad, the devices have yet to be successfully hacked.

The iPod also fulfills the U.S. military's need to equip soldiers with a single device that can perform many different tasks. Apple's online App Store offers more than 25,000 (and counting) applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which shares the iPhone's touchscreen. As the elegantly simple iPods—often controlled with a single thumb—acquire more functionality, soldiers can shed other gadgets. An iPod "may be all that they need," says Lt. Col. Jim Ross, director of the Army's intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors operations in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey."

And let's not forget you can play all of your tunes and movies too...

Voip Enable Your iPod Touch

It may not be an iPhone but with the addition of a freeware application called truphone and a clip on microphone you can turn your iPod Touch into a Wi-Fi powered Voip phone. "There are a slew of new features we're rolling out for the iPod Touch that will let users call landlines, Skype users or send instant messages. We're talking weeks, not months, before these go live." said Geraldine Wilson - Truphone's CEO. You won't be able to make calls from anywhere like you can on the iPhone, you'll have to be in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot, but then again you won't be locked into a rediculously high priced cell phone contract either... cool!

BBC Story here.

Apple Sells More Smartphones In Quarter Than RIM

Steve Jobs is reveling in the fact that for the first time since the iPhone was launched it's sales out paced those of Research In Motions Blackberry devices. A report released Thursday by U.K.-based research firm Canalys showed Apple shipped approximately 6.8 million iPhones compared to RIM's 6 million Blackberry devices during the 3rd quarter of '08. Jobs said during a conference call announcing Apple's 3rd quarter results "I'd like to point out [a] remarkable milestone resulting from iPhone's outstanding performance last quarter," he said. "Apple beat RIM." The number gives Apple a 17.3 percent share of the overall 39 million smartphones shipped in the quarter and pushed the company into the number 2 spot behind Nokia who owns 38.9 percent of the market.

Canalys also noted however that RIM showed a year over year increase of 80% and that there were many factors at play. The 3rd quarter was expected to be high for Apple with the release of the iPhone 3G and RIM will likely have had many faithfuls awaiting the arrival of the Blackberry Storm.

CBC Story.

iPhone Recession Proof?

According to the Globe and Mail 255,000 iPhones were sold in Canada between its launch on July 11th and the end of September, and there appears to be no slowing down in sales irregardless of how the economy is performing. “We've seen time and time again that if people want something bad enough, they're willing to put themselves in debt or save less in order to buy it,” said consumer research analyst Josh Martin of Boston-based Yankee Group. “It would be interesting to see if consumers are cutting out other things so they can afford to have their iPhone.” Martin added. They certainly have a lot of appeal and I've definitely noticed more of them in the wild, we'll have to keep an eye on the Christmas season sales numbers...

Wired Poll Finds Rogers 3G Network Amoung Fastest Globally

Canadians might not like the terms of their iPhone agreement with Rogers but a poll conducted by Wired Magazine suggests that Rogers 3G network is one of the fastest world wide. According to the CBC "Wired.com found that Rogers and Fido customers in Canada had an average download speed of 1,330 kilobits per second on their device. That ranked just behind the 1,822 kilobits experienced by T-Mobile subscribers in several European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands." iPhone users in the U.S. averaged speeds of 990 kilobits on AT&T's cellphone network, while the worst speeds were reported by Australians on the Optus and Virgin networks, coming in around 390 kilobits. "In our view, this data is a strong indicator that performance of the mobile carrier's network is affecting the iPhone 3G more than the handset itself," wrote Wired's Brian X. Chen. "Altogether, this furthers our thesis that it's highly unlikely that Apple is going to wave a magic wand and say, '3G problems, be gone,' with a software update."

Demand For iPhone 3G On First Day Takes Down Activation Servers

I've been seeing twitter tweets about this all morning and apparently demand for the new 3G iPhone has taken down the activation servers at Apple. Engadget is reporting that "Apple has confirmed to us that activation is down, and that customers are being asked to take the phone home and activate via iTunes later. We're not sure what good that'll do, since the servers are down no matter where you are, but Apple says it's "working on a solution."" Not sure if this is a US only issue or if it's affecting iPhone purchases globally?

Rogers Caves on iPhone Rates But Holds Line On Contract Length

With Canadians in an uproar over the iPhone plans announced by Rogers Wireless, the only Canadian iPhone carrier, the company is doing an about face. Some 56,000 Canadians signed an online petition protesting Rogers contract length and price structure. For their part, Rogers senior vice-president and chief marketing officer John Boynton had this to say about the public's response "It's not ranting and raving. People were very thoughtful," he said. "What they said is they want to use this device in ways that their previous usage would not be an indicator." "We think we're being thoughtful and respectful and responsive," Boynton said. "We're going to err on the side of the biggest and watch and learn."

Rogers is now offering a $30-a-month plan that allows customers six gigabytes of internet data on the iPhone, on top of voice plans that start at $20 plus a system access fee of $6.95 a month. The length of the plan will remain at 3 years.

While Rogers says its listening to the people, I can't help but think that an unlimited data plan on the Samsung Instinct announced by Bell last week also has something to do with the about face!

CBC Story Here.

Canadians Face Longest iPhone Contracts

Perhaps it's our reputation for being polite, or simply that Rogers Communications Inc. knows that we have no choice of carriers, but Canadians are facing the longest iPhone contracts anywhere in the world. In the U.S. and Japan you can lock yourself into a 2 year contract, in the U.K. 18 months, and in Australia you don't require a contract at all, but we here in the great white north are facing 3 year contracts under Roger's plan. "While I won't speak to our contractual agreement, all carriers are different," Elizabeth Hamilton a Rogers spokesperson said. As we all know 3 years is an eternity in the cellphone world but with Rogers being the only 3G game in town those lusting after the iPhone will have no choice in this country, legitimately anyway. CBC Story here.

3G iPhone Comes To Canada July 11th

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the coming of the new and improved iPhone 3G at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco on Monday, and with this comes the release of the device in Canada. Apple plans on releasing the new iPhone in 22 of the biggest national markets worldwide on July 11th. In Canada the 3G will be offered on the Rogers Communications network, “Rogers has a long history of bringing Canadians the very best in wireless services, networks and handset innovations,” Rogers Wireless president Rob Bruce said in a statement. “With iPhone 3G, we will provide our customers with an amazing mobile experience over Canada’s fastest wireless network.”

The updated iPhone promises improved sound quality and better battery life, giving 300 standby hours, five hours talk time, seven hours of video or 24 hours of audio, according to this Globe and Mail article.

iPhone 2.0 GPS Capability Has Other Hardware Makers Scared

Wired Blog Network's Autopia blog discusses the impact that a new iPhone with GPS capability is going to have on companies, like Garmin, who already in the portable GPS market. Suffice it to say that the appeal of the iPhone will likely steal some of that business away for the portable navigation system makers. The same was being said of Research in Motions business when the first iPhone was unveiled but the Blackberry lives on and sales are strong. Time will tell, but I must say that for a guy like me who has not already invested in a portable GPS, the thought of an all in one device is appealing.

New iPhone On June 9th?

Gizmodo has posted that Apple will announce the second-generation iPhone at its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco on June 9th, citing the ever popular "someone very, very close to the 3G iPhone launch,". According to this CBC article "Apple has sold more than 5 million iPhones so far and in the year since its U.S. launch has grabbed 28 per cent of the U.S. market in smartphones, or devices that offer data capabilities such as e-mail and web surfing." The launch of a next gen iPhone has long been expected and the rumors have been rampant with the recent news of first gen iPhone's being in short supply. We in Canada have suspected that the 3G iPhone was on it's way since Rogers announced a deal with Apple to finally bring the device north of the border.