Macrumors.com blog is reporting that TechCrunch weighs in today with new claims that Apple has placed a large order for Qualcomm CDMA chips to be deployed in an iPhone production run scheduled for December. The claims come from a source reportedly familiar with the supply chain logistics for the CDMA-based chips that would be required for a Verizon iPhone.
Sources with knowledge of this entire situation have assured that Apple has submitted orders for millions of units of Qualcomm CDMA chipsets for a Verizon iPhone run due in December. This production run would likely be for a January launch, and I'd bet the phone is nearly 100% consistent with the current iPhone 4 (with a fixed insulator on the antenna).
This would be a year before the contract with ATT is expiring.
It is a rumor but it would make sense, if Apple wants to get more market share. But there are other countries with CDMA networks in the world, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, El Salvador, Guatemala, Israel, South Korea, Peru, Russia, Venezuela and Zambia.
My guess is that Apple will first offer CDMA in one of these countries because there is no long-term contract with GSM providers.
Establishing CDMA iPhone in Argentina and Chile will help to bring them as grey import to the US. Which allows Apple to switch faster to Verizon in the US as planned without losing their face to ATT.
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Well, and the new model could be named iPhone 4G. Would be consistent somehow... The next model will rather have some sensible improvements (performance, memory, connectivity, bug fixes, ...) than real inventions. Users and developers still need time to get used to the many features of iPhone 4 and iPad. And Apple has to learn how to speed up their assembly lines in order to satisfy the strong demand for their mobile devices on the global market.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely correct, however other smart phones are not better neither. We are living in a society where quantity is better then quality.
ReplyDeleteAnd I still believe Apple does keep the production slow to keep demand high.
As long the demand is high the price can stay up.
This works fine in the US, but other countries are not such brand enthusiasm. Which could Apple cost a lot of money.