If you’re an Apple fanboy (or girl), odds are that you were keeping up with Steve Jobs’ keynote speech at WWDC 2008 and have already heard the news. If you’ve never heard the term “fanboy” and aren’t a big fan of Apple technology, then what are you doing reading this article, silly?
The big news is that the much rumored 3G iPhone is coming to AT&T and Apple stores on July 11th. Boasting near, but not quite, wifi speeds that dominate the current speed of the AT&T EDGE network, the 3G iPhone is a force to be reckoned with. Now you can surf the innerwebs from wherever you are and in a relatively timely fashion. That means no more excruciatingly long loading times when you’re trying to look at boobs online check the weather.
While storage on the two models will remain at 8 and 16 gigs, respectively, the newly updated look and feel combined with 3G speed, GPS, longer battery life and significantly lowered pricetag will, as always, make the new Apple product a must-have for most of us tech-nerds.
What’s that you say? Lowered pricetag? That’s right, boyee! You’ll be able to pocket your very own 3G iPhone for just $199 (8GB) or $299 (16GB). Considering the first gen iPhone started off at $599, $199-$299 is a steal.
Already own an iPhone? I’ve got some good news for you too: You’re not entirely SOL. In fact, there are some sweet updates coming your way. You see, early July will also bring about the iPhone 2.0 software release that you can upgrade to for the low, low price of $0.00. The free software upgrade will give you access to Enterprise support and use of the Apple Apps Store. Back in March, Steve Jobs announced the release of the iPhone SDK (System Development Kit, duh) that will allow developers to make custom applications for the iPhone. If you think the iPhone software is cool now, just wait until you can download custom apps and games. I can guarantee you that it’s going to be awesome. Seriously awesome. Granted, us current gen iPhone owners won’t have GPS or access to the 3G network, but the Apps Store will undoubtedly keep you happy with what you’ve got.
The long awaited Enterprise support, in my opinion, will really open up the iPhone market and boost the sales of the iPhone. With the ability to check corporate mail, use VPN and use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, I foresee a whole lot of Fortune 500 companies making the switch. For most companies, the added Enterprise support is a really good thing. However, for RIM and Palm, makers of the Blackberry and Treo cell phones, the new features might prove fatal. Maybe not immediately, but in the long run, they’re gonna really have to step it up to stay afloat.
Oh yeah! The headphone jack is now flush with the phone so you can use any pair of headphones you want without having to use some stupid, crappy adapter. Hooray!
So, if you’ve been itching for an iPhone and think you can wait ’til July 11th, you’ll be able to scratch that itch for a whole lot cheaper… and it’ll feel really, really good.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I think the $199 price requires a 2-year contract at $60/month. The 8GB model costs $400 sans strings.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
thanks ryan. that is considerably less awesome in my opinion. Still awesome, but not as awesome.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
You’re 100% right, Ryan. As with all iPhones in the past, getting the low price requires you to sign a new contract. But if you’re going to pay $200-$300 for a phone, I’d imagine your planning on staying with that cellular provider for at least 2 more years seeing as that you can’t use the phone with another provider without jailbreaking the phone.
And of course you’ll need to get a data package in order to really take advantage of all the iPhone has to offer. But, in my opinion, it’s well worth the 2 year contract and $60-$80 monthly bill.
That gets me thinking: Do people really change providers that much? I’ve been with AT&T (Well Suncom, then AT&T, then Cingular, then back to AT&T due to buyouts) for 10 years now and I’m not planning on going elsewhere anytime soon.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Yeah, an iPhone is pretty worthless without a contract…unless you just like the way it looks in your hand.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I’m still happy with my Nokia N95, which has all the new features and more. It is lacking a bit of the sex appeal, but I’m too damn sexy already.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
This just killed the $400 used (and unlocked) iPhone sales on ebay.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
i ask the same question: does anyone actually ever switch carriers? everytime i hear someone negatively bring up the 2 year contract commitment issue for getting a new phone i have to ask, so f’in what?
June 11th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Sex appeal? I hear that this one is more ergonomic so when you have to rape yourself with it, it fits up your A$$ easier, look for price drops soon! Oh and P.S. the interwebs are way better on a real f’ing computer, try it! Boobs download lightening fast! I mean some people like fancy whores, some people like fancy phones, but enough makeup on it and tell people it’s fast, works every time. You are wasting your money either way. Unless this is one of those five diamond phones and I can wear my socks while using it unsafely, but I hear that is extra (you may have to switch carriers). 3G’s sheeeeet, wiretap Deez!