An iPhone article on NYT

[vanguard]

You guys should check this out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/19/te...PPL.html?8hpib

They mostly point to a few OS features of jaguar that seem to pave the road to a cell phone. I bet that an iPhone would be at least as successful as the iPod (unless they charge $500).

Anyway, it's a fun rumor, check it out.

Vanguard

[AdmiralAK]

umm....
if you take a look at "real" cell phone prices, (not the subsidized prices that you pay at your carrier's dealership), phones cost a minimum of $150-200 up to $800-900.

It wouldnt be uncommon for apple to sell a cell phone for 500 or slightly more depending on features. An entry level phone would cost about 150-200 in real market terms. An advanced phone, like a sonyericsson p800 like phone could conceivably cost 600-700

[vanguard]

True, phones are expensive if they don't come with the plan. I wonder what their margins are? Maybe at 30% (or less) they won't have to be so expensive.

Anyway, I hope apple builds them. I'd like a fun gadget.

Vanguard

[Matrix Agent]

Apple normally keeps a profit margin of something like 27%, as I remember.

I too hope this phone isn't too expensive. I can't think of any reasons why it would be cheap, but I really do hope.

[kilowatt]

iPhone was an old os9 program used to create small voice-over-ip networks. You could even send video, if I remember correctly.

Hopefully (imo) iphone will be a similar product - not so much hardware (fancy headset, etc), but a neat telecomunications product for connecting people over long distances over an ip network.

On the other hand, with 3G launching in the USA (mLife, PCS Clear Vision, etc), if Apple did go the wireless phone route, you can bet it would be one sweet phone!

[AdmiralAK]

actually neither mLife nor PCS Vision are true 3G.
mLife is more like 2.5G and vision is more like 2.75G

voice/video through IP is a nice idea, however its been done (take a look at yahoo messenger for voice chat options)... it would be nice to have a free IP-to-phone voice option...free long distance and international lol


Admiral

[kilowatt]

http://www.dialpad.com/

pc required - I can't find DialpadX anymore (had a beta of the osx version).

Basically, you get 5 mins of free intra-usa phone calls, and very low rates after that for international and usa calls.

[earthshine]

...is the next thinksecret.com. I suppose when this product actually appears I'll be duly chastened, until then WTF? 'The paper of record' publishing this gee-whiz rumor?

Must be mid-August. Gotta make that news.