Hankering for a Phone: iPhone in the Philippines

Up until recently, those who've been wanting to own an iPhone in the Philippines have been forced to buy their unit abroad, have it unlocked, and risk bricking it everytime they use it (ok, maybe a bit over exaggerating with this line, but you know what I mean). They might have the newest Apple toy on the block, but they won't have the full functionality of the fully-working official deal.

Lately however, one of the biggest networks in the country have decided to officially bring the iPhone to the Philippines. Globe has recently announced and started selling the iPhone locally. Lucky you if you happen to subscribe to one of the higher plans that globe provides, or if you intend to get a line and stick yourself with the minimum 2 years at those rates, but if you're thinking of just buying the phone outright, as a prepaid kit, and keep your old prepaid number, get ready to shell out at least Php 37,599 (for the 8 gig model) or Php 43,799 (for the 16 gig).

Hankering for a Phone: iPhone gets Better Batt life and good Glass

After receiving so much criticism over the short battery life, seems like Job's people have given in and given the potential consumers what they want. The latest on the iPhone is that it's going to be able do deliver more with a better battery life.

From the promised battery capability times published before: 5 hours of talk, internet use, video viewing and 16 hours of audio playback, Apple has promised that the iPhone's capabilities have increased to 8 hours of talk, 6 hours of internet, 7 hours of video and 24 hours of music. I assume those are dedicated-task times. I don't think it could be capable of giving all of that on one charge. Anyway, they've also announced that they're genius box is capable of up to 250 hours of stand-by time. That's 10 days and 10 hours of not being touched, contacted or what so ever... I don't think any one owner of any mobile gadget could go 1 day not touching his tech, never mind 10. I guess we'll never know if it would be capable of such eh?

The other upgrade has to do with its display. What used to be plastic is now going to be optical-quality glass. Meaning the display will be more scratch resistant and hopefully be clearer.

In a statement / comment about the improvements, Steve says that it outlasts any smart phone and many MP3 players out on the market. How it will actually perform in the hands of a real owner is still up for questioning though. We'll soon find out I'm sure, seeing as the launch is 9 days a way.

To those intent on getting 1, good luck lining up. :)

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Hankering for a Phone: AT&T fine tune its EDGE network, Apple Preps 3 Million units

With the launch date looming ever so near, two companies most invested in the iPhone are making some last minute preparations.

AT&T has been busy upgrading their EDGE network for the past 6 weeks now. Scheduled to finish by the 15th of June, project "Fine Edge" involves adding T-1 connections to some of AT&T's poorest performing towers in an effort to improve the network's throughput, latency and coverage, to double their current data rate of 40kbps to the current industry minimum of 80kbps.

Apple on the other hand are busy preparing 3 million units of the iPhone. While it's been said that there will be an intentional supply shortage of the revolutionary handheld, this latest tidbit of news should be enough to put it to rest. Then again, there was also something in the news about 3 million being the maximum number of iPhones to be sold this year. Whether they'll really be able to stagger sales throughout what remains of 2007 remains to be seen.

If AT&T isn't going to be able to deliver the service that the projected 3 million potential new subscribers will need or if any of the 3 million Apple iPhones turn out to be lemons, iPhone critics are going to have a hay day, and lawyers from both companies are going to have their hands quite full.

(fine edge source)

(3 million source)

Hankering for a Phone: iPhone Release slated for the 29th

Yes. It's confirmed. The iPhone can be yours on the 29th of June, not the 20th as it was formerly assumed to be.

The commercial was aired on 60 minutes, and is available for viewing at the apple site. Apple iPhone owners-to-be are shaking in their shoes, sweating in their seats, and are getting ready to camp out in front of the nearest Apple store near them. No doubt the line is going to go around the block, and might even cross several pedestrian cross-walks.

It's rumored that there's going to be an iPhone stock shortage shortly after the release, not for the volume of pre-orders or the shortage of parts or anything like that though. Apparently, AT&T is going to control iPhone outflow from the source. It's supposedly standard practice when selling high-end phones.

So if you've got your heart set on owning one of these sought-after handsets on the first day, either get a-camping in front of the apple store bright and early several days in advance, or try falling in line at AT&T/Cingular outlets.

Good luck to you and anyone else attempting either though. :) if you happen to have $600 to spare, send one my way? :) I'll pay for shipping. Promise.

Hankering for a Phone: iPhone causes Anxiety in Apple Execs

"The anticipation, which is intense even by Jobsian standards, has led to some quiet, behind-the-scenes anxiety at Apple. Some Apple executives worry privately that expectations for the one-button phones may be too high and that first-generation buyers will end up disappointed."

Apple execs have a right to feel anxious. They've hyped the iPhone up to a fever pitch, and now that it's release is eminent, risk of consumer disillusionment is becoming all too real. But, if they've put as much energy into the handset as they have into their ad campaigns, I doubt they'd have anything to be afraid of. Still though, seeing that it's going to be the first of its kind, consumers are bound to run into some lemons in the batch. Good luck to both consumers and producers on this one.

Hankering for a Phone: iPhone to launch on June 20!

Excitement is building up for subscribers in the US as the Apple announced launch month looms ahead. Thanks to CNBC, would-be-owners have been practically whipped into a frenzy. According to CNBC, the Apple iPhone will be available for retail sale for $500 by the 20th of June! No word from Apple however if the announcement is accurate.

We'll all just have to wait and see then. Someone, anyone, feeling charitable, buy one for me eh? :)

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Hankering for a Phone: iPhone restricted to GSM

Look, look, look folks! GSM subscribers rejoice! It seems that the recently announced deal between Apple and AT&T stipulate that the much coveted, 5-years-ahead-of-its-time, do-it-all handset is going to come out with support for GSM bands only, not CDMA that other US providers (Verizon and Sprint) prefer, further enforcing the AT&T exclusivity.

While that' s bad news for US subscribers who plan on buying an iPhone and switching back to their old network, it seems that this announcement would be a boon to most Asian and international subscribers who are angling to get their hands on the phone.

If anybody is planning on visiting the US in the coming months, and say, they have enough cash to buy me one of these, I'd consider it the best birthday gift anyone could ever give. For at least the next 5 years.

Although... I wonder if it's going to be Sim-locked...

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Hankering for a Phone: iPhone gets FCC OK!

I, along with the rest of the world, looks eagerly back and forth, from and to Apple and the calendar, awaiting the iPhone's release. Who wouldn't want one of these? It's an iPod video plus phone plus camera plus PDA plus almost anything... well, not almost anything. What Apple promises to deliver is a handset with software that is 5 years ahead of any other competing cellphone on the market. Just recently, that promise has come one step closer to fruition.

The good folks at the FCC have recently given the thumbs-up to Apple's iPhone, which I don't think anyone doubted would happen, helping its entry into the US market. While available documents from the FCC revealing nothing more about the phone that what is known, we really don't need the FCC to tell us anything we haven't already found out from other sources, or things we've already dreamed about that the iPhone can do... like fly...

While I doubt we're going to see any real iPhones carried locally in Asia any time soon (a rare thing for new mobile phone releases), I'm sure those who really want it will find a way to get it. For my part, I'm sure I could live without this phone for the time being. At least up until every other company develops software that comes at par to what Apple promises... that'll be in approximately 5 years. Til then, I'll just have to content myself to staring at pictures of it, and watching videos about it. If someone gave me one though, then that would be a completely different story! :)