Apple inventory suggests new iPhone 4, iPod Touch

Rumor has it that a look into Apple’s internal inventory system might have revealed at least a couple of the company’s coming announcements before its Oct. 4 iPhone event.

According to a report from 9to5Mac, new model numbers have appeared in Apple’s internal inventory system that suggest some new variations on the iPhone 4 and the iPod Touch. Both new model numbers carry the letter “A,” suggesting they’re minor variations and are likely devices we’ve already seen before.

The first are three new models carrying the codename N81A; N81 is Apple’s identifier for its latest generation of iPod Touch devices, and the A suggests that these are the same devices with a smallish change. Over at 9to5Mac, the speculation here is that Apple is releasing three white models to go with the three black models of iPod Touch that are already available: the 8GB, 32GB and 64GB iPods. That makes pretty good sense, given that 9to5Mac previously published plans that seemed to confirm a batch of white iPod Touches as being in the works.

The second set of models is much more interesting. These are two SKU numbers carrying the codename N90A, which suggests two variations on the N90 – the code that refers to the iPhone 4 that’s currently available to the public. The “A” in this case suggests two new variations on the iPhone 4 we know, quite possibly an 8GB model that will come in both black and white.

Rumors have been flying around for a while now that Apple intends to release two new iPhone models during its Oct. 4 event: the full-on upgrade known as the iPhone 5, with new internal hardware and a redesigned case, and a cheaper variation on the iPhone 4.

This N90A iPhone could very likely be the cheaper iPhone 4 we heard about, with a scaled-back hard drive to keep its cost down. There’s been some talk that this could be a carrier-free phone that users could pay for in full up front, allowing them to avoid the cost of getting on a two-year contract with carriers such as AT&T or Verizon.

So it seems likely that if these codename numbers are to be believed, we really will see a couple of new iPhones next week. It’s unlikely that the N90A refers to the next iPhone model, although many rumors have been up and down that Apple won’t be releasing a full-on iPhone 5, but rather an incremental update known as the iPhone 4S. Still, if that were the case, the iPhone 4S would carry its own new model number, likely N94, which has popped up in the software development kit code for the next update to Apple’s operating system, iOS 5. The Verizon iPhone 4 got its own codename, N92, when it was released earlier this year, so it seems unlikely that the iPhone 4S wouldn’t get a new number as well.

Sprint to sell iPhone in October

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Sprint Nextel Corp., the country's third-largest cellphone company, will start selling the iPhone in mid-October.

The newspaper said the wireless company will get to sell both the new iPhone 5 and the current model, the iPhone 4. The iPhone 5 will launch at the same time that AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless get it.

Apple Inc. normally launches a new iPhone model in June or July, but this year's launch has been delayed for unknown reasons. Apple watchers had expected the new phone to arrive in September, but speculation has recently shifted toward October.

Sprint, headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., has been turning around its ailing operations through improvements in customer care, but its inability to sell the iPhone has hampered its recovery. In the three months ending in June, it lost 101,000 subscribers from contract-based plans, while Verizon and AT&T, already larger, added subscribers. Contract-based plans are the most lucrative for wireless carriers.

AT&T was the exclusive U.S. carrier for the phone for three and half years, until Apple allowed Verizon to start selling one in February.

Apple suppliers making cheaper 8GB iPhone

Asian suppliers to Apple Inc have begun manufacturing a lower-priced version of its hot-selling iPhone 4 with a smaller 8 gigabyte flash drive.

According to some unidentified sources, the flash drive for the 8GB iPhone 4 is being manufactured by a Korean company. Apple currently sources its flash drives from Japan's Toshiba and South Korea's Samsung Electronics.

The existing iPhone 4 was first launched in June 2010 with 16 GB and 32 GB versions, with a white version added to the lineup in April. The 8GB version is expected to launch within weeks.
Some analysts said the cheaper 8GB iPhone 4 could help Apple boost sales in emerging markets.

The Launch of iPhone 5:
In addition to the launch of the smaller iPhone 4, Apple is targeting an end-September launch for the next-generation iPhone 5.

The new iPhone, which some call the iPhone 4S because of its largely identical appearance to the existing iPhone 4, is expected to have a bigger touch screen, better antenna and an 8-megapixel camera.

The iPhone 5's two manufacturers have been told to prepare production capacity for up to 45 million units altogether. The phone will be made by Hon Hai and Pegatron.

Apple sold 20.34 million iPhones in the second quarter versus an expected 17 million to 18 million, and is increasingly looking to Asia to boost future earnings.

Asia-Pacific - which accounts for about one-fifth of its total revenue - and Greater China in particular, helped Apple's revenue surge 82 percent to $28.6 billion in April-June.

Apple selling unlocked GSM iPhone 4 at online store

Apple has began selling a GSM version of the iPhone 4 that doesn't require a contract with AT&T, making the handset available for the first time to T-Mobile users or those who travel internationally, where GSM is more common. The phone is currently available only on Apple's online store.

The unlocked device cannot easily be used on Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel or other CDMA-based carriers, since that requires a different chipset. Hacking the phone to use those networks, known as jailbreaking, voids Apple's warranty.

Without a subsidy from AT&T - worthwhile for the carrier since voice and data plans more than recoup the difference - the unlocked iPhone, available in black or white, costs $649 for the 16-gigabyte version and $749 for the 32GB version.

That's more than the cost of buying the subsidized phone at $199, jailbreaking it and paying AT&T's $325 termination fee to switch to another carrier, something the majority of customers won't do.

The iPhone isn't compatible with T-Mobile's standard data network. And switching from AT&T to T-Mobile could be irrelevant if regulators approve a merger that would make the combined company the nation's largest wireless provider.

There's no indication whether Apple will release an unlocked CDMA iPhone or a version that can switch between networks. The CDMA iPhone for Verizon began shipping in February.

The iPhone 5 is expected to be available this fall.

White iPhone 4 available at Apple Online Store

After an extended period of downtime, the white iPhone 4 is now available in Apple Online Store. The device should also become available in Apple retail stores as well as AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and at select Apple authorized resellers.

The price and functionality of the white iPhone 4 is exactly the same as the black version, but the thrill of finally having the often delayed device should be enough to prompt quite a few customers to spend their hard-earned cash. Bear in mind that the shipping time for the black iPhone 4 is "within 24 hours," while the white version ships in "3-5 business days."

China Unicom sells 100,000 iPhone 4s in 4 days

China Unicom has sold close to 100,000 iPhone 4s in the first four days of launching he device in China.

China Unicom, which is the mobile carrier for the iPhone 4 in China, has basically sold out of its first shipment of the device, company vice president Li Gang said. Earlier in the week, the mobile carrier reported that 200,000 users had pre-ordered the product. China Unicom has already stopped online reservations for iPhone 4, and is instead asking users to come directly to retail stores to sign up for the device.

The massive demand for the product outpaces last year's official launch of the iPhone 3G and 3GS in China. During that period, it had taken over a month before China Unicom had announced it sold 100,000 iPhone units.

The iPhone 4 was officially launched in China last Saturday, with the popularity of the device causing retail outlets in the country to sell out of the product.

Apple has said more iPhone 4s will be made available in China soon and that customers should check back with their local store for updates. China Unicom expects the second shipment of the iPhone 4 to arrive in China Oct 1.

The high sales figures for the iPhone 4 come as China Unicom reports it now has 10 million 3G users.

Apple launches iPhone 4 in China

Apple has launched the latest version of its iPhone in China and boosted its presence in the world's biggest Internet and mobile market by opening another two stores in Beijing and Shanghai.

The new Apple stores in Beijing and Shanghai bring the company's total to four in China - two in each city. It plans to have 25 shops in the country by the end of next year.

The iPhone 4 - something of a status symbol in China - is available in Apple stores, as well as at China Unicom retail outlets for buyers who sign a two-year contract with the operator.

The 16-gigabyte version of the smartphone, which will have wireless Internet capability, will cost 4,999 yuan at Apple stores with the 32-gigabyte selling for 5,999 yuan.

China Unicom, the country's second-largest mobile phone operator, took nearly 50,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 4 on September 17, the opening day for such reservations.

With the two-year contract, the 16-gigabyte will sell for 5,880 yuan while the 32-gigabyte version will cost 6,999 yuan.

The iPhone 4 made its debut in China just a week after Apple officially launched the iPad in the country, with some customers queuing up for several days to ensure they got their hands on the tablet computer.

Both products have been available for several months on China's grey market, which has been booming thanks to great demand for Apple goods.

The earlier version of the iPhone only officially went on sale in China last October - more than two years after its US launch.

Consumers have had a shorter wait for the iPhone 4 and iPad - the latest version of the smartphone was released in June in France, Britain, Germany, Japan and the United States.
The iPad made its US debut in April.

China has at least 420 million web users and is also the world's largest mobile market with more than 800 million subscribers as of the end of June.

China Unicom to launch Apple iPhone 4

China Unicom has planned to launch Apple's latest iPhone 4 very soon. According to the state run media, the proposed launch may take place next month in the world's largest mobile market.

Apple also has agreed to let China Unicom, the country's second-largest mobile operator, distribute the iPad Tablet Computer in China.

Although, no fixed timetable has been set for the iPad launch.

China Unicom has said previously it is in talks with Apple to sell the iPhone 4 and the iPad, which have launched around the world to much fanfare and are already available in China's flourishing grey market for Apple products.

The company started offering the iPhone 3GS model with wireless Internet capability earlier this month, with Apple's Beijing store selling out of the phone on the first day.

iPhone 4 vs Droid X vs EVO 4G

With yesterday's announcement of the Motorola Droid X on Verizon and the Apple iPhone 4 on AT&T joining the HTC EVO 4G on Sprint, three of the four big U.S. carriers now have new flagship high-end smartphones.

Some things are constant among these phones. First, all run 1GHz processors: The iPhone runs Apple's A4, the Evo runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon, and the Droid X runs on a TI OMAP processor. All add much better cameras: A 5-megapixel one on the iPhone 4 and 8-megapixel ones on the Droid X and the Evo 4G. And all have bigger or higher-resolution displays and a large selection of applications. But while there are a lot of similarities, what interests me most are the differences.

The iPhone 4 runs Apple's operating environment, now called iOS 4, and AT&T is the only U.S. carrier to offer it. The new phone looks great and is very thin, and its 3.5-inch LCD has the highest resolution at 960-by-480, though the screen is physically smaller than that on the other two devices.

Although the hardware looks great, the biggest benefit the iPhone has is still its integrated ecosystem, with hardware, software, and the App Store all working together. There are more applications in total - and more good ones - in the App Store than for other mobile platforms. The iPhone 4 adds a front-facing camera, and FaceTime video calling looks easier to use than other choices, though I want to try it more.

The downsides: It's a closed environment, so Apple controls what goes into the App Store, sometimes with unpredictable results; AT&T's known issues with dropped calls; the iPhone's lack of expandability - neither a removable battery or an additional memory card; and its lack of support for Flash, which means that some Web sites don't work.

The other flagship phones all run Google's Android operating environment, which is notably more open: You can choose from multiple handset makers and carriers, and the Android Market is notably less restrictive than Apple's store. There aren't quite as many applications there, but there are tens of thousands, and most of what you want is available.

But a downside here is that these phones tend to be a bit more complex. The user interfaces aren't as consistent, and most of the hardware makers add their own enhancements that may or may not conflict with those offered by the OS and the carrier. You have more control, but you have to work at it more.

The Evo 4G has a large 4.3-inch display, with an 800-by-480 resolution, and as a result, the phone is a lot larger than the iPhone 4. It has a variety of very nice features, including a front-facing camera for video conferencing and the ability to be used as a mobile hot-spot, sharing its Sprint connection with multiple computers over Wi-Fi. It also has an 8-megapixel camera, HDMI out, and a kickstand. But the standout feature is its support for the Wimax network, which is now available in a number of markets and coming to a lot more this fall.

The downsides include size - the flipside of the big screen is that it is notably bigger than the iPhone and feels heavier than the Droid X - and for me, at least, battery life and a number of little bugs I'm waiting to get resolved. Currently, Flash doesn't work, but Andorid 2.2 with support for Flash 10.1 is likely coming.

The Droid X, like the Evo, has a 4.3-inch LCD but with a slightly higher resolution of 854-by-480, and ships with Android 2.1, with the 2.2 update and Flash promised for later this summer. It too has a wireless hotspot feature, removable battery and expandable store.

A couple of things make it different, including its own set of Motorola widgets that go on top of Android and an optional larger battery that makes it a little thicker. But what really stood out to me was Motorola's focus on voice quality, with additional antennas and three microphones for improved noise cancellation. Of all these phones, it is the biggest, slightly longer than the Evo 4G. I haven't been able to use one yet.

These phones will be soon joined by the Samsung Galaxy S, originally with the Captivate model on AT&T, but rumored to be on other carriers as well. This too runs Android 2.1 initially, but has Samsung's own 1 GHz processor and a 4-inch 800-by-480 "Super AMOLED" display.

One thing I've noticed is how much lighter it feels than the other big Android phones, but we'll have to see what that means for battery life. And I really want to see how this OLED display really stacks up to the others.

Also note that T-Mobile has a number of interesting phones, including the HTC HD2, which runs Windows Mobile 6.5 and a number of Android-based models, although I'm not sure I'd describe these as flagship phones in the same way.

I can't say any one phone is perfect for everyone. Some people will prefer smaller phones, and others will insist on physical keyboards, as on the BlackBerry. Some will balk at the data plans. And everyone will have to choose not just a phone, but also a carrier, which offer different levels of service, coverage, and plans.

New Apple iPhone expects crowd

Apple's latest-generation iPhone is expected to make a rock star entrance, drawing crowds that quickly empty shelves at the firm's shops.

"Initial demand for the new iPhone is incredibly robust," Deutsche Bank market analysts Chris Whitmore and Joakim Mahlberg said.

"We anticipate another Apple event? with long lines, heavy store traffic and stock outs."
Apple set a single-day record for iPhone orders when advanced sales launched last week, receiving 600,000 in 24 hours.

AT&T, the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the United States, said pre-order sales for the iPhone 4 were "10-times higher than the first day of pre-ordering for the iPhone 3GS last year."
AT&T suspended a troubled early ordering process because of the heavy demand.

Deutsche Bank analysts have raised their projections for iPhone 4 sales, estimating that Apple would sell 44 million this year and 55 million next year.

Standard & Poor's Equity Research Services rated Apple stock a "strong buy" based on the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Macintosh computer maker's hot products.

"Apple has transformed from the hip iPod maker to a leading-edge technology giant with a hand in some of the fastest-growing technology hardware markets," said Equity Research information technology analyst Clyde Montevirgen.

"By competing in the smartphone, laptop, tablet, and retail markets, and outperforming formidable competitors along the way, Apple has effectively expanded its total available market size and renewed its long-term high-growth potential."

The iPhone 4 goes on sale in Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States on June 24.
Some people began queuing outside the Apple Store in downtown San Francisco on Monday to be among the first to get their hands on an iPhone 4.

In Japan, Japanese mobile phone carrier Softbank also faced a deluge of pre-orders for the latest iPhone, with queues snaking around outlets and its online store overwhelmed by demand.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs unveiled the new iPhone earlier this month. It features video chat, can shoot and edit high-definition quality video and has a crisper resolution screen.

The iPhone 4 costs 199 dollars (US) for the 16 gigabyte model and 299 dollars for the 32GB version.

"Right now, Apple is leading the industry," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley. "Every indication is that the iPhone 4 launch will be successful unless AT&T really screws it up. AT&T remains Apple's Achilles heel in this endeavor; the product looks fine."

The smartphone, which comes in black and white versions, will be available in 18 other countries in July and 24 more in August.

Cupertino, California-based Apple has sold more than 50 million iPhones since it launched the device in 2007.