Complete this sentence: I would buy an iPhone if...

What are your requirements? Here's mine:

-it has speakerphone
-it has Bluetooth
-it has a good battery life
-it is more scratch-resistant than an iPod
-it has a dock
-it is either a flip or a slider (preferably slider!)
-has both a scrollwheel and a keypad
-Verizon carries it
-it has buttons an adult can press (i.e. non-microscopic)
-it has a great GUI

Inspired by this Engadget post. I currently have a Motorola v710 and I love it - sounds great, buttons are big and easy to push, has Bluetooth, and has speakerphone. I am also a big Verizon fan; they have excellent reception in my area. I don't think those requirements are too far out of line with Apple; they usually do good work and include a fair number of features in their machines. My "new ever 2" year plan is coming up early next year, so I would definitely be interested in an Apple iPhone.

I can probably guarantee Verizon won't carry it since I'm predicting it will be a GSM phone.

Here's my rationale why:
- GSM gives it a wider reach internationally.
- GSM lets Apple sell the phone unlocked and without needing to partner up with an existing carrier.
- In the US, GSM opens up markets with Cingular, T-Mobile, and Alltel on the national level.
- Verizon has a music service and tends to cripple the OS of all their phones...Apple won't allow that.

Besides, all the current rumors seem to point to the fact that even IF Apple partners with a carrier, it will most likely be T-Mobile.

With all that being said, I think your list is great. Add a killer, easy to use UI and I'd go for it.

schweb said:

I can probably guarantee Verizon won't carry it since I'm predicting it will be a GSM phone.

Here's my rationale why:
- GSM gives it a wider reach internationally.
- GSM lets Apple sell the phone unlocked and without needing to partner up with an existing carrier.
- In the US, GSM opens up markets with Cingular, T-Mobile, and Alltel on the national level.
- Verizon has a music service and tends to cripple the OS of all their phones...Apple won't allow that.

Besides, all the current rumors seem to point to the fact that even IF Apple partners with a carrier, it will most likely be T-Mobile.

With all that being said, I think your list is great. Add a killer, easy to use UI and I'd go for it.

Click to expand...

Ooh, I totally forgot about the GUI, that was high on my list too - added! I haven't met a cell phone UI that I've liked yet, but my v710 has a semi-decent one compared to the other ones I've tried. I think Apple could really make a hit in the cell phone market. I hope Kevin Rose is right about CDMA though...

Oh, I think they'll do CDMA eventually, but I would think GSM will be first.

Im hoping it will be 3G. We have had 3G for years here in the UK, and I would never switch back to GSM now. We are just starting to get HSDPA aswell so if apple make it GSM I will be very dissapointed and it will be a step back technology wise for them.

It might support 3G, but it will definitely be GSM. The US is Apple's market and unfortunately, we're no where near as advanced as Europe in the mobile market.

-Cingular has it.

SeVeN said:

-Cingular has it.

Click to expand...

And your reference is?

Considering Cingular just opened their own music store, I would be very surprised. It could happen, but I'd be surprised.

-my Slvr breaks
-I can buy it outright for under $250
-It has Java application support
-It has all the features of my Slvr and then some

i would love a almost exact copy of ical, address book, and mail

I would also like some really innovative way to text message.

I would buy it if...

NO ITUNES (I have an ipod, need a good phone the two can never meet)
GSM
syncs with ical and address nicely
Great GUI
3G (not deal breaker, in canada data costs your first born)
Decide voice memo
touch screen
slider
pda would be nice
finish matches black mac book (all my portable gadgets have to match)

Hey, kaidomac, you like the V710 why (PM me I'm not being rude) just got one from one of my jobs and so far I hate it, what am I missing.

daryl

boneheadz said:

I would buy it if...

NO ITUNES (I have an ipod, need a good phone the two can never meet)

Click to expand...

slim to no chance that they dont include iTunes

trpnmonkey41 said:

slim to no chance that they dont include iTunes

Click to expand...

Your write about that. For what ever reason the market wants music in phones, rather than a phone.

But it is all moot, I really don't think there is a chance in heck that apple will release a phone.

daryl

- If it doesn't have a joystick (Sony Ericsson make great phones, but the joysticks always start playing up after 14 months)

- If I can get it with an eplus contract for €150,- or less

boneheadz said:

Your write about that. For what ever reason the market wants music in phones, rather than a phone.

But it is all moot, I really don't think there is a chance in heck that apple will release a phone. l

Click to expand...

I'm with you on that one. This rumor has been going on for almost 6 years now. Apple has tried its hand in peripherals and devices other than computers plenty of times in the past. So far (with the exception of the iPod) they have all flopped.
The market is flooded with phones and there are plenty of big league players out there already (Motorla, Sony/Ericsson, LG, Nokia, etc). Apple would have one heck of an uphill climb before the concept of releasing a phone would be anywhere near profitable for them. It is no different than the companies that try to release MP3 players... they all get crushed by the iPod.
It is true that most people don't really want a "phone" per se anyway. What they do want is:

"real music" ringtones, games, walkie-talkie, internet access, GPS, email, instant messaging, MP3 players, video playback...etc., etc., etc.

The last thing that most people want from a mobile phone these days is something to make a decent phone call with. It seems that many just want some gadget that will do anyting and everything possible so they can "impress" people with it.
I mean, that one commercial on TV right now has the two guys getting offended when some chick calls their phone a "phone".

The more likely concept IMO would be that Apple starts expanding their iTunes service to certain phones/carriers and not actually releasing a phone of their own.

Here's an interesting article from AppleInsider on the iPhone:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2285

AI usually has good info and it's being provided by a Prudential analyst so I bet it's reliable.

Seems Apple's working on 2 phones. Both will be limited to GSM/WCDMA (not the same as CDMA) which will limit use to T-Mo or Cingular in the US.

- supports A2DP BT 2.0 (since my MBP doens't, I doubt the phone will)
- unlimited Itunes music (since my SLVR has a 100 song limit I'm sure this will also.
- HSDPA/UMTS capability
- A keypad that doesn't require a stylus ( based on the pics I saw on Cnet Crave, the keys are about the width of a nickel!)

On the flip side, I hope it doesn't try to have a QWERTY keypad, that it isn't too thick (knowing Apple, it won't be) and is simply a music phone, rather than an all-in-one contraption that has a bunch of stuff that really doesn't work well so you don't use it anyway.

D3v1L80Y said:

I'm with you on that one... <snip>
It is true that most people don't really want a "phone" per se anyway. What they do want is:

"real music" ringtones, games, walkie-talkie, internet access, GPS, email, instant messaging, MP3 players, video playback...etc., etc., etc.

The last thing that most people want from a mobile phone these days is something to make a decent phone call with. It seems that many just want some gadget that will do anyting and everything possible so they can "impress" people with it.
I mean, that one commercial on TV right now has the two guys getting offended when some chick calls their phone a "phone".

The more likely concept IMO would be that Apple starts expanding their iTunes service to certain phones/carriers and not actually releasing a phone of their own.

Click to expand...

I don't know if I agree that this is what most people want. It is what the market is offering. A phone has one stream of income for the carrier, the voice minutes. These all in one, make your lunch, get you a pretty girlfriend, devices have multiple streams, ringtones, data, graphics, and on and on.

The sad part is that if you want a phone that is slim and not too bad looking plus bluetooth and decent call management features, you also have to get everything else. Anything that is just a phone doesn't have bluetooth and is usually ugly.

Now, if apple did create a phone. (I stand by my statement that they won't)
5 more things I want.

Motorala's voice dial feature (it just works, everytime)
flip, slider and candybar style to choose.
Black with white accents (and reverse)
Total freedom around themes and desktop (think sony)
Steve's personal number pre programed so I can call him and tell him what he should be doing.

Aptmunich - If it doesn't have a joystick (Sony Ericsson make great phones, but the joysticks always start playing up after 14 months)

- If I can get it with an eplus contract for €150,- or less

Click to expand...

I've never seen a phone older than a year wow.

daryl

My carrier - Sprint - picks it up and......if......the phone looks good, works good and meets my simple needs.