Apple Store Is Down...

The Apple store is down...I wonder why...

Seriously though, I am not anxious when we'll see the iPhone available for ordering.  I like it when folks were able to pre-order online and pick up their iPads at the store.

My understanding is that this will be like the iPad 2 experience - order online and it gets sent to you.  You cannot go pick it up in the store.

iPhone Deal Between Apple and Sprint Could Mean Apple A Step Closer To Apple "Owning" Carrier

Part of the prelaunch buzz of the next iPhone by Apple in a few hours is Sprint's supposedly deal with Apple to buy more than 30 million iPhones worth $20 billion over the next four years.

That comes out to about 7.5 to 8 million iPhones a year.  Crazy, I know but it makes for fun speculation while we wait for the main event. 

The Next Web suggests that Apple pretty much will own Sprint in many respects.  Figuratively, I would say that will be the case.  Sprint is counting on Apple to not only stop the bleeding at Sprint but also start to steal users, probably carriers without the iPhone and those who might be enticed by Sprint's offer of unlimited wireless data access.

Financially, TNW suggests Apple could become a virtual carrier on its own.  This isn't a new concept but one that has not been discovered for a while.  They also suggest Apple could buy out Sprint at some point in the future and set up Apple Wireless (I came up with that).  

Perhaps, as a part of tomorrow's announcement, Apple's one more thing is that "Apple has bought Sprint".  Okay, probably never gonna happen.  However, Sprint as the third iPhone carrier has possibilities that Apple can probably explore. 

And if Apple wanted to buy out Sprint, it would cost a mere $10 to 12 billion - so as yourself this.  Would go the better deal, a possible Apple buyout of Sprint or Google's $12+ billion Motorola buyout?

Obviously, Google has probably thought about becoming a carrier itself.  Google did bid on wireless spectrums a few years ago.  And that was before Android become such a dominate mobile force.  

Should Apple or Google ever consider becoming carriers, their entry into the wireless carrier market would be scrutinized until time ends.  That is just how powerful both companies have become.  And should either of them decide to get into the business of providing wireless access, they would likely be forced by regulators to make sure they cannot exclude devices from competing mobile platforms working on their network.

Between, the two, I see Apple as not the type who would share.  However, Google, who is more interested in selling ads, probably would not mind as much.

T-Minus 10 Hours: What Would Be Your Reason For Upgrading Your iPhone After Tomorrow

I can't say that there will be one specific reason or feature that would entice me to upgrade my months old iPhone 4 after tomorrow. No, I'm not made of money but there's a way I can upgrade without additional cost for my next iPhone but that'll be my little secret, for now.

So, what can it be? A better camera with 8MP camera? No, it cannot be just that. I've long talked about having better battery life. I would have to have the kind of battery life that I have with my iPad but I would have to take a long hard look to make sure that's what I'm getting.

Having A5 chip would not be enough. I think for the most part, the iPhone 4 is plenty fast enough for my mobile use. Don't get me wrong, I can certainly use more speed but that isn't enough either.

A change in form factor definitely will not be enough.

Bigger screens? I wouldn't mind a 4" screen but only if Apple is able to retain the Retina Display quality. I don't know how but I'm sure they'll be able to find a way to make it happen, if it happen.

A combination of a bigger screen and better battery life could do it.

11 Hours Away From Apple's fall Event

Just like that the title says, we are 11 hours from Apple's fall event. I wanted to check in and say that we are no closer to find out just Apple has in store for us tomorrow.

What's clear is that the anticipation is building rapidly. I am hoping someone will have some sort of a true breakthrough that and broke some kind of information a bit early. And there will be. So, let me say this: read but do not trust because we will be unable to verify.

Sprint Getting Exclusive iPhone 5 Makes No Sense

It's been widely reported that Sprint will not only guarantee to buy 30.5 million iPhones and pay Apple $20 billion over the next four years, it will also get an exclusive period of time to sell the iPhone 5.  No way, dude.

I've had a couple of hours to ponder over this.  This is what I think is likely if any whiff of this is true.  Sprint will likely get a specially modified iPhone 5 that runs on its WiMax network.  Nothing more, nothing less.

And having this WiMax iPhone will give Sprint a quarter or two lead on any LTE iPhone that could be coming out in 2012.  It's possible that Apple can try to get folks to fork over more money in the first quarter of 2012 for those who want LTE access.  

This would grant Sprint a small window all to itself to market a "true" 4G wireless experience.  

So, relax, iPhone fans iPhone 5 for all tomorrow, assuming there is such a device.

There Could Be A WiMax iPhone

An update to the Sprint story I shared earlier.  According to WSJ, Sprint could get an exclusive iPhone designed with WiMax.  If true, this would be a dramatic departure from Apple's previous behavior.  However, it would make sense given that the iPhone is very much the premiere device despite Sprint being heavily invested in Android.

Do I think this is likely?  I'm leaning towards possible WiMax iPhone but no exclusive design just for Sprint.

Source:  Macrumors.

Sprint Bets Big On iPhone - More Than 30 million

Over the next four years, Sprint is committed to buy 30.5 million iPhones from Apple. That is at a cost of $20 billion or more.

That is a big big number. But is it risky? Probably not. And Sprint likely has no choice but to do this.

At the same time, don't be surprised if Sprint finds that 30+ million iPhones won't be enough.

Now, I like to know how many iPads is Sprint committed to.

Source: Yahoo.


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