“A new report citing sources in the Taiwan handset supply chain says Apple has contracted to produce a UMTS/CDMA hybrid iPhone due in the third quarter of next year that will enable the company to sell a single global handset to all carriers, and specifically to Verizon Wireless in the US,” Prince McLean reports for AppleInsider.
“The report by OTR Global, provided to AppleInsider by an industry analyst, says the new ‘worldmode’ iPhone will gain compatibility with CDMA2000 networks (including Verizon’s US network, which is currently incompatible with existing iPhone models) while retaining compatibility with UMTS 3G networks globally using a new hybrid chip produced by Qualcomm,” McLean reports.
“According to OTR’s sources, Asustek subsidiary Pegatron will build the new hybrid phone devices for Apple rather than Hon Hai, the iPhone’s current manufacturer,” McLean reports. “This decision was reportedly made to prevent the company from being ‘constrained by a single-source assembler.'”
McLean reports, “The research note also identified the new phone as having a 2.8″ screen, which is significantly smaller than the current iPhone’s 3.5″ display.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn W.” for the heads up.]
smaller screen ? Does not compute.
There’s no way in hades, Apple is coming out with a 2.8″ iPhone.. There’s no reason to going smaller.
Heck, I wish they’d go up to a 4″ or 4.25″ screen.
Didn’t they report a smaller iPhone was going to be released earlier this year, too? That report sure turned out to be legit, didn’t it?
As soon as I read the bit about a smaller screen, I knew that this report was nonsense. I don’t believe Apple would change the form factor. A smaller screen would be VERY impractical!
Absolute hogwash!
iDon’t want to see the iPhone on Verizon’s network.
iPhone nano maybe?
Software giant Microsoft said it will cut 800 employees worldwide, in addition to the 5,000 cuts already announced. To add insult to injury, severance packages will include Windows 7.
(Copied and Pasted from, “This Just In” App. Thought it was funny:-)
This is going to stop potential Android buyers on their tracks.
Now, they must wait until next year to find out their real choices
at wee rye son.
Vapor, smoke or what have you — these talk introduces an
element of uncertainty.
And rational consumers’ reaction has to be to wait to find out more,
and suspend any immediate plans to buy Moto’s Froid.
Sigh… the whole point of the platform (iPhone, iPod touch) is that there is one form factor for us and developers. This is obviously a bogus report.
I had someone tell me the other day that AT&T;’s contract is up in June with Apple and Verizon would be getting the iPhone. We shall see
Verizon? Maybe. Smaller screen? Not a chance. The ecosystem is based on the current screen size.
Lololo u guys r on point about smaller screen… Bunch of BS keep the smaller screen..
Supposed “smaller screen size” has me discounting reports; developers would have a fit if they had to redesign apps for a smaller screen. Makes no sense…
Today in puerto Rico newspaper announced that ATT bought Centennial mobile with almost 1million suscribers in USA and PR. Centenial is one of the largest carriers in the Caribbean with CDMA network. Fusion will be completed by June 2010 and they announced iPhone compability
Almost sounded beleivable until they said smaller screen. Won’t happen.
From newswires:
“To provide the best experience possible for Centennial customers who choose to migrate to AT&T;service, prior to the transition, AT&T;plans to deploy 3G at more than 200 sites in Centennial’s markets. This deployment plan includes adding 3G capabilities at more than 100 sites and expanding 3G coverage and capacity at approximately 100 sites.”
and this excerpt:
“AT&T;plans to integrate Centennial’s networks and products with AT&T;’s networks and product portfolio. The transaction extends AT&T;’s wireless network coverage in primarily rural areas of Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio and Texas as well as enhances coverage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
So looks like CDMA is not going to be used, and finally beefing up the rural areas where AT&T;is weak. I know in Ohio from personal experience. You get out from the big cities and their coverage sucks.
Here is the link to the full article: http://newsblaze.com/story/2009110605541700001.bw/topstory.html
Even if the screen was higher density, allowing the same pixel count as current models, that still doesn’t resolve the issue of keyboard usability or overall finger-friendliness. How could they possibly make a 2.8″ screen workable when the current portrait keyboard is already such a tight fit?
Agree with LeeSweet:
Look at the any stats regarding global market share comparing GSM vs CDMA- Its around 81 % for GSM and 19%.CDMA.
Apple is a global company and they look at market share globally. In the Americas (not US alone) GSM is 88% and CDMA is about 10% 1.5% others. (Source: 4rth qtr 2008 market share by technology- Wireless Intelligence.)
So unless this ‘something completely different’, this phone is more wishful thinking by those happy customers of
Verizon who want an Iphone. Not sure how happy they would be using a Iphone on a 2.8″ screen though..
Verizion is not going to get the Iphone until they get away from CDMA which is what I think they are planning to do in the next few years anyway.
Besides, It still makes not sense for Apple to make a phone with CDMA, based on global market share, it 80%-20% in favor of GSM. Only the US is the abberation here ( kinda like Metric vs. English system) google CDMA-GSM global Market share and it’s about 80% to 20% in favor
oops – ignore the bottom para. I forgot to delete before I posted.
The reason why the smaller screen isn’t believable has nothing to do with developers. The resolution could be the same even if the screen is smaller. This would have zero impact on developers.
The real problem is that since everything would scale down, the keyboard and other interface items would all be much smaller.
There’s really nothing to gain from a smaller iPhone.
The idea that Apple is coming out with a smaller screen CDMA iPhone is silly and not worth considering.
CDMA only makes snse for China. Why would Apple add a radio chip but make the phone smaller?
Yet another bogus report from Taiwan industry “sources”. And yet people publish this stuff without any verification.
Well, it doesn’t seem likely with the smaller screen; however, one, adding a second radio means sacrificing space internally, not just for the hybrid radio chip, but for the antennas, which must be reconfigured; and two, the screen size of 2.8″ at the same pixel density would mean a screen only 22.5% smaller in the horizontal and vertical dimensions. I think while most would consider that too small, when the iPhone came out, I think most considered it rather large. A phone 22.5% smaller in each dimension would more closely resemble the size of traditional phones.
The screen is not actually smaller, it’s just farther away.