Gartner: Apple places 10 million iPhone unit order – Apple preparing for 3G iPhone
By Will Park on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 at 12:31 PM PST In Apple, Devices, Rumors, iPhone, iPhone OS
There’s another round of hyped-up buzz starting to build surrounding the imminent launch of the next-generation iPhone. The first hardware revision of the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone will hit the US market with a 3G radio in tow, among other features – which should appease the masses that have lamented the iPhone’s lack of true high-speed data capabilities (although, the iPhone’s EDGE data seems to compete with 3G connections due to processing and browser efficiency advantages).
We’re dying to get our hands on a 3G iPhone, and the latest report indicates that Apple is indeed ramping up production of the second-gen iPhone. Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney believes that Apple has just placed a 10 million unit-strong order for another round of iPhones. The significance being that the new batch of iPhones are most likely the 3G-addled version of the iPhone.
It wouldn’t make sense for Apple to order another 10 million of the current iPhone, so if the new iPhone production order is true, it would most assuredly be an order for mostly (if not exclusively) 3G iPhones.
And, as another little gem from Apple, Dulaney indicates that the 3G iPhone will also employ a new display technology. The multi-touch capacitance touchscreen technology that has been used to tremendous success in the iPhone may just be mated to an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display on the 3G iPhone. The use of an OLED display should allow the 3G iPhone to shed some girth – a thinner OLED display panel ultimately means a thinner 3G iPhone. The OLED display also lacks a backlight, making it significantly more power-efficient than the current LCD display and allowing for increased battery performance – especially important, considering the greater battery drain imposed by 3G/HSDPA chipsets.
So, the next-generation, 3G iPhone is most likely set to start production. And, better yet, the 3G iPhone should also be toting an OLED display. We’re crossing our fingers for the latter rumor to pan out. Oh, and let’s not forget Kevin Rose’s prediction that the 3G iPhone will rock two-way video calling. Stay tuned….
[Via: iPodObserver]
For those of us who have waited, patiently or not, it looks like our reward is coming.
Like many others, I have learned not to rush out and buy the first version of any hardware or software, and especially new cutting-edge technology products. I also wanted 3G and some other hardware improvements.
My trust in Apple’s history and policy of continuing product evolution and improvement may be soon justified.
hardmanb says:
March 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
For those of us who have waited, patiently or not, it looks like our reward is coming.
You’ve been rewarded with nothing. All you’ve done is deny yourself an iPhone, because of your concern of what is (possibly) coming around the corner.
All tech is obsolete within 18 months, no matter what.
How are you even going to have the courage to buy the next iPhone, knowing that there will be a better model in the wings, ready to usurp the current model?
These rumors, are just that, rumors. Will you still be as pleased if you are forced to wait until the end of the year before it finally comes out?
I am pumped that the new iPhone is going to utilize the new OLED technology! Check out this web article on just how much thinner an OLED display is… http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/03/sony_xel1_oled_tv_review_verdict_small_on_size_large_on_beauty-2.html
I can’t wait to buy my own 3G iPhone!