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Another round of speculation is hitting the Internet as analysts share their thoughts on what AT&T’s next move will be once Apple rolls out another update to the iPhone. While we’ve heard everything ranging from an iPhone Nano to a more robust (and wallet burning expensive) iPhone Pro, no one has really thrown the ball in to AT&T’s court but their next big thing could be a price cut.

Yes, a price cut but only on their monthly iPhone plans. Since Apple seems gung-ho on expanding the iPhone in to as many people’s hands and ears as possible, a little nudging towards AT&T’s end to ease the cost of ownership has probably been in the cards for some time. There is nothing set in stone on what the magic number will be but the word going around is a move back to the $20 a month for a limited internet plan. The reduction in monthly rates would go hand in hand nicely with a lower cost (and feature reduced) iPhone which would finally shut up the rumor mill about a $99 iPhone. In addition to a… more...

It’s that time of the year again as Apple preps its next generation iPhone in time for its World Wide Developers Conference, rumors are coming up about the Chinese version of the popular handset. However, it looks like Apple may cave in and disable many of the device’s core features.

Numerous references have been made over time to the iPhone “Brick” which probably brings up thoughts of a unibody like form factor considering similar mentions have yielded the current generation MacBook family which utilizes a Unibody enclosure. However, with the iPhone, the “Brick” mention may hint at what we’ll see in the Chinese version of the device: no 3G and no WiFi. As disheartening as it may sound, it comes as no surprise as Apple has had extreme difficulty in bring the iPhone to China due to harsh carrier demands, the lack of extended cellular radio options being one of them. By stripping out Wifi and 3G, Apple may have a chance to sell the iPhone one of the world’s largest cellular carrier.

Via: The iPhone Blog

AT&T is set to purchase cellular equipment from leading competitor Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel Wireless to improve call reception in many rural areas formerly unavailable in the carrier’s reach across 18 states.

The deal is a loose end from Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel wireless (which now puts Verizon as the largest US cellular carrier) and mandated by the FCC. While users will have to switch from CDMA based phones to GSM based devices when AT&T acquires any remaining Alltel customers, the deal is well worth it thanks to an addition of new cellular towers in areas covering 18 states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.

Via: iPhones Talk

SlingPlayer has finally made its way to the iPhone albeit in a limited and crippled form thanks to intervention from AT&T.

The $29.99 App (iTunes Link) will only work over WiFi and not over 3G as previously expected but after continued attempts by AT&T to limit Sling’s 3G capabilities threatened to ban it from the App Store, Apple and Sling caved in. AT&T’s comment on the matter is that Sling would generate so much network traffic by streaming a TV signal that it would bog down the carrier’s network and prevent other users from having a stable connection despite Sling’s availability on other AT&T Smartphones.

Via: iLounge

Apple is busily preparing the final designs of its next generation iPhone but the main focus seems to be the graphics prowess of the device. To bring stunning 3D visuals to the iPhone, Apple has brought inRaja Koduri, CTO of AMD.

In addition to Koduri, Apple already managed to nab Bob Drebin, another CTO from the Nvidia competitor. Apple has been consolidating all of its iPhone R&D and bringing it Cupertino since its purchase of PA Semi early last year. It will be interesting to see what Apple brings to the next iPhone in terms of graphic power but rumors have long floated around the Internet since PowerVR, the iPhone’s GPU supplier, engineered a low power chip that could drive HD resolutions. In addition, it’s been rumored Apple would introduce a new video output cable that would drive the iPhone’s external HD resolution.

Via: iPhones Talk

Another round of news concerning AT&T has cropped up today: this time they’ve announced their financial results. The carrier has reported strong numbers thanks to the iPhone.

The financial results available from AT&T’s website show the iPhone giving AT&T a strong lead in revenue and a healthy addition of wireless subscribers. AT&T reported that they activated 1.6 Million iPhone 3Gs in the 4th Quarter but was down from 1.9 Million in the same quarter last year. Of those 1.6 Million activations, 1.2 Million were new to AT&T but the slow down in iPhone sales didn’t go unexpected, it lined up with AT&T’s predictions for sales as Apple readies an update to their product cycle.

Via: Macrumors

The much anticipated SlingPlayer App for the iPhone may have encountered some delays on its way to the App Store but a rumor is floating around that the iPhone’s US carrier, AT&T, is asking Apple to deny the App in fear of the unprecedented amount of network traffic it would generate.

Wireless carriers instill data caps to thwart data hemorrhaging users but AT&T may be over stepping its boundaries and exploiting their exclusive relationship with Apple to protects its interests over what would appeal to consumers. The problem AT&T would have with the SlingPlayer App is the amount of data downloaded by an iPhone users to watch video content. It all comes down to data consumption, something AT&T has been wary of since the iPhone’s launch and not so much the competition generated from a possible SlingPlayer App and AT&T’s own over the air TV packages as the later is unavailable for the iPhone.

While SlingPlayer has heard nothing from AT&T or Apple on the status of its App, BoyGenius has heard that the decision was to deny the App for the previously listed reasons: bandwidth consumption. The irony of… more...

Always one to boast about its network or bemoan rivals, Verizon has made a bold statement about the iPhone: they’d retract their stance on the iPhone and offer a model that runs on its upcoming 4G network.

All wireless carriers in the US are switching to the more advanced 4G network (based on LTE) and will eventually dump their 3G networks in the coming decade. While Verizon and Sprint utilize CDMA for their wireless connection in lieu of AT&T and T-Mobile using GSM, having an LTE connection would make phones much more universal with other carriers. This is what Verizon’s CEO, Ivan Seidenberg, is hoping for, that Apple will reconsider their approach to the iPhone and offer a 4G model so it can be used on their network with ease. Verizon later revealed he regretted choosing other touch screen phones over the iPhone.

Via: Apple Insider

Ever since the iPhone’s debut, there has always been a majority of users looking to unlock their device whether it’s to get away from AT&T’s questionable service, use a carrier that doesn’t sell the iPhone or travel the world without the hassle of exorbitant roaming fees. If you fit in to one of those categories, Buy.com’s unlocked iPhones might interest you, if you have deep pockets that is.

Buy.com recently started selling unlocked iPhones but the catch is these handsets are unlocked by Apple to distribute to carriers who want to sell them at a massive premium. What separates these iPhones from other “unlocked” iPhones is that these aren’t regionally locked, or so Buy.com claims and do not use any third-party hacks to unlock the handset. What will set you back is the price tag these iPhones carry, $799, although shipping is free.

Via: The iPhone Blog

According to recent rumors, Apple may introduce more than one model of its next generation iPhone with slimmed down specs at a lower price and limited availability.

The new “lite” models would come alongside the much improved 3rd generation iPhone with one sporting an EDGE cellular connection instead of the much faster HSPA+ standard. A new CDMA only iPhone without WiFi would be launched in China with sales limited to that country as well as a regional lock tying it to Chinese cellular carriers. However, the much rumored “iPhone Nano” would not be part of the new line up.

Via: iPhones Talk