The iPhone will be available via KT starting November 28.

KT didn’t announce the price for which it will sell the iPhone, but analysts believe the handset will be sold for 350,000 to 400,000 KRW ($300 to $345) with a contract agreement and a data plan.

Hwang Sung-jin, analyst at Prudential Investment and Securities, says that if the carrier “offers rate plans ranging from 45,000 won to 65,000 won per month in addition to adequate subsidies for subscribers, stable demand will be created.”

In Japan, about 200,000 iPhones were sold since 2008, while in China (the world’s largest mobile market) 30,000 units have been sold since October 30 this year. These numbers may suggest that KT won’t manage to sell 500,000 iPhones anytime soon, but I guess we’d better wait and see.

Via Yonhap News

• NEC to re-launch phones outside Japan, probably in Europe
• China Unicom to offer amnesty to jailbroken grey market iPhone owners
• 5 million iPhones bought by China Unicom – sales to debut in September
• iPhone 3G not such a big hit in Japan
• NTT DoCoMo still waiting for “right condition to sell” iPhone in Japan

Available in 29 languages, the updated Google News for mobile features “the same richness and personalization” that Google News offers on your desktop PC. There are now more stories and images displayed on the homepage, and users can easily access their favorite sections, play videos, find articles and so on.

To try out the new Google News for Android, iPhone and WebOS, just point your mobile browser to http://news.google.com

Google News for Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 will also be updated in the near future.

Via the Google Mobile Blog

• Flash 10.1 to Offer Full Mobile Flash Support with HD Video
• Gmail and Google Calendar for iPhone and Android updated
• Google Search Options now available for mobile
• Google Voice apps available for Android, BlackBerry
• Google Fast Flip launched for Android, iPhone

These new features include text-to-speech, Advanced Lane Guidance (for “extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions”), updated Tele Atlas maps for the US and Canada, and a Help menu that provides quick access “to emergency numbers and directions to the nearest emergency providers”.

TomTom for iPhone 1.2 can be downloaded as of today via the App Store. Thanks to new TomTom car kits that should be available soon, the app is compatible with all iPhone models and with the iPod touch.

The new TomTom iPhone app including maps of the US and Canada costs $99.99. Other regional versions may have different prices.

Via Press release

• Kindle for iPhone and iPod touch outed by Amazon
• AT&T Navigator now available through Apple’s App Store
• Google Earth Now on iPhone
• Google offers improved search results for iPhone, iPod touch
• New iPhone to be released on July 17 with OLED display?

The approval process was slow because the South Korean authorities were concerned about iPhone’s location-based services (like FindMyiPhone and Maps), which may have presented privacy-related issues.

In the end, the Korea Communications Commission decided that “infringements of privacy would only be minimal, as the services on the iPhone are provided in a way that can not differentiate one user from another.”

The iPhone could be on sale in South Korea as soon as November 28, when KT is expected to launch service plans for Apple’s handset.

Via Yonhap News

• South Korea scraps WIPI, opens the mobile market to foreign competition
• Android phones, Android Market heading to Korea this year
• WiMax iPhone? Apple may put Mobile WiMAX chipset into iPod Touch
• KTF to launch voice service over WiBro in Korea
• SK Telecom hoping to import BlackBerry to Korea

Google Earth for iPhone 2.0 lets you view custom maps (created by your or by others) via the My Maps interface. Moreover, it offers improved performance and enhanced icon selection – “when you touch an icon, a small glow appears under your finger to let you know which icon you have picked.”

A review of Google Earth for iPhone can be found here, while the app can be downloaded here (iTunes link).

Google Earth for iPhone is a hugely popular application, so we’re wondering how long it will take until Google launches a version for Android, too.

Via the Google Mobile Blog

• Google Earth Now on iPhone
• iPhone App Review of Google Earth
• Google Maps Editor for Android released
• Google optimizes search results pages for iPhone and Android
• Gmail and Google Calendar for iPhone and Android updated

Well, actually,  the rumors about the upcoming Apple tablet have been flying around for years now. Some people even doubt that a mythical Apple tablet will ever be created.

But the crescendo of rumors from various sources these past few months, strongly reminds me of the situation we had with an iPhone, few months before it’s announcement. So I think Apple Tablet will show up pretty soon now.

And to pour some more fire into the Apple Tablet rumor mill, we have a new patent application by Apple. Which talks about improved digital ink recognition techniques for …you got it… a pen-aware tablet.

To tell the truth, the patent app has little to do with a tablet computer per se. It’s mostly concerned how to make digital ink recognition/interpretation process better, especially when filling out various forms. And it achieves that by trying to recognize full ink phrases, instead of a separate ink strokes:  The ink manager collects separate ink strokes, determines when a whole phrase have been entered and passes that phrase to handwriting recognition engine.

But the magic word “tablet” is all around the patent app, so I thought I’ll bring it up here.

And natural, intuitive, and well implemented pen input in a tablet device, could be one of the more attractive features of such Apple gadget, whenever it launches.

• New iPhone Docking Station. Apple Tablet next?
• Verizon to launch an Apple tablet computer this year
• Report: Apple Tablet Coming Soon, Made by Foxconn
• Another take on PSP phone, or Sony Ericsson’s own iPhone patent
• Turn your Nokia Internet Tablet into an extra PC screen

Orange is the first British carrier to start selling the iPhone after O2, which had an exclusivity deal with Apple until this fall.

Vodafone and 3 are also expected to sell the iPhone in the UK, although this will probably happen in early 2010.

In related news, Orange UK has launched a so-called business homescreen for the upcoming Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 – a smartphone that’s quite different from the iPhone, featuring Windows Mobile 6.5 and a full QWERTY keypad.

Targeted at medium and large business customers, Orange’s new homescreen provide quick access to email, voicemail, contacts, calendar and so on, “ensuring vital business applications are right at their employees’ finger tips”.

The Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 will be soon available through Orange, coming as the carrier’s first “business WM6.5 device.”

Via Press release

• Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 now official; all Omnia phones to get WM 6.5
• Microsoft announces huge list of Windows Mobile 6.5 phones, HTC HD2 included
• Orange UK exclusively launches the Toshiba TG01, free on select plans
• Sprint 2009 roadmap leaked: HTC Rhodium, HTC Cedar, Samsung Dash, BlackBerry Niagara and 8 others
• Orange brings Wikipedia content to its phones

It seems more realistic now than when the rumor surfaced previously, mainly because now AT&T is concerned about the buzz around the Motorola Droid being comparable to the iPhone. A move like this would certainly continue to give the competitive edge to Apple and AT&T for now.

My thoughts: it’s about time. The holidays can’t come soon enough. My concern is, though, that only AT&T is rumored to be making the leap at this point. Are other iPhone carriers planning on releasing the 8 GB version of the 3GS as well?

Ultimately my dream would be for the 16 GB 3GS to drop in price to $99, and have a 64 GB iPhone 3GS come out just before the holidays at the $299 price point. But I’ll settle for an 8 GB in 3GS flavor for now.

via BGR

• iPhone gets price cut in Britain, 3G version imminent
• Orange to launch iPhone in ten more countries
• Apple to sell iPhones through CostCo by January at $149?
• Apple to Allow iPhone Subsidies, Lower Revenue Sharing
• Analyst Predicts Verizon iPhone Deal in 2010

Well, now we have blacksn0w too, which can unlock both the iPhone 3G and the new iPhone 3GS, via either Windows or Mac.

The blacksn0w unlock app is free and requires iPhone OS 3.1, as well as baseband 05.11.07. To download the application, visit the blackra1n website.

More info about blacksn0w can be found here.

Tutorials on how to use blacksn0w are available at iClarified (text and video): go here for the Windows tutorial, or here for the Mac tutorial.

• iPhone 3G unlock now available for download
• iPhone 3G soft unlock accomplished, to be made available New Year’s eve
• Microsoft My Phone beta now available for everyone
• Windows Mobile 6.5 Build 23022 demoed on video
• iPhone 3G S launched by 3 Italy for a good price – starting at €99

It’s not an illusion; according to comScore there are 24 million touchscreen devices in use within the United States, a 159 percent growth year-over-year from last year at this time.

That is a huge rate of expansion for a US cell phone market that has historically been slower to adopt new trends and technology than overseas markets in Asia or Europe. On top of touchscreen growth the US has also seen a 63 percent raise in smartphone use.

Frankly, it doesn’t take a lot of thinking to figure out the main contributor to this army of 24 million touchscreen phones. Did you guess the iPhone? You would be exactly right. It turns out that 32.9 percent of US touchscreen phones are iPhones.

The breakdown goes as follows: 32.9 % iPhone, 8.7% LG Dare, 7.8% LG Voyager, 7% Blackberry Storm, and 6.5% Palm Treo. Also on the list at 5 percent or lower are the T-Mobile G1, HTC Touch, LG Xenon, Samsung Instinct, and Samsung Glyde.

Of note in the study is how popular capacitive screens are over the more traditional resistive screens, and touchscreens in general are becoming much more popular for people under the age of 35 than those over 35.

Check out the link for complete lists of all the breakdowns in the study.

via Cellular News

• Samsung to increase phone sales by 20% in 2010 (to 270 million units)
• Samsung to make 100 million touchscreen phones in 2010, 65% of them with capacitive screens
• AT&T Posts Q3 Numbers; Admits Possibility of Losing iPhone Exclusivity
• Samsung and LG both sell 20 million touchscreen phones
• Samsung’s mobile market share to top 20% by the end of 2009

The data provided by Google Analytics helps app developers find out how users interact with their apps, what features they use more and so on.

To learn more about Google Analytics for Android and iPhone mobile apps, you should read the technical documentation and check out the SDK on Google’s website.

The video below shows how Redfin (an online brokerage for buying and selling homes) uses Google Analytics with their mobile app:

Via the Google Mobile Blog

• Google brings books to Android, iPhone. Boasts about its OCR tech
• Google Product Search now available for iPhone, Android
• Google launches Finance for Android
• Google Mobile products to feature flawless integration with online counterparts in T-Mobile G1
• Paid Android apps confirmed for this month

The retailer first launched the iPhone in November 2007, and it’s currently offering the smartphone only on the O2 network.

However, starting November 10, Carphone will also sell the iPhone to Orange customers – this being the main reason for the company’s optimistic expectations.

Over the last two years, Carphone was the only independent retailer in the UK to stock the iPhone.

Starting 2010, Carphone may also offer the iPhone to Vodafone and 3 UK subscribers.

“We look forward to working with all the networks that will supply this phenomenal handset in future,” said Carphone chief executive Andrew Harrison.

Via MobileNewsCWP

• It’s official: Vodafone to offer Apple iPhone in ten markets worldwide
• Vodafone to sell iPhone 3G in India starting August 22nd from $708 up
• KT hopes to sell up to 500,000 iPhones in Korea
• Orange TV for iPhone, free of charge
• AT&T might sell the Palm Pre too, after Sprint’s exclusivity ends

Orange will offer both the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS, for various prices – from free to £225 ($369), depending on the length of the contract and the data plan you’re choosing.

Customers will also be able to buy the iPhone on Pay As You Go at the following prices: £343 for the iPhone 3G 8GB; £440 for the iPhone 3GS 16GB; £539 for the iPhone 3GS 32GB.

You can visit Orange UK’s official website to see the exact prices and plans.

Orange aside, 3 UK has also announced its intentions to sell the iPhone. There aren’t clear details about this, but 3’s CEO said that they’re hoping to have the iPhone in 2010.

• Orange UK announces the iPhone, O2’s exclusivity ends
• Orange, T-Mobile merge in the UK to form the largest British mobile carrier ever
• Motorola Dext hits Orange UK on October 7; Verizon’s Droid / Tao / Sholes may come on October 30
• Nokia 5800 Comes With Music edition announced for Orange UK
• iPhone 3G S launched by 3 Italy for a good price – starting at €99

Considering the general public’s concern on the drain the iPhone’s demand has been on AT&T’s 3G network, Verizon Director of data services for the Illinois-Wisconsin region Arvin Singh is attempting to put those concerns to rest.

He says Verizon expects heavy demand of the Motorola Droid, and it has long architected its EV-DO Revision A network to handle these kinds of capacities.

“We’re anticipating the Droid will be a blockbuster, but we’re not adding any new backhaul or new EV-DO carriers for the launch. We’re not anticipating the network will take a hit on this.”

Obviously Verizon is rather confident in its network. So the big test is coming. They expect a blockbuster phone, and there is a very good chance the Droid will live up to the expectations. Now we sit back and see how right or wrong Verizon was in making those claims.

We know it would be difficult to be any worse than the iPhone’s strain on AT&T’s current data network, but will Verizon be any better off? VZW is almost cocky about its network, but AT&T is usually just as confident about its data capabilities.

via TelephonyOnline

• Motorola Milestone (Droid) officially launched in Europe. Gets multi-touch, loses free navigation
• SFR combines its HSPA and optical fiber networks
• Verizon to Launch Droid, Droid Eris on Nov 6
• Verizon-Motorola Droid event promises “the most desirable phone of 2009″
• Verizon Motorola Droid announced, comes on Nov. 6 for $199.99

Until that happens, we’ll still report the latest developments in that rumor. This latest go-round in the series of rumors is from Brian Marshall, an analyst for Broadpoint AmTech. In a research note, he predicts iPhone exclusivity will drop in the US and Verizon will pick it up, though at a different subsidy than AT&T currently uses.

Marshall predicts in contrast to the typical $400-450 subsidy AT&T provides to entice customers, Verizon would likely offer a $300 subsidy. In essence, Verizon’s iPhone would cost more to a new customer than one with AT&T.

While Marshall is positive this deal will happen, not every analyst shares his enthusiasm. Many argue that the recent Droid launch and future partnerships with Google will cause a rift between Verizon and Apple, thus keeping them from selling the iPhone anytime soon.

On top of that, other rumors point to Apple wanting to wait until Verizon’s LTE network is officially launched before offering the iPhone to the company. This could happen later in 2010, but it’s highly doubtful the LTE network would be running at full speed next summer (the time of year Apple has released each model of the iPhone thus far).

So who is right? Who is wrong? Frankly, analysts seem to think they know everything even while their associates may disagree with them completely. So I don’t look at analysts as portals to the future, but it is always intriguing to hear their professional opinions and predictions.

via Computerworld

• Verizon LTE iPhone Rumored To Be in Testing Phase?
• AT&T Paying Apple $325 iPhone Subsidy
• EVDO iPhone coming to Verizon in 2009?
• Verizon to finally launch an iPhone in 2010?
• 100,000 Motorola Droids sold by Verizon in the first week-end?

The Disney app is free and comes with a feature called ”Click2Life” – this offers bonus animations and wallpapers to users who visit Disney’s official website and take photos of famous characters from movies like ‘Ratatouille,” ”Wall-E”, ”G-Force” and ”Up”.

The new app also includes other 17 Disney-related applications.

Disney plans to allow bonus content to be provided based on the users’ location (using GPS coordinates, of course).

According to Jason Davis, vice president of Disney.com, “the main purpose of the app was to deepen fan relationships with Disney characters, rather than just drive traffic to stores, theaters and online.”

Disney said that the new iPhone app has nothing to do with its ”Keychest” technology that’s currently being developed with the purpose of providing “access to movies across multiple devices with one purchase.”

Via NY Times

• Quickoffice launches MobileFiles Pro, the first editable office app for iPhone
• T-Mobile Dash 3G (HTC Snap) now official
• LG Disney Mobile 3 on 3 Italia
• Google Maps for mobile gets voice search – only on BlackBerry Pearl devices, for now
• Nokia S60 Devices to get touch interface next year

There hasn’t been any official announcement from Apple yet, though it is possible we could hear something from them at any time about this. It seems a hefty enough milestone to at least mention somewhere.

Naturally this is a great deal ahead of any other mobile OS out there, by an astronomically large margin. Given the fact that most other platforms based their app stores on the one found on the iPhone, this is no surprise by any means.

But it is something worth celebrating. The fact that there are so many different apps available to allow you to customize your iPhone virtually any possible way you’d like, is what makes the iPhone so unique and has brought in such a large and loyal following around the world.

Is there a ceiling to how many apps can be supported in the App Store? It’ll be interesting to see the evolution of the Store over the coming years.

via Mobile Entertainment via PhoneArena

• Apple says iPhone App Store’s got “over 300 million” served
• Apple iPhone 8GB, 16GB currently unavailable at Apple Online Store
• Apple intros iPhone OS 3.1 and iTunes 9
• Opera Mini for iPhone rejected by Apple from App Store
• China Mobile readies an app store too

Spotted in the wild, we have photographic evidence of some kind of SIM card tray, quite possibly for a next-gen iPhone or iTablet.

I think it’s for the tablet, and here’s why:

• This tray is larger, indicating it is for a larger device
• iPhones are currently coming out each summer, and it seems a bit early to begin iPhone next-gen rumors as small as SIM trays
• If the tablet really comes out early 2010 as rumored, this would be ideal timing for a SIM tray to be leaked

If the SIM tray really is for the tablet, it will be cellular-based, not just WiFi/data-based.

There is far too little information to come to any conclusions, but if it is a bona fide SIM card tray, it’s either for the tablet or for a brand new iPhone coming out earlier in the year.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments!

via IntoMobile

• Verizon to launch an Apple tablet computer this year
• Report: Apple Tablet Coming Soon, Made by Foxconn
• iPhone 3G soft unlock accomplished, to be made available New Year’s eve
• Want a Home iPhone? Try the Orby
• LG Lotus 2 Leaked, Launching Early 2010?

The magic date is November 5. This particular day will welcome not only the new network but several handsets to support that network with it.

Among the most notable of handsets is the iPhone 3G and 3GS, launching for the same exact price as on Rogers ($99, 199, 299 for 8 GB 3G, 16 GB 3GS and 32 GB 3GS, respectively).

In addition to the highlighted phone, we also have a great supporting cast: the HTC Hero, LG New Chocolate (BL40), Blackberry 9700 and Nokia E71, as well as a USB laptop card.

Not too shabby for an opening launch, Telus; not too shabby at all. We hope you can have all the bugs worked out of such a huge day before it actually happens.

Telus official website

• Telus officially launching Motorola Milestone (Droid) in early 2010
• Verizon to offer LG Dare, Decoy and Chocolate 3 in time for summer
• Telus’ BlackBerry Tour to land on July 15 for $249.99
• BlackBerry Bold 9700 shows up at T-Mobile Germany
• Nokia to Ditch Mosh Download Site

But, at prices ranging from $730 for Wi-Fi less iPhone 3g 8GB, to $1000+ for an iPhone 3Gs 32GB, unsubsidized, it does not seem that China Unicom was happy with the initial demand.

The main reason? Imports of jail broken grey market iPhones to China. Where, according to some estimates, there already are 1.5 million of them. Bought at a prices, ranging from $430 for iPhone 3G 8GB to $730 for iPhone 3Gs. For a  $300 mark-up, quite a few potential China Unicom customers are happy to overlook that they are not carrying the original.

So what now? Well, if you can’t beat them, join them, they say. And that’s exactly what China Unicom plans to do.

One of it’s subsidiaries – Shanghai Unicom – already said that they have an amnesty for the grey market iPhone users, who will be able to sign a contract and use all the services available  to “legal” China Unicom customers. The amnesty to grey market imports will be extended to all China Unicom customers later.

Looks like a pretty smart move on behalf of Chinese carrier. They, after all, are not in the business of selling mobile phones. They are a communications service provider.

And, if the opportunity of not worrying about jailbroken software updates, hassle free iTunes sync, and access to the official app store gains them a few hundred thousand new lucrative 3G service customers, why the heck should they care were the phones are coming from?

Via: China Business Times

• China Unicom to announce the iPhone today and launch it in October
• China Unicom to launch iPhone on Oct. 15th. $293 for 8G, $439 for 16G on a 2 year, $27 a month contract
• 5 million iPhones bought by China Unicom – sales to debut in September
• China Unicom to start selling iPhones on October 30
• China Unicom denies having bought 5 million iPhones from Apple

CEO of AT&T Mobility Ralph de la Vega admitted that there is always a possibility AT&T will lose iPhone exclusivity sometime in the near future, though he also is confident that it will not do much harm to the success of the company.

“We know (growth is) going to continue after the iPhone is no longer exclusive to us,” he said. “And we think that we’ll be able to continue with our growth with the iPhone and with other products that we think will be very attractive to customers.”

This may come as a surprise to many, given AT&T’s usual practice of staying tight-lipped about the future of the iPhone with the company. The fact that they are aware of the concept of losing that exclusive right is interesting; it’s never been admitted before.

Also noteworthy were the actual Q3 numbers itself:

• 3.2 million iPhones sold (a new record), 40% of which were new activations
• 2 million new customers, making a new total of 81.6 million
• Total revenue of $30.9 billion
• $3.2 billion Q3 profit (flat year-over-year from last year)

Curious, I decided to crunch some numbers to see exactly how much AT&T is profiting. It turns out that AT&T makes roughly $13.10 per customer, per month.

de la Vega also added a brief tidbit about its future lineup: “What we have in our portfolio is just a smashing set of products that are going to come out to exploit that capability and differentiate us when it comes to that functionality,” he said. “And also with speed. Keep in mind that, even if we lose the iPhone exclusivity, we’re going to probably be the only one which has a speed of 7.2 (Mbits per second) that these phones can work on. So they’ll work on our network faster than on anybody else’s network.”

via Channel Web

• iPhone to cost AT&T $1 billion this year
• Verizon to finally launch an iPhone in 2010?
• T-Mobile Loses Customers in Q3
• Verizon Wireless to acquire Alltel for $28.1 billion
• T-Mobile and Orange in talks for the iPhone 3G in the UK

The patents cover speech coding, wireless data, encryption and security, and Nokia claims that they’re infringed by all of Apple’s iPhones – starting with the 2.5G model launched in 2007.

Nokia (which recently said its high-end N900 won’t be launched this month)  mentions that the ten patents are already licensed to 40 companies around the world, including all the major phone vendors.

Here’s what Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President, Legal & Intellectual Property at Nokia, declared:

“The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for. Apple is also expected to follow this principle. By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia’s intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation.”

Nokia’s complaint against Apple was filed with the Federal District Court in Delaware, US. If Nokia’s claims turn out to be true, Apple will probably have to pay a lot of money to the Finnish company.

Via Press release

• Kodak sues LG and Samsung for patent infringement, both will fight back
• Localized iTunes stores at Starbucks for iPhone needs patent?
• Apple iPhone Launch in India
• Nokia will say goodbye to N-Gage in 2010
• Mobion fuel cell charger will charge your gadgets on the go

It’s time to officially throw another rumor into the mill. This one comes from Mashable, which reports that Apple is currently undergoing tests on a Verizon iPhone equipped with LTE 4G capabilities.

LTE is the next generation cellular service after the current 3G standard, which is supposed to significantly increase the speed of the data service and increase the capacity of the current networks.  Three of the four major networks in the US are planning on deploying this service in the upcoming years.

There is some confusion as to where this rumor came from, or if it’s entirely speculation. But hey, if something gets rumored enough, that must mean it’s going to come true. If we click our heels three times and tell ourselves the iTablet is true, it will actually come out tomorrow.

No? It doesn’t work like that? Darn.

The speculation stems from Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam making regular trips to Mountain View to supervise the company’s collaboration with Google in creating the Droid, its premier Android device. Since Apple is headquartered just a few miles away, it would make sense for Lowell to pay Steve a visit. Add to that the fact that Verizon has confirmed LTE will be launched in 2010.

Personally I would not be surprised if a 4G Verizon iPhone is really being tested within the walls of the top secret labs in Cupertino, but that doesn’t mean it will actually happen — much less does it guarantee we’ll see AT&T exclusivity end and welcome a Verizon iPhone this upcoming summer.

I’m quite certain, rather, that there is a LOT of testing for a multitude of rumored products going on underneath little black blankets in front of several surveillance cameras. It doesn’t mean they’ll actually come to market though. It would be silly to imagine Apple doesn’t test the latest technologies to stay ahead of the curve and be ready for the next latest and greatest trend that comes our way.

With that said, it certainly would be quite exciting to see a 4G iPhone come out as early as next summer. If one does come out on Verizon, we do have to express our confusion on why exactly the number one carrier in the US is completely trashing the product to hype up the Moto DROID. They may have to eat their words in the very near future.

But hey, with the introduction of such an iPhone to the Big Red network, there would be no stopping Verizon. We’d be seeing a huge transition from having the weakest smartphone lineup to having the absolute strongest — in a matter of months. At that point we’ll see top of the line Android phones, Palm Pre, several WinMo 6.5 phones and the newest revolution of the iPhone all available on Verizon.

More questions to ponder: if Verizon picks up the iPhone (thus bringing an end to exclusivity at AT&T), will AT&T still be selling the newest iterations of the iPhone as they come out? Will AT&T be able to compete against a 4G LTE iPhone without having a LTE network of its own yet? Or will AT&T try to rush things and deploy 4G in the nick of time?

There is so much speculation to be had at the moment, it’s exciting to be a part of it. Just remember though — that’s all it is. Speculation.

via Mashable

• EVDO iPhone coming to Verizon in 2009?
• Analyst Predicts Verizon iPhone Deal in 2010
• O2 Rumored to Slash iPhone Prices This Summer
• Verizon to finally launch an iPhone in 2010?
• Apple to make two devices for Verizon, one of them being an “iPhone lite”

BGR has leaked the new lineup that’s supposed to start off their voyage into HSPA+. Some phones are obvious while a few others are a pleasant sight to see.

First off, we all knew the iPhone is coming next month to Bell, so no surprise there. There have also been rumors of the Samsung Omnia II floating around. But we have learned that the Bold and Bold 2 (9700) are coming, Samsung Impact, LG Xenon, Nokias 2730 and 6350, and 3 HSPA laptop cards from Novatel (2 of which will offer 21 Mbps, a third will have 7.2).

Notable items: both the Bold and Bold 2 will be sold at the same time, though the original is rumored to be offered at a lower price ($149 for original, $249 for new). The iPhones will be $149, 199 and 299 for the 8, 16 and 32 GB respectively.

That’s all that was on the list for now, but I’m sure there will be a few others coming out that we haven’t heard of. Just make sure you get a new contract with these phones so you don’t get charged an additional monthly fee.

via BGR

• Bell to Deploy HSPA Network by Next Month
• AT&T to upgrade its 3G network to HSPA 7.2Mbps
• Samsung Reclaim launched by Bell; Samsung Omnia 2, Impact and Galaxy coming to Canada soon
• 5 mpx Samsung SGH-G800: 3x optical zoom, microSDHC card and HSDPA support
• Bell’s Samsung Omnia II is the Official Mobile Device of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

But there was one restriction placed on these purchases: only paid apps were allowed to enable in-app purchasing. Apple’s alleged fear was that devs would disguise their app as “free” to lure in potential freeloaders and then make it so the app wouldn’t do much of anything without some sort of in-app purchase.

Which makes sense, in a way. But by the same token consumers could simply just delete the app before purchasing anything; it’s not like they would be forced into buying something against their will.

Perhaps there are some persuasive powers at work here, because today Apple announced that devs would be able to include in-app purhcases in free apps.

So what does this mean? Beyond stating the absolute obvious, it means that devs don’t have to waste time to write separate apps for the “lite” and “full” versions; rather, they include them both into the same app and have the full version only unlock when paid for.

This will do a couple things: reduce devs’ time in writing apps, and consequently lower manhours and reduce cost of making the app. We hope that in reducing the cost, paid apps will end up costing the consumer less in the App Store.

Perhaps this is a small story to some, but it actually has the potential to change the entire culture of the App Store. And for some 90,000 apps, that’s a huge story.

The text of Apple’s correspondence:

In App Purchase is being rapidly adopted by developers in their paid apps. Now you can use In App Purchase in your free apps to sell content, subscriptions, and digital services.

You can also simplify your development by creating a single version of your app that uses In App Purchase to unlock additional functionality, eliminating the need to create Lite versions of your app. Using In App Purchase in your app can also help combat some of the problems of software piracy by allowing you to verify In App Purchases.

via Daring Fireball

• Apple allows developers to provide free copies of iPhone apps through App Store
• LG Application Store launched in Asia, only for Windows Mobile
• Blackberry App World Now Live
• Nokia’s Ovi Store Enables Re-downloads
• Nokia Music Store officially launched in UAE

The operator will offer the iPhone in mainland China with a 2-yr contract agreement, as well as free of contract.

While the official contract prices were not announced (these are the rumored ones), the no contract prices are quite steep: iPhone 3G 8GB – 4,999 CNY ($732); iPhone 3GS 16GB – 5,880 CNY ($861); iPhone 3GS 32GB – 6,999 ($1,025).

Chinese customers will be able to find iPhones through China Unicom’s online store, as well as in various locations such as China Unicom’s business halls and Apple’s stores across China.

Via China Tech News

• China Unicom to offer amnesty to jailbroken grey market iPhone owners
• No agreement between Apple and China Unicom yet
• 5 million iPhones bought by China Unicom – sales to debut in September
• China Unicom denies having bought 5 million iPhones from Apple
• iPhone 3G can’t be bought online, requires in-store activation

9to5Mac has it that the upcoming radio app should have the same functionality as the FM radio included in Apple’s new iPod nano (unveiled in September).

Apple also wants to integrate iTunes purchases into this radio app – allowing you to track down the songs you’re listening on your favorite radio station, and buy them via the iTunes Mobile store. Of course, for that to happen, you’ll have to be in the US and the radio station should support tagging.

Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on when exactly the new iPhone radio app will be  ready for launch.

• iTunes 7.7 pre-release version Read Me hints at iPhone/ iPod Touch remote app
• Apple finally offers DRM-free song downloads for iPhone 3G over 3G
• Apple iPod/iPhone as a remote control for Apple Media Centre
• Apple’s iPhone – iPod Phone coming to Japan first
• Apple allows developers to provide free copies of iPhone apps through App Store

Reportedly, all the iPhone 3GS units shipped starting last week have a new botroom (iBoot-359.3.2) that makes jailbreaking impossible.

According to iClarified, iBoot-359.3.2 is not vulnerable to the 24kpwn exploit which is used by the Dev-Team (among others) to jailbreak older iPhones and iPods.

So if you’re getting a new iPhone 3GS and want to jailbreak it, you should look for old stock, or buy a refurbished unit.

The new iPhone bootrom may have other exploits than the 24kpwn, but it will probably take a while until developers find them.

• QuickPwn 2.1 for Windows now out
• AT&T turns $99 iPhone dreams come true with refurbs
• PwnageTool 2.0 released for old iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch
• iPhone 3G S purplera1n jailbreak released and available for download
• O2 Website Offers iPhone Pre-Orders

Available only in the US at the moment, and only for iPhone, Android and webOS, the Google Search Options can provide more relevant web searches than ever.

For example, you can filter your search results by forums and reviews, or by time (the last 24 hours, the last 7 days and so on).

To test the new Search Options, make a search on google.com on your smartphone and select the Options tab.

No word yet on when Google will make Search Options available for Windows Mobile, Symbian S6 and BlackBerry.

Via the Official Google Mobile Blog

• Google optimizes search results pages for iPhone and Android
• New Google Image Search results available for Android, iPhone
• Barcode scanning available with Google Product Search for Android
• Google Mobile App now offered through Best Buy stores
• Google Mobile App for WM now with My Location

The newest report from “market sources” is claiming that the iTablet (or iPad, as some are calling it) will start shipping in Q1 of 2010, and will be made by none other than Foxconn.

Foxconn, if you recall, is the company that manufactures the iPhone and was the center of an employee suicide due to the large amount of pressure he suffered from losing an iPhone prototype. It really comes as no surprise that Foxconn would be the frontrunner for the iTablet gig.

DigiTimes is reporting that there will be an initial shipment of 300,000-400,000. The tablet will have a 10.6″ display and will have a larger focus on eBooks than on music.

“The sources indicated they believe the tablet PC features will focus more on e-book functionality rather than music, and that based on Apple’s marketing strategy, long battery life, quick Internet connectivity and an easy-to-use user interface will be key features of the device.”

Long battery life? Focus on eBooks? This definitely will be covering new territory for Apple.

If Apple chooses to use the iPhone OS on the tablet, though, wouldn’t all that music functionality be built in anyway? Or will Apple cripple the tablet so that it doesn’t take away from iPod Touch/iPhone sales? Will this just be Apple’s idea of the Kindle?

So many unanswered questions, so little time. Loch Ness Monster, indeed!

Oh, and BTW – the report also mentions Hewlett-Packard is also looking into its own tablets in the spring of 2010, and coupled with Microsoft’s rumored tablet series coming out, definitely expect the competition to become intense. 2010, no doubt, will be the year of the tablet.

via DigiTimes

photo courtesy Gizmodo

• Apple offers “commonsense pointers” for extending iPhone 3G battery life
• Apple patents improved digital ink recognition techniques for pen-aware tablet
• New iPhone Docking Station. Apple Tablet next?
• Chip orders for low-cost entry-level iPhone Nano to be made in March, device could be launched in June: report
• Verizon to launch an Apple tablet computer this year

According to a letter to the FCC (PDF link), AT&T allows the use of VoIP over its network “effective immediately”, so iPhone owners can probably take advantage of VoIP apps right away.

Skype, the most well-known provider of VoIP apps for mobile, is obviously happy about AT&T’s announcement.

However, Skype wants more, as it announced that it’s still waiting for “further developments” to enable the use of Skype on any network and any device – basically, the company wants a “government policy that protects openness and benefits consumers.”

Via AT&T

• Orange working on a “VoIP option” (Skype?), may launch it in Q1 2010
• Skype for iPhone blocked by T-Mobile in Germany
• Truphone brings Skype and Twitter to iPhone and iPod Touch users
• Skype for mobiles to come in new versions at MWC 2009
• India to finally get iPhone with … 3G on BSNL

According to a report done by The Globe and Mail, it turns out that Rogers is losing exclusivity rights to the iPhone next month and Bell and Telus both are hungry for the coveted device.

Apple’s response to the claim? No response. Same with Bell and Telus; obviously they are bound by some kind of blood oath that prevents them from being able to spill any secrets (My interpretation, it’s not official).

We are incredibly curious to see how this all rolls out. If Bell and Telus do start selling the iPhone, the effect it has on Rogers would be indicative of what would happen in the US if and when AT&T were to lose exclusivity rights. We’ll be looking out for all the parallels we can.

• Telus to launch the iPhone 3G S in Canada?
• Rogers, Bell and Telus to launch Zoompass mobile payment service
• T-Mobile and Orange in talks for the iPhone 3G in the UK
• iPhone 3GS 8GB apparently confirmed by Rogers
• Telus Launching HSPA Nov 5; iPhone is on the List

While Flash Player 10.1 – which will provide full web Flash content on mobiles – cannot be available for the iPhone OS, they will be bringing out software making it possible for developers to create apps on the iPhone using Flash.

Flash Professional CS5 will offer the ability to create iPhone applications, using ActionScript3. A beta will be ready later this year, and you can sign up here to be notified.

How is this different from the 10.1 that other platforms will enjoy? According to the FAQ, “The new support for iPhone applications in the Flash Platform tooling will not allow iPhone users to browse web content built with Flash technology on iPhone, but it may allow developers to repackage existing web content as applications for iPhone if they choose to do so.”

Interestingly enough, apps are already available in the App Store with Flash content, using a pre-release version of the software. Check Adobe’s site for more details.

At least we’re making some headway here. Is it working around the system? Perhaps, but it appears to be completely legal. And frankly, this will definitely improve the content in the App Store; not to mention it will make the process of creating apps easier for most devs.

via Adobe

• RIM announces BlackBerry OpenGL ES support, new deal with Adobe and more
• In-App Purchases Now Available to Free iPhone Apps
• HTC Hero will come with full Adobe Flash support
• Adobe’s Paul Betlem confirms Flash for iPhone is coming, but only if Apple allows it
• Vodafone joins the app store race

If you use iPhone, sorry. No progress to report there.

So here’s what Flash 10.1 will have to offer: full Flash with GPU acceleration so that you can play YouTube videos in HD. It will add in support for accelerometers, multitouch, and gestures. It will also work for Netbooks as well.

Does this mean you’ll be able to watch Hulu on your mobile device? Yes, yes it does. On every major smartphone OS except one.

There’s only one bad piece of news here, and that’s the waiting time; while betas will be coming out this year for WinMo and WebOS, full rollout won’t be taking place until mid-2010. Android and Symbian betas will be early next year.

But still, we’re incredibly happy to hear how much better the mobile internet experience will be getting in the very near future.

And it’s one more checkmark for any smartphone besides the iPhone.

via Adobe

• Flash 10.1 for Palm WebOS to come in the first half of 2010
• Adobe Prepping Flash for iPhone
• HTC Hero will come with full Adobe Flash support
• Palm Pre and the webOS platform will support Flash
• Flash is Coming to The iPhone. Well, Sort of.

Orange didn’t say when exactly its customers will be able to buy the iPhone, but it should happen sometime “later this year”. Pricing details were also not unveiled.

Orange (which will also offer the Android-powered Motorola Dext) currently allows users to pre-register for the iPhone at this web address.

T-Mobile might also launch the iPhone 3G and 3GS in the UK, but there are no official details about this at the moment.

Via Press release

• Orange UK confirms: Motorola Dext comes in October, free on contract
• Motorola Dext hits Orange UK on October 7; Verizon’s Droid / Tao / Sholes may come on October 30
• Motorola Dext to bring Android to Orange UK in October
• China Unicom officially confirms Apple deal; iPhone will be launched in Q4
• iPhone coming to Orange UK on November 10; 3 UK might get it in 2010

One great way we can tell it’s just around the corner is that AT&T has officially announced to the world when during the day and how it will be achieved. The network is in the process of sending texts to all iPhone users that indicate a carrier update will be available in iTunes mid-day; more specifically, late morning for Pacific Time and early afternoon for Eastern.

Our only concern at this point is that millions of people across the country will be attempting to download the update at the same time Friday and inevitably will crash the system. So, please leave us a comment on how the process worked out for you. Are you going to wait until later, or can you hardly contain yourself as it is?

• iPhone OS 3.0 Details Coming March 17
• iPhone 2.0 software coming free to iPhone in July, $9.95 for iPod Touch
• Apple is thinking about it’s own iPhone MVNO? New patent says yes.
• AT&T May be Prepping $99 iPhone 3GS
• Mac OS X 10.5.6 software update breaks DFU mode for iPhone, iPod Touch

And last month Apple finally managed to clinch the deal with one of the smaller (for China) operators, to start selling it. But no shipping date or price info has been made official yet.

We still don’t have anything official about the iPhone’s launch over there, but as China Unicom is  preparing to ship the device, the info about it started trickling out from the regional offices and sales channels.

According to China Business Times, China Unicom has set an internal iPhone launch date for October 15th. Two iPhone models – 8GB and 16 GB –  will be shipped. 8GB iPhone in China will cost 1999 yuan ($293), with 16GB model selling at 2999 yuan ($439). Both models with be offered on a 2 year contracts, starting at 186 yuan ($27) a month.

Well, it would be interesting to see how iPhone does in China. But, if the rumors of the price points above are true, I think that sales should be pretty brisk.   690 million strong mobile user base is actually bigger then the U.S. and Western Europe combined.

And, if you consider that there already are around 1.5 million grey market iPhones in China, which were bought at an average price of $680,  the deal offered by China Unicom sounds pretty darn good.

• 5 million iPhones bought by China Unicom – sales to debut in September
• iPhone 3G S may hit China in Q4 2009 as China Unicom and Apple sign 2-year deal
• China Unicom denies having bought 5 million iPhones from Apple
• China Unicom officially confirms Apple deal; iPhone will be launched in Q4
• China Unicom to offer amnesty to jailbroken grey market iPhone owners

Launched at the beginning of the year, Google Sync is a service that lets you synchronize Google Calendar and Gmail Contacts with your phone. And, as of today, it also offers Gmail messages pushed directly on your handset.

The service allows you to sync only the Calendar, Contacts or Gmail if you don’t need them all synced.

Google Sync is also available for Symbian S60 and BlackBerry, but without push Gmail support (for the moment at least).

Google Sync can be tried out at m.google.com/sync

Via Google Mobile Blog

• Google Sync Beta available for Symbian S60
• Gmail and Google Calendar for iPhone and Android updated
• Google Sync for BlackBerry updated with Android-like Contacts feature
• Best Buy launches mIQ, its own mobile cloud service for smartphones
• Google testing Gmail SMS Chat in Labs

Integrating “some of the best features of reading articles in print and on the web”, Google Fast Flip for mobile allows you to flip through media-rich web pages with ease, jut by swiping your finger.

You can also browser headlines or popular stories, search for the topics you’re interested in, share articles via email and so on.

Google Fast Flip works with all Android smartphones, iPhones and iPod touch devices. You can try it out by visiting fastflip.googlelabs.com from your mobile browser.

Via Google Mobile Blog

• Google on iPhone now available in 33 new markets, 16 new languages
• Google News updated for Android, iPhone, WebOS
• Gmail and Google Calendar for iPhone and Android updated
• Google Product Search now available for iPhone, Android
• New Google Image Search results available for Android, iPhone

Coming almost three months after iPhone OS 3.0, the 3.1 version of Apple’s mobile operating system should be available starting later today, as a free download for all iPhones and iPods with OS 3.0 installed.

Some of the new things that iPhone OS 3.1 brings include the Genius function (which can make recommendation based on what apps you already own), and ringtones (more than 30,000 ringtones will be available at $1.29 each). Well, until iPhone OS 4.0 comes out, you’ll have to be happy with just that.

Apple has also announced iTunes 9, which also comes with novelties, including the fact that it allows users to manage their apps directly from iTunes.

Apple said that it currently has more than 75,000 apps in the App Store, which provided about 1.8 billion downloads.

Via Engadget

• Apple allows developers to provide free copies of iPhone apps through App Store
• Apple sells 1 million iPhone 3Gs, 10 million App Store downloads in first weekend
• iPhone App Store Reaches 100,000 Apps
• iTunes 7.7 pre-release version Read Me hints at iPhone/ iPod Touch remote app
• Accessing your iTunes via iPhone?

However, AT&T has just announced that it will bring MMS to both the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS, but only starting September 25. Better later than never, right?

AT&T’s iPhone customers will have to enable MMS via a software update that should be released on said date.

MMS is a feature that Apple decided to include into its iPhone OS as of this year, probably after getting sick and tired of jokes like this one:

MMS aside, AT&T still hasn’t announced when exactly tethering for iPhone will be available.

Via AT&T

• iPhone 3G can’t be used as modem, says AT&T
• HTC: T-Mobile G1 to get OTA Cupcake updates
• Apple releases software to fix Connection Problems but furnishes no details
• Devs, rejoice! Apple NDA dropped for released iPhone software
• Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets to hit the market starting this summer

In a press release which mainly presents its interim results, the second largest Chinese mobile carrier stated that it has signed a 3-yr agreement with Apple.

The company said that the iPhone 3G would be on sale starting the fourth quarter of this year – lending credence to the info unveiled earlier by several Chinese websites, according to which October is the month when the iPhone will be available.

There’s still no word on the official iPhone 3G price for China, but it’s said that the 8GB version will be offered for about $365 with a 2-yr contract agreement.

Via China Unicom

• China Unicom to announce the iPhone today and launch it in October
• China Unicom to launch iPhone on Oct. 15th. $293 for 8G, $439 for 16G on a 2 year, $27 a month contract
• iPhone 3G S may hit China in Q4 2009 as China Unicom and Apple sign 2-year deal
• China Unicom to start selling iPhones on October 30
• iPhone 3G to finally hit China this spring

You can download Facebook 3.0 for iPhone from here (iTunes link). Although the app is currently presented as version 2.5, when you click the Download button, the 3.0 version will be downloaded.

Facebook 3.0 for iPhone comes with new features, like Events and News Feed. Also, those who own an iPhone 3GS can make videos and directly post them on Facebook.

Unfortunately for iPhone users who want this feature, Push Notification is still not available – although it’s said that it will be, in Facebook 3.1.

Via TechCrunch

• Facebook for iPhone 3.0 is almost completed
• Get your social networking fix easy with Facebook for Palm
• Facebook for Windows Mobile officially launched
• MySpace gets special space in BlackBerry smartphones
• Apple says iPhone App Store’s got “over 300 million” served

The Chinese website Sina reports that China Unicom, the country’s second largest mobile carrier, will announce Apple’s smartphone today, August 28.

China Unicom will offer the iPhone 3G in both its versions: 8GB and 16GB. The smartphone is already available in China, but only on the grey market, where it’s sold for prices between 3,600 and 4,000 CNY ($526 – $585).

Obviously, China Unicom will sell the iPhone subsidized. According to 163.com, the iPhone 3G 8GB will cost 2,500 CNY ($365) when bought with a monthly plan of at least 186 CNY (about $27) and a contract agreement for 2 years. Pretty expensive.

The iPhone 3G should be available for purchase from China Unicom starting October. For the beginning, the smartphone will not feature Wi-Fi. iTunes and the App Store might also be excluded from its feature set.

• China Unicom to offer amnesty to jailbroken grey market iPhone owners
• China Unicom to start selling iPhones on October 30
• China Unicom officially confirms Apple deal; iPhone will be launched in Q4
• iPhone 3G S may hit China in Q4 2009 as China Unicom and Apple sign 2-year deal
• China Unicom to launch iPhone on Oct. 15th. $293 for 8G, $439 for 16G on a 2 year, $27 a month contract

Of course, the company everyone’s watching most closely is Apple. And they do not disappoint us. 2 new interesting iPhone software patent applications surfaced today, with some features that could be a very cool addition in the next iPhone OS/firmware update.

The first patent app is called “Auto messaging to currently connected caller” and describes ways to do some additional things,  while you are talking to someone on the phone. Things like writing a person an SMS message at the same time, sending him an e-mail, address book contact info, or any other file.

Pretty simple stuff.  Describing the things we do without thinking on our PC while engaged in a Skype call. And where most of the modern smartphones come lacking.

It pisses me of, when a friend calls and asks someone’s contact info, and then I have to hang up, look it up and send it via SMS. And why do I have to do that?  What’s wrong with keeping the call session open, giving me easy access the usual UI elements, and then giving me an easy way to use other messaging app to communicate with a person I am talking to?

I’m really looking forward to this feature. Of course, to run several apps at once, iPhone OS will have to be able to multitask… Well, not really, Apple can always cheat and make multitasking available only for it’s own messaging apps.

And speaking about messaging the person you are talking to, you also will have to use a built-in speakerphone, since it might be a bit difficult to type an SMS with iPhone at your ear…

And this is what a second iPhone software patent app is about – “Speakerphone Control for Mobile Device “.

It’s not that it’s that hard to turn on the speakerphone manually when you need it. On most modern handsets you can do it with one or two clicks. But Apple still wants to make the whole process automatic, and use various sensors present in an iPhone for it.

Some of them are pretty simple, like deactivating speakerphone, when you put an iPhone to your ear with a hint from proximity sensor. Others are a bit, and, sometimes, a lot more complicated – like measuring your voice volume, device position/orientation, determining time of day, using pressure/temperature sensors to see if a device is in your hand, and even checking it’s location via GPS to decide when to activate/deactivate your speakerphone.

Most of this sounds like a bit of an overkill, (what’s wrong  with simply pressing “Speakerphone On/Off” button on display?), and will never make it into an actual software update. But some simple improvements might be welcome.

• Next in your iPhone OS: live object identification, face recognition, text filtering, smarter messaging, voice alteration
• iPhone 2.0 software coming free to iPhone in July, $9.95 for iPod Touch
• Cheap and simple iPhone Nano for your Grandma
• iPhone 4.0 OS: event based modes, intellingent and scheduled communications
• Apple releases software to fix Connection Problems but furnishes no details

According to Cellular-News, China Unicom’s spokesman Yi Difei declared about the 5 million order rumors that they are “not true”.

However, the spokesman did say that “talks between us and Apple have been going on for some time”, albeit without reaching an agreement yet.

Tiffany Yang, an Apple spokeswoman in Beijing, also said that there are no clear details about iPhone’s official launch in China.

This probably means that China Unicom will not sell Apple’s smartphone starting September, as previously reported.

• 5 million iPhones bought by China Unicom – sales to debut in September
• iPhone 3G to finally hit China this spring
• iPhone 3G S may hit China in Q4 2009 as China Unicom and Apple sign 2-year deal
• China Unicom to announce the iPhone today and launch it in October
• China Mobile in final stages of talks with Apple to bring iPhone to China

According to International Business Times, the carrier has bought 5 million “WCDMA standard iPhones” from Apple, paying about 10 billion yuan (1.463 billion US dollars) for them – 2,000 yuan ($292) per unit.

A final agreement with Apple hasn’t been reached yet, but China Unicom plans to sell the 8GB iPhone for 2,400 yuan ($351), and the 16GB iPhone for around 4,800 yuan ($702). So it looks like Chinese customers won’t be getting the iPhone 3GS, but the older iPhone 3G – since an iPhone 3GS 8GB was not announced (although there are rumors about it).

Or maybe China Unicom will sell the iPhone 3G 8GB alongside the iPhone 3GS  16GB? We’ll see.

Reportedly, the iPhones will be sold via Carrefour, as well as through various large retail outlets owned by China Unicom. As already mentioned, the first batch of Apple’s smartphones should reach China in September.

• China Unicom denies having bought 5 million iPhones from Apple
• China Unicom to launch iPhone on Oct. 15th. $293 for 8G, $439 for 16G on a 2 year, $27 a month contract
• China Unicom to announce the iPhone today and launch it in October
• 6.9 Million iPhone 3Gs sold until now, Apple says
• iPhone 3G S may hit China in Q4 2009 as China Unicom and Apple sign 2-year deal

If you go to this page on Rogers’ website and select the “iPhone Comparison” tab, you’ll find the features of iPhone 3GS listed on the right, and the ones of iPhone 3G listed on the left.

And, surprise – alongside the 16GB and 32GB versions, the iPhone 3GS appears as having an 8GB version as well:

Needless to say, neither Apple nor Rogers have announced the iPhone 3GS 8G.

However, if Rogers is indeed readying an iPhone 3GS 8GB, it means that AT&T will probably get it too. Although, of course, no one knows yet when this will happen.

Via MacRumors

• Apple and Rogers feud rumor smashed: iPhone 3G won’t go on sale in all Apple stores outside US, not just Canada
• Apple to come with an iPhone 3G S 8GB?
• Apple Upset at Rogers for iPhone Pricing?
• Rogers to launch iPhone on Monday in Canada
• New iPhone to come in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB flavors?

Kim Yeon-hak, KT Group’s CFO, has confirmed that they are bringing the highly popular smartphone to Korea, although without disclosing the exact release date.

The price of the iPhone from KTF was also not announced, but it will probably be similar to the one in the US – $200 for the 16GB version and $300 for the 32GB one (both available with a contract agreement, of course).

SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest mobile operator, is also in talks with Apple for the iPhone. However, they have not confirmed a deal yet.

Via Telecoms Korea

• KTF to launch voice service over WiBro in Korea
• Android phones, Android Market heading to Korea this year
• KTF and NTT DoCoMo to jointly launch iPhone in Korea and Japan?
• SK Telecom to make its own handsets?
• Italy’s 3 to Apple: “We’re ready when you are”

It’s called “Consumer abuse detection system and method” and is meant to help Apple service reps to see whether the broken device you brought in was your fault or Apple’s.

To do that, Apple proposes placing a number of sensors that can detect liquid, thermal changes, shocks and tampering inside the device. Those sensors then record any occurrence of the “abuse” events – like dropping, drowning or burning your iPhone – onto memory chip, and make this info available to the service center staff.

Looks like an interesting approach, which, if implemented, can help Apple reduce  bogus warranty service claims.

And,  incidentally, help them rebut those stories about  iPods and iPhones exploding for no good reason, that get so much attention from the press.

Like that stupid story about exploding iPod, that ruled interwebs this Monday.

Why do I say it’s a stupid story? Because it is.

The guy in the original Times Online article admits that he actually dropped the iPod on the floor. And then, for good measure, threw it out the backdoor, before the darn thing exploded.

But our devices shouldn’t explode at all, even if dropped,  you say. Yes?

Errr… Not necessarily.

Look, it is an electronic device. If you drop it hard enough – it will crack. And, if you throw it really hard, you know, like 10 or 20 meters out the back door, maybe even non-removable battery cover inside your iPod will crack. And, if your battery cover has cracked, and it’s wet  outside, what happens?

It is Lithium Ion battery you have inside. Lithium! Remember your high school chemistry classes? What happens when you mix Lithium and water? Big Kaboom…

In case you forgot, here’s a nice YouTube video, showing how disposable lithium battery strap reacts to water:

Doesn’t that look exactly like what happened to the unfortunate iPod touch? And where’s Apple’s fault in that?

• Samsung develops technology for a hydropowered cellphone
• Apple’s iPhone – iPod Phone coming to Japan first
• Apple is thinking about having water exposure detector in iPhone
• Third-party apps and games built from iPhone SDK showcased
• Apple’s touch surface keyboard with tactile feedback