Welcome to our iPhone blog. This is where you'll find all sorts of interesting iPhone related news, opinions and other stories. If you think there is something we should blog about, why not let us know? Also if you've written an interesting post or article, and would like it posted or mentioned here, please tell us. Be sure to also check out our iPhone review section.
After a slight delay, Apple released the Software Development Kit (SDK) for the iPhone, in response to the huge number of developers wanting to build their own apps for the iPhone. As expected by many however, the SDK falls short on a few fronts and confirms Apple's desire to maintain tight control over all iPhone apps.
In response to the flood of unsupported third-party applications created as soon as the Apple iPhone was launched, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced around October 2007 his intention to release a set of tools that would allow developers to build their own applications. Apple's first deadline for this Software Development Kit (SDK) was the end of February 2008.
Well it had to happen sooner or later, especially after Apple slashed the price of the 8GB iPhone last year by $200 to $399 and discontinued the 4GB model after people complained it was overpriced, only a few months after launch.
In a recent article published by Bloomberg news, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co said he believes that Apple iPhone users unlocked more than one million devices in 2007 to allow them to use the iPhone on a different network. This means Apple is losing a significant amount of potential profits.
On Tuesday, Apple announced it increased its revenues year-on-year by 35%, in part thanks to sales of iPhones and Macs. Unfortunately, due to disappointing forecasts of iPod sales, Apple's stock price plunged amid extremely volatile market conditions.
According to Matthew Key, set to become the new CEO of O2 next month, the Apple iPhone has revolutionised the way UK mobile users handle data. In an article featured in the FT, Mr Key highlights the significant increase in data consumption witnessed from iPhone users versus standard O2 users, suggesting operators could have finally found the solution they've been looking for so long: how to convince mobile users to transfer much more data on a regular basis.
Remember how we reported that you can buy and unlocked iPhone on the Continent because T-Mobile and Orange have been forced to sell unlocked devices in Germany and France? Well, apparently you need to watch out if you're thinking of picking an unlocked iPhone up during your Christmas or New Year trips to the Continent. There are rumours that Orange have put in a country lock to make sure you can't just pop in your UK SIM and start making calls.
We always said that the price tag of the iPhone was set very high, especially given how many people already have an iPod of some sort. Retailing at £269 for a locked iPhone coming together with an 18-month O2 contract in the UK, it seems that British customers are thinking twice about buying an iPhone - even in the run-up to Christmas.
It's funny how quickly things catch on. For years we've been dreaming of a device that would have a touchscreen so you could completely eliminate the need for a keyboard. So you could just navigate around the interface purely by using your intuition. Then one day, Apple came up with the iPhone with its fantastic screen. And before you know it, this technology will have spread like wildfire. Just have a look at these ads for the Microsoft Surface to see what we mean.
Well well, it seems there is finally a bit of justice in this world! A German court has reportedly forced T-Mobile to sell unlocked iPhones as well in their stores, after Vodafone's German subsidiary pushed for an injunction. That means that just like Orange in France, T-Mobile are no longer able to force customers to buy their contracts in order to get their hands on an Apple iPhone.
