5 ms·

Since Apple normally releases new iPhones in June, does this mean the Verizon iPhone 4 will be obsolete in less than 6 months? It will be lame if Verizon has t

by ayb 16y ago

Since Apple normally releases new iPhones in June, does this mean the Verizon iPhone 4 will be obsolete in less than 6 months? It will be lame if Verizon has the iPhone 4 and then AT&T gets a new GSM-only iPhone 5 in June.

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
hvs 16y ago
Depends on what your definition of "obsolete" is. Even if they release a new one, it doesn't instantly cause all of the older ones to stop working.
- listic 16y ago
  Also, they may not release an update for CDMA version so soon, so it won't be obsolete in the sense "you can't get anything better wor CDMA anyway"
kmfrk 16y ago
Just like the 3GS? :)
roc 16y ago
Probably. Though no less-so than an ATT iPhone 4 purchased in the next six months. And much less-so than an ATT 3GS purchased in that same window.
siglesias 16y ago
They'll just launch the new phone on AT&T (as good will, a concession) and do the Verizon version in time for Christmas, then sync back up during the next refresh cycle. EDIT: Justification is that off the top of my head Apple has never refreshed a major product in six months, except for speed bumps. Apple had to move quickly by launching the iPhone 4 now and not waiting for summer to launch both versions of iPhone 5, as Android is gaining a lot of steam. This should satisfy impatient buyers who would be very upset if their new purchase would be outdated in just six months. Meanwhile Apple has had no problem refreshing after Christmas (Macworld, new iPad launch impending) because they are obsoleting mostly gifts. Secondly the staggered iPhone 5 launch would provide Apple good negotiation leverage with AT&T without giving a lot up. This could be good for higher monthly kickbacks or iPad data prices. It also lessens the work load on antenna engineers. Given this, it's very likely that the Verizon iPhone 5 will have pent up demand by the September music event, will cause a bigger splash in the media, and have it be the top phone on both carriers in time for Christmas. And it won't cheese of Verizon customers who went for the 4 in February.
- ary 16y ago
  You know this for a fact? Sure would like to see some evidence.
- achompas 16y ago
  There's no way this happens. Rumors suggest Apple tested this CDMA iPhone 4 for a year, so you have to assume they've already developed a CDMA iPhone 5.
gaiusparx 16y ago
My guess is iPhone 5 will support both GSM and LTE in one hardware. It will look similar to iPhone 4 and and both CDMA iPhone4 and iPhone5 will be available on Verizon, just like iPhone 3GS is still selling.
kbd 16y ago
I would be very surprised if the iPhone 5 comes in GSM-specific and CDMA-specific models. I'd expect a unified model. I only wonder whether it'll support LTE as well.
- ohhmaagawd 16y ago
  then why didn't they do this for the Verizon iPhone 4?
  - kbd 16y ago
    Ask Apple, I'd only be speculating at why they didn't redesign their existing product to support it :P But, since what they did for the Verizon iPhone has no bearing on what will appear in the iPhone 5, I don't really understand the point of your question.

by ayb 16y ago

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

hvs 16y ago

Depends on what your definition of "obsolete" is. Even if they release a new one, it doesn't instantly cause all of the older ones to stop working.

listic 16y ago
Also, they may not release an update for CDMA version so soon, so it won't be obsolete in the sense "you can't get anything better wor CDMA anyway"

kmfrk 16y ago

Just like the 3GS? :)

roc 16y ago

Probably. Though no less-so than an ATT iPhone 4 purchased in the next six months. And much less-so than an ATT 3GS purchased in that same window.

siglesias 16y ago

They'll just launch the new phone on AT&T (as good will, a concession) and do the Verizon version in time for Christmas, then sync back up during the next refresh cycle. EDIT: Justification is that off the top of my head Apple has never refreshed a major product in six months, except for speed bumps. Apple had to move quickly by launching the iPhone 4 now and not waiting for summer to launch both versions of iPhone 5, as Android is gaining a lot of steam. This should satisfy impatient buyers who would be very upset if their new purchase would be outdated in just six months. Meanwhile Apple has had no problem refreshing after Christmas (Macworld, new iPad launch impending) because they are obsoleting mostly gifts. Secondly the staggered iPhone 5 launch would provide Apple good negotiation leverage with AT&T without giving a lot up. This could be good for higher monthly kickbacks or iPad data prices. It also lessens the work load on antenna engineers. Given this, it's very likely that the Verizon iPhone 5 will have pent up demand by the September music event, will cause a bigger splash in the media, and have it be the top phone on both carriers in time for Christmas. And it won't cheese of Verizon customers who went for the 4 in February.

ary 16y ago
You know this for a fact? Sure would like to see some evidence.
achompas 16y ago
There's no way this happens. Rumors suggest Apple tested this CDMA iPhone 4 for a year, so you have to assume they've already developed a CDMA iPhone 5.

gaiusparx 16y ago

My guess is iPhone 5 will support both GSM and LTE in one hardware. It will look similar to iPhone 4 and and both CDMA iPhone4 and iPhone5 will be available on Verizon, just like iPhone 3GS is still selling.

kbd 16y ago

I would be very surprised if the iPhone 5 comes in GSM-specific and CDMA-specific models. I'd expect a unified model. I only wonder whether it'll support LTE as well.

ohhmaagawd 16y ago
then why didn't they do this for the Verizon iPhone 4?
- kbd 16y ago
  Ask Apple, I'd only be speculating at why they didn't redesign their existing product to support it :P But, since what they did for the Verizon iPhone has no bearing on what will appear in the iPhone 5, I don't really understand the point of your question.