Saturday, May 3, 2008 -- 10 a.m. -- on my couch

Hold on, Jimmy. Things are about to really start moving.

I was sitting here thinking about what we really haven't talked much about and that's 3G and its specific applications.

Let me explain. We know that the 3G iPhone is the next iPhone. No matter what it looks like, no matter what fixes we get (better volume, bluetooth, etc.) -- the power of 3G is the speed of the network.

No breaking news here, but we haven't really delved into the power of a faster network on the iPhone and how that could impact our everyday use.

For example ... We know that with 3G we'll be surfing and e-mailing and talking on our phones without interruption. A high-speed network can do that.

We also know that mobile video is a big part of 3G, it will just come down to how Apple implements it. Are we talking about AT&T's mobile video offerings or Apple's implementation of a much more powerful iChat?

Surely, we're talking about the ability to download much more in many more places -- tie the 3G launch with the Starbucks-AT&T tie and you're talking about high-speed mobile internet pretty much non-stop -- even in areas where the 3G network lacks. Does that mean we'll be downloading movies on the fly? Podcasts? I think both are quite possible at the very least.

And quite possibly, we could be talking about some other powerful applications -- we could be talking about remotely controlling programs, downloading files from .mac servers -- the sky is pretty much the limit.

Does a better camera mean we'll be able to create iPhoto books on the fly? Could there be a mobile version of Aperture combined with Front Row that lets us do more with the photos we take? Maybe a mobile iMovie that lets us share and send and receive video that we take right from our iPhones.

Apple has a lot of engineers and programmers working on its mobile offerings. I don't think they are only tweaking what already exists -- I think they are working hard on new and amazing ideas that are going to blow us away.

Think about it ... there are phones that have more capabilities now. 3G has been out for a while. Apple is a leader, but they are hardly alone. Apple doesn't like crowds. Apple is the loner who wants to make a splash and have others live in awe. Apple always wants to make an entrance.

That means that Steve Jobs is not going to get up on the stage and release just the 3G iphone. He's going to release THE 3G iPhone and he's going to release a product that forces every competitor to scramble like its never scrambled before. I believe that very strongly.

So you are going to have to wait -- just like me -- to see what Steve gives us. But when the day comes? It's going to be a pretty good day.

So buckle up ... things are going to start moving really fast around here. Goodbye 55 mph, hello no limits.

And we'll have so much to talk about ... we have plenty to talk about now.

The comments are open 24 hours a day.

Thanks for calling.

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It is going to be spectacular!!!!

SCOTT'S REPLY: Yep. We know that too!!

I'm playing a quickly aging fiddle here, but all of the new 3G-enabled iPhone talk only appeals to a portion of us, namely those who live in 3G-friendly areas (e.g., metropolises).

Catch up, AT&T.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Maybe, maybe not ... if the 3G iPhone does so much more than just offer a higher-speed connection, then it can appeal to those who live outside of those areas, right?

Scott,

come on pal!! you are torturing us! don't give me more hope and anticipation! you better be getting a big cut from Steve Jobs on this. Your marketing is flawless.

;;sign me up

Neil

SCOTT'S REPLY: Just telling it like it is, Neil ... I have no background in marketing, believe it or not.

I agree with you Scott, in regards to Gregory's post. Take for example, when I get an iPhone (3G or not) I'm most likely not even going to use EDGE/3G because I live in Canada where there is no such thing as unlimited data, or data that is reasonable priced. I shall rely solely on Wi-Fi. I plan on getting an iPhone, either this model or the 3G for EVERYTHING else that it offers, much more than just 3G.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Exactly, Matt! 3G will be the marketing campaign to start, but there's more ... much more.

As an Apple investor I must demand the iPhone to have 3G due to the fact that Europe and Asia demands it. Apple won't be able to sell iPhones in huge numbers because they're so fussy overseas about fast transfer speeds. I don't blame them. Apparently their networks are far superior to our crappy American ones. We used to be at the forefront of technology, but all the latest tech goes into weapons first and improving things for the working class much later. (scott edited to fix continent mention).

SCOTT'S REPLY: Well, it's true that networks overseas may be beefier than networks here, but I'm not sure comparing weapons to cell phones is a fair comparison here.

Just a question/thought- the only way to forward a text message is to copy and paste it? Not talking about the iPhone in particular but any phone. I know we can't copy and paste yet but shouldn't you be able to forward a text just like you would an e-mail on any smartphone... and if you can't, doesn't it seem like a decent software addition? Or maybe I'm missing something fundamental here.

SCOTT'S REPLY: On my old T-mobile phone, I could forward a text message just by hitting forward the same way I do on an e-mail now and it gave me the option to send it to another number. Of course, I could also select the text with a stylus, select copy and select paste in the next window. Sigh.

This wasn't a complaint, just a query because I don't think you can do it on a Blackberry either; something to make us feel better until we can do it! Think you can only copy and paste it and send etc.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Oh, I know ... I was just thinking back to the days when it was actually easy -- and that was about the only thing that was easy on that device!! I can't understand how such simple functionality is left out of the mix!

Me too- there's so many great things we can do now and it kind of hurts that we're not able to do some of those things we always could do. That's about to change shortly though.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Yep. It's about to change.

There media love to point out how say, Korea, or Japan, or Europe is so much better connected. However, is this really true? Is all of Korea on the cutting edge? I doubt it. At any rate, there is one company and the countries are the size of Nebraska. ATT&T could wire that in one week.
Apple has completely revolutionized the cell phone industry because, first, they took the phone away from those empty suits at Verizon and their ilk; and two, they showed the world that internet was possible on a handheld device, and now all are following suit (or at least trying to).

SCOTT'S REPLY: Sure, it may not be a whole country -- well, Japan is likely an exception -- but the point I think is that if it's doable over there, it should be doable and then some here. And it is and it's happening ... I just think we all tend to get a little impatient when we're holding a phone in our hands that is so cool but seems a little outdated. At least that's how I feel.

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