bla.st : last minute prediction: the apple wifi phone

Apple rumours about a new Apple mobile phone are rife, but here's my last minute prediction: Apple will produce a WiFi phone, and maybe a cellphone and WiFi phone in one. All the rumours seem to be based around the Cellular side of things, so there must be something to that. All the key ingredients for a WiFi phone already exist. Here's why we think a WiFi phone is more likely than a Mobile:

Apple already has experience with streaming secure audio over WiFi with the Airport Express
iChat already installed on millions of macs
Every increasing broadband usage worldwide means the market is now big enough
The distribution network is already in place
A WiFi phone doesn't have to deal with the Mobile Networks
Could be sold internationally far more easily than a mobile
Cheaper to make a WiFi phone than a Mobile
Apple already has lots of experience selling small, portable, handheld electronics

or read on for more details...

Apple already has solid experience with streaming secure audio over WiFi (Aiport Express), the only problem with the existing technology is the 1-2 second lag, and the size of the existing airport technology which we will assume they have solved. Every man and his dog seems to be bringing out a smaller WiFi receiver, so we can assume they've solved that one too.

The bandwidth of the Aiport Extreme is more than enough, and we can imagine the rumoured next generation Aiport Extreme will be even better.

Apple also have lots of experience making small, handheld technology with the iPod. The distribution channels and everything are already in place and working. Adding a phone would almost be as easy as adding a new type of iPod. Even the packaging, chargers, connectors, docking stations and cables could be similar.

Now all they need is some sort of application that will do "Voice over Internet" or something. Some sort of "communication software", preferably with millions of copies already installed on Macs throughout the world. Oh wait, they do! Good 'ol iChat, perhaps it's prime-time is nigh. If they bring out a iChat phone, they might even make a version of iChat for Windows like they did iTunes.

I wouldn't be surprised if they bring out a new communication application, an iTunes equivalent for chat and messages, that acts as a base for anything communication based, including hardware devices in the same way iTunes manages the iPod.

So how would Apple make money from a WiFi phone? First there is the actual device, which could be made pretty cheap, especially if they bring out a WiFi only version. Then there is the VOIP to Real world networks charges, much like SkypeIn and SkypeOut. Then there's the world of content for the phone, such as Ringtones, Games, and of course music. A WiFi phone might even inspire people to invest in Airport basestations if they haven't already.

Surely a WiFi phone would be a lot easier and cheaper for Apple to make than a mobile. They wouldn't have to deal with mobile networks or different network types. They could sell the same device to every country in the world. I really hope if they do bring out a mobile phone, it will be available in both GSM and CDMA formats, and available worldwide.

So there are my predictions, a WiFi phone makes much more sense than a mobile phone, but I'm really hoping it will be both in one. I guess we'll find out what the real deal is in about 11 hours :)

Leave Comments at digg

Got a website? Promote it on bla.st free

Recent Entries

Older Entries

« bla.st Blog

Last Minute Prediction: The Apple WiFi Phone