6 million units sold

Sometime this week, the sales of iPhone 3G will hit the 6 million figure. So, only 7 weeks after being launched, the new Apple mobile phone has outsold the first generation iPhone. That’s a pretty impressive achievement even though the battery isn’t great and their have been a lot of owners complaining about 3G.

The original iPhone took about a year before they sold 6 million units - looks like Apples marketing department went into overdrive on the 3G. Even more impressive is the point at which iPhone sales hit the one million mark - about twodays for the 3G and 74 days for the first generation handset. I’m sure this is only the starting point for Apple; Businessweek has suggested that Foxconn will be building 150,000 handsets per day.Add the figures up and you can see that Apple is aiming to sell 40 million iPhones over the next year. There’s a lot of animosity in the mobile phone market with Open Source fans eagerly awaiting the launch of Android but Apple may have an edge here as well; by throwing open the iPhone Apps code Apple has already made significant headway into the ‘grow your own applications’ market.

Let’s see what Android has to offer.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Another stab at the iPhone market!

It looks like Research in Motion (RIM) is getting ready to launch a replacement for the Blackberry Curve; the Javelin. Effectively, this device is a Blackberry Bold without the 3G bit (I don’t know about you, but I like, no, need 3G. I’m sure there’s a plan here somewhere!)

The Javelin is expected to feature cosmetic and feature upgrades in order to keep Blackberry fans buying - it’ll be hard task considering the new iPhone 3G sold over a million units since the Friday 11th launch.

The new handset is is rumoured to have GPS, WiFi, a 3.2MP camera, GSM / EDGE quad-band and the Blackberry 4.6 OS crammed into its chassis. Oh, and the Javelin features a micro-USB charging connector - buy a Javelin and you kiss your ’spare’ charger goodbye.

So, if you really want an EDGE phone don’t expect to be enjoying the ‘browsing experience of your life’ (unless you’re in a WiFi zone).

Popularity: 49% [?]

But only for existing customers!

Earlier this week an avalanche of pre-orders crashed the O2 website - now that’s demand! But they’re back. There’s one small problem - you can only order an iPhone 3G if you’re currently contracted to O2. Disappointing I know, but demand has outstripped supply (I got my order in this morning!)

Limtied numbers of iPhone stock have caused O2 to state that its stores only hold a “few dozen” devices - which are probably sold out now.

If you go to O2’s website and click order now, you’ll notice that all devices are sold out.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Fruitylicious applications!

Apple has released an update for iTunes in preparation for the launch of the iPhone 3G (for the hermits of the world; it’s tomorrow).

The download gives users the software required for activating the iPhone 3G and also allows access to the applications store - for US customers. UK iPhone owners will have to wait a few hours longer for the download.

The Apps Store includes a feast of goodies for iPhone owners including games such as Monkey Ball and Bomberman, social networking tools, MySpace Mobile and Facebook (why, oh why!). Apps are also available for eBay and Yellow Pages.

I suppose the first I should do is actually go and order my iPhone 3G before I get too excited!

Popularity: 46% [?]

Well, not right now but…

…as of today you can preorder your iPhone 3G from O2. The offer allows existing O2 subscribers to break the upgrade cycle . Many existing O2 users have been swamping the site applying for the upgrade. In fact, traffic was so heavy that the site crashed!

This announcemnt means iPhone users will get their upgraded handset on Friday 11 July. Ok, I know some of you are saying ‘it’s just another iPhone’ but you have to admit that the addition of 3G and GPS makes it pretty bloody attractive.

The O2 offer is available until 11 October this year - if you miss out now, don’t worry. I’m sure O2 have plenty of stock.

I’ve just had a look at O2’s site and there’s a message stating that the iPhone 3G is out of stock, come  back on 11th July - bugger!

Popularity: 36% [?]

You won’t be assimilated…not just yet!

I’m quite keen to have a look at Googles Android handset but going on reports I may have to wait until 2009!

A report in Mondays Wall Street Journal suggests that a number of Googles partners in the venture simply won’t be ready for the planned 2008 release. This flies in the face Google statements that the first Android equipped handset will be with us by the end of 2008.

The WSJ did say that Android could still be with us this year but not through Google. T-mobile are planning to release a handset by the end of the year.

Android currently has 30 companies officially in the programme - surely that’s enough to make it happen?

Ok, yes it will be here. Oh, no it won’t. Actually, nobody knows! On the plus side, this means I can avoid be deluged with sponsored ads for just a little longer

Popularity: 45% [?]

You will like this.

How much will the iPhone 3G cost you? Between nothing and £159!

Hard to believe but true. Take a look at the tariffs:

• £75 (3000 mins, 500 texts) and £45 (1200 mins, 500 texts) a month contracts - you get an 8GB iPhone 3GB for free.
• higher rate contracts lets you have the 16GB model for free
• the £45 a month contact offers the handset as an additional one-off payment of £59
• a new £30 per month contract means you can buy the 16Gb handset for £159 and the 8Gb for £99

The last contact only offers 75 minutes and 125 texts per month but if you’re short of cash but desperate to get your hands on an iPhone 3G this may be the one for you.

O2 are also releasing the iPhone 3G on a pay-as-you go contract.

The iPhone 3G will still only be available through o2 and Carphone Warehouse.

Popularity: 57% [?]

RIM takes the lead.

The BlackBerry 900 has landed. And don’t think this is a half way measure to bolster sales. The device, BlackBerry Bold, comes with a range of connectivity options: tri-band HSDPA, integrated GPS and 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi. Admittedly, the BlackBerry 8707v had 3G back in 2006 but actually getting a 3G connection was another matter.

What do you get for your money?

Well, it’s a nice looking handset but here’s the technical details in brief:

• 624MHz processor
• Full Qwerty keyboard
• 1Gb onboard storage - expandable via microSD/SDHC
• 2-megapixel camera
• “half-VGA” screen — a reference to the dimensions of the display, not the resolution, which are a VGA-quality 480 by 320 pixels.

So how will it fair? I’ve been using a BlackBerry for about a year now (yes, I’m planning to buy an iPhone soon). It’s good. Push email, calendaring, messenger, Google maps, ssh and a whole range of other add-ons make it ideal for my needs. The one downside is, as stated earlier, 3G connectivity - my handset seems to want to use Edge over 3G. The improved connectivity in the Bold should make the handset a real winner. Edge is here to stay and has huge future potential but for now I’ll stick to 3G.

Given many peoples love of the web the speed and capabilities of this new device it should be a hit with both day to day users and businesses.

Popularity: 76% [?]

…to Italy.

You all knew it was coming even though Apple weren’t prepared to stump up a release date. Now it’s been confirmed. From next month Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) will be selling the 3G version of the iPhone - I wonder if this was a genuine slip or if Apple allowed word to get out? To be fair, it really do sales any harm.

I would expect a number of other operators to make similar announcements soon .

Here’s an amusing summary of how the secret slipped out.

Popularity: 70% [?]

The market is getting crowded.

Not a week goes by without a headline piece of news being touted by vendors of software and hardware alike. And this week has been no exception; Microsoft have walked away from the Yahoo deal, Pixsta are set to challenge Google and now RIM have announced a deal with SAP. The two companies have stated that SAP will make its CRM software available ton the Blackberry within the next couple of months. This should allow salespeople to use Customer Relations Management alongside Blackberry email, calendar and address book apps with minimal fuss.

Off the wire.

SAP has stated that their software will cache data when there’s no connection available, much the same as the Blackberry email services work. Updates will be stored on the device until a connection is found at which point the handset will push the updates back to the central SAP servers. Another planned feature is the ability to deploy applications to the Blackberry handset from the central SAP infrastructure.

This deal will not be exclusive. SAP is not keen for the service to become a niche product so expect to see more handset manufacturers offering a similar service in future.

Popularity: 70% [?]