In a nod to reality, Apple Monday began listing worldwide carriers offering ‘unlocked’ iPhones. Just a year ago, Apple CEO Steve Jobs described the struggle between hackers and Cupertino as a “cat-and-mouse game.”
Now the Apple Website includes “Carrier offers authorized unlocking” on a support page.
Nearly 40 of the 105 countries listed offer unlocked iPhones. However, some handsets are unlocked through just one carrier.
Morgan Stanley analyst Kathryn Huberty Wednesday cut Apple’s target price to $95, down from $100. Huberty pointed to a survey indicating weaker consumer interest.
Huberty also trimmed her expectations for calendar 2009 iPhone sales to 14 million handsets, down 
By contrast, Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster expects Apple will sell 45 million iPhones next year.
Up to 1 million iPhones may be purchased through Apple gift cards, giving Cupertino a boost during an otherwise expected flat 2009, one analyst said Wednesday.
Use of Apple gift cards to purchase iPhones means many handsets won’t be activated until after Dec. 25. That delay could result in misleading December iPhone sales, Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu told investors.
“The risk here is that the customer will likely activate post-Christmas; therefore revenue and units won’t likely be recognized until the March quarter,” Wu wrote. March is viewed as usually a weak month for sales.
Apple eliminated GPS functionality in order to sell the iPhone 3G in Egypt, the New York Times reported Monday. Cupertino’s acquiesense to the Egyptian government comes as the company negotiates entry into China’s 500 million consumers.
Apple silently modified the iPhone in the face of Egyptian concerns that GPS could be a military security risk, according to the newspaper. However, the changes come as governments attempt to put a lid on technology used by pro-democracy movements.
On the Egyptian iPhone Web page, Apple mentions 3G, Wi-Fiand Microsoft Exchange compatibility, but not GPS.
Apple faces yet another lawsuit over the performance of its iPhone 3G. The latest court challenge charges hardware defects cause calls to be dropped when using 3G.
James Pittman made the claims to a Northern District of California federal court in San Jose on Nov. 26.
In his lawsuit, Pittman alleges Apple of misrepresentation, violating California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, unjust enrichment and unfair competition of business and professions code.
More smartphones are using Apple’s OS X operating system than Windows Mobile, a researcher said Thursday. Apple’s software now has 12.9 percent of the global smartphone market, pushing Microsoft out of No. 3 behind RIM and handset giant Nokia.
OS X-based smartphones – fueled by Apple’s popular iPhone – saw a 327 percent year-over-year increase, rising from 3.4 percent of the market in the third quarter of 2007. The increase far outstripped the 11.5 percent annual increase in the overall smartphone market, according to Gartner.
By contrast, Microsoft’s marketshare fell 3 percent to 11.1 percent.
Just yesterday the web was lousy with stories about the extended delay for the release of Apple’s premium in-ear headphones with remote and mic. Like magic, Tuesday the Apple Store began accepting orders for the hotly anticipated $79 premium iPod accessory, with delivery promised within 7 – 10 business days.
The headset features custom two-way balanced armature (a woofer and tweeter in each earpiece) that Apple claims will deliver “pro audio performance and impressive sound isolation” available more often at 2X to 3X the price.
One of the most anticipated features of these headphones is their ability to allow audio recording on the latest generation of iPods without fitting an external microphone to the dock connector. The headset also features convenient buttons that let you adjust the volume and control music and video playback, and while the specs indicate they are compatible only with 120GB iPod Classic, 4th generation iPod Nano and iPod Touch, many consumer audio analysts believe at least the speakers and microphone (if not the on-lanyard controls) will work with the iPhone as well.
When Steve Jobs convened the “Let’s Rock” event to unveil the new iPod Nano in September, he made a point of whetting our appetites for premium in-ear headphones with remote and mic that were said, at the time, to be shipping in October. It’s now December and the Apple website still says “Coming Soon.”
Apple engineers were ordered to revise the design, which required Apple’s overseas contractors to retool their manufacturing process, resulting in the extended delay, according to sources cited by MacBloz on Monday.
The premium headphones, slated to retail for $79, are intended to compete with high-end audiophile headsets costing two and three times that amount from the likes of Bose and Sony, and according to the MacBlogz sources, that standard has not yet been achieved. On the other hand, it should be premature to rule out a splashy marketing deployment of the eagerly anticipated headphones just in time for last minute holiday shopping.
Via MacBlogz.
Apple faces new lawsuits over its popular aledgedly, including one asking a court to award $5 million because of advertising claims.
San Diego, Calif. resident Peter Keller named both Apple and AT&T in a lawsuit alleging fraud and deceit. Keller’s lawsuit charges the maker of the iPhone 3G and its exclusive American carrier, created false and misleading advertising claims regarding the speed of the 3G network.
“Apple and AT&T have engaged in a collaborated scheme to deceive plantiff and other consumers, since the iPhone 3G and AT&T 3G Network is faulty and rarely provides 3G connectivity to its customers,” the lawsuit reads.
As the holidays loom ever closer and the global economic get worse and worse, Apple’s doing its bit to encourage a little seasonal spending.
The new iPhone Your Life section on apple.com is full of tips and tricks for new iPhone users, encouraging them to dive into the App Store and look around.
There are recommendations and staff picks, and on the Top Apps page there’s limited web-based access to best selling apps in a range of categories – the first time I’ve seen Apple replicating some of the App Store functionality on the web.
The Tips and Tricks page is also a good starting point for Christmas Day iPhone newbies (of whom, I have no doubt, there will be many).
(Via John Gruber)