World of Apple

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster (Via AppleInsider) has weighed in on the future of Apple and its products. In particular Munster predicted on the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference to be held in San Francisco next month.

The analyst predicted that an iPhone launch are unlikely at such a computer orientated event but did note that a new MacBook Pro could be on the cards.

“While there may be rumors of an iPhone launch at WWDC, we expect Apple will host a separate event in late June to launch the device. But Apple will not fail to deliver new products at WWDC,” he wrote. “Apple has announced that a full-featured version of OSX 10.5 Leopard will be demonstrated and handed out at the event. This means that we will finally see how Apple will integrate Windows operability into Leopard.”

It appears that Munster used the MacRumors Buyers Guide to assist him in the calculations of product life cycles. Using this data the analyst writes that Apple traditionally updates its professional notebook every 182 days, it has been 209 days since the last refresh.

The analyst also weighs in on the iMac which he believes will receive a redesign at WWDC. The iMac has previously seen update cycles of around 168 days but currently the iMac has been without a refresh for 257 days.

On the subject of the iPhone the analyst notes that recent rumours that the iPhone could see a delay are most likely incorrect and Apple is on target to deliver the phone in late June.

“The iPhone launch is set to be one of the largest product launches in company history,” wrote Munster. “Both Apple and AT&T stores will sell the device and both companies will sell iPhone on their websites.”

The analyst was keen to add that he expects to see lead times of 2-4 weeks for the iPhone.

Piper Jaffray maintains an “outperform” rating on Apple with a target price of $140 per share.

Boy Genius reports has revealed screenshots of AT&T’s accounting that shows the iPhone available to pre-paid users.

Screenshot of AT&T internal accounting system

The accounting system shows three versions:

• iPhone PostPaid
• iPhone PrePaid (Pay As You Go)
• iPhone Hybrid (Pick Your Plan)

For clarification for international readers Cingular describes ‘Pay As You Go’ and ‘Pick Your Plan’ as follows:

Pay As You Go
Pay As You Go is wireless made easy. Simply pay in advance for what you need. No long-term contracts, credit checks or surprise bills - just all the benefits of wireless, with no complications.

Pick Your Plan
Get the best of wireless without long-term contracts or unexpected bills. With Pick Your Plan, you establish monthly automatic payments for service and use the balance on your account for voice minutes or other features. It’s that easy.

At this very moment it is unknown whether this is purely an error on AT&T’s system, but if true it would mean customers could simply pony up the money for the phone and use it with other networks.

Coca-Cola Giving Away 2 Billion iTunes Songs

In what is being dubbed Europe’s largest music promotion, Coca-Cola has announced that it has teamed up with iTunes to give away two billion music tracks to European Cola drinkers.

“Coca-Cola has a long and rich heritage in music, from memorable advertising tracks to grassroots support to big live events. In Summer 2006 we started an innovative new partnership with iTunes,” said Chris R. Burggraeve, group marketing director for the European Union Group. “Coke+iTunes aims to reinvent the ways young people create, listen to, and experience music every day. Thanks to Coke+iTunes, European youth will enjoy this Summer 2007 the biggest pan European music experience ever. And what better way to build bridges among European cultures than through music?”

“iTunes is the world’s most popular online music store selling 58 songs every second at a rate of 5 million tracks a day,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We’ve already had great success working with Coca-Cola over the past year and this new pan-European initiative gives music fans across Europe the ability to download free music all summer long.”

The promotion will begin in May and run through to August of this year.

iPods are also up for winning in the competition along with free tickets to many iTunes and Coke-sponsored concerts featuring various big names.

The 17 countries where the concerts will take place are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.

Faithless have also recorded an exclusive track for the promotion, and will perform live at the launch event at Cannes Film Festival.

To aid the promotion Coke has designed a limited edition aluminium bottle.

Final Cut 2 Studio Ships

Several readers have noted to World of Apple that they have received copies of Final Cut Studio that they ordered after its release in April at NAB.

It is reported that upgrade versions of Final Cut Studio 2 are yet to ship.

TBWA to Create iPhone Ad

AdAge reports that TBWA will handle all the advertising for the upcoming iPhone.

The report states that people familiar with the account confirm that TBWA’s Media Arts Lab will handle all creative for the iPhone, much as the agency has for iPod. The agency has handled creative duties for Apple since 1997.

Both Apple and TBWA declined comment on the subject.

Apple has received approval for the iPhone this afternoon, the Federal Communications Commission have Apple the green light to commence sales after testing the device for months.

The FCC lab manager wrote the following in a SAR test report:

“The Apple Inc. A1203 GSM Cellular Telephone with Bluetooth and Wifi, FCC ID: BCGA1203, is in compliance with the limits for general population uncontrolled exposure specified in FCC 2.1093. The device was tested according to the measurement standards and procedures specified in FCC OET Bulletin 65, Supplement C (Edition 01-01) and IEEE p1528/D1.2, April 21, 2003.”

Apple requests confidentiality in a letter to the FCC

In a letter to the FCC Apple has requested that Test Setup Photos, External Photographs, Internal Photographs, and the iPhone User Manual be kept confidential for 45 days from the point of approval.

In the same letter Apple has requested that the iPhone’s Block Diagram, Operational Description, Radio Schematic, Radio Bill of Material, Radio Tune-up Procedure, and Exhibit notes be kept confidential indefinitely.

Boy Genius report publishes some pre-launch channel communication directly from within AT&T.

According to the document AT&T will soon begin to train staffers with web based training, workbooks and iPhone product overviews.

The document also notes the following:

• “iPhone will be available sometime in June. The exact date has not been announced, specific dates should not be provided to customers.
• Sales for the iPhone will be on a first come, first served basis. No wait list of names will be taken and NO pre-selling is allowed.
• Two models of the iPhone will be available, a 4GB will retail at $499 and have an 8GB will retail at $599. If asked what the price will be, answer that the prices have been announced as $499 for the 4G, and $599 for the 8G, respectively. There should NOT be any additional speculation/discussion about pricing.”

It is being reported that iPhone carrier in Europe is most likely to be T-Mobile. It has been suggested in the past that Vodafone would win but the carrier has publicly denied this.

Other carriers such as O2 and Orange have reportedly failed in the later stages of attempting to receive the iPhone contract.

Terms of the contract are unknown but it may be different to the multi-year contract agreement that Apple has with AT&T in the US.

TUAW reports that AT&T CEO Stan Sigman has presented West Texas A&M’s President, Dr. J. Patrick O’Brien with what he claims to be “the first iPhone in Texas.”

The iPhone was reportedly presented during Sigman’s commencement speech at the University.

Dr. O’Brien reportedly held the iPhone up to the crowd for all to see.

The only known video of the occasion can be seen over the jump.

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During last weeks annual shareholders meeting Steve Jobs was questioned on the future of current Apple products and what’s planned in the future. A brief overview was offered immediately after the meeting but now more details have been revealed.

When question on Apple’s mobile phone strategy Jobs pulled an iPhone out of his pocket and began to talk of the potential the mobile market has for Apple, but he was keen to express that “we’re [Apple] beginners, and we have a lot to learn.”

It has been rumoured by some sites that multiple Apple execs were seen using iPhone’s before and after the meeting. “A few of us have been using the iPhone a lot,” Jobs said during his question and answer session. “If you wanted it back, you would have to pry it from our dead hands.”

Steve Jobs reiterated that the iPhone will ship next month and in volume.

When Jobs was asked about third party iPhone applications he replied that Apple was “wrestling” with the decision to allow companies to develop for the iPhone.

One comment from a shareholder suggested that Apple take on a similar strategy to Microsoft and develop a low cost version of Mac OS X for developing countries. “Do you think we should offer Mac OS 9?” Jobs wittily replied.

“I think Apple could sell the developing world Tiger while selling Leopard here,” the shareholder replied. Jobs paused for a moment and said that could be an option.

Finally Jobs was asked about the future of the .Mac service, in particular noting Apple’s minimal efforts to upgrade the service.

Jobs admitted that .Mac was languishing, “We have not achieved our full potential,” he said, adding that the company planned to soon release a new set of initiatives for .Mac.

The Boy Genius Report posts an article discussing iPhone display cases that will be used in AT&T stores.

The site which states that the information is from a reliable source notes that the display cases require some stores to be rewired as the cases require power and network connectivity.

The cases are also said to be 3ft by 7ft tall, but the site was unable to pinpoint when the cases and iPhone’s would be put on display.

Preperations for iPhone Training

MacRumors is reporting that training for individuals related to the iPhone will begin on May 30th and continue through to June 20th. The site points to after June the 20th for a launch date.

Meanwhile the report goes on to say that AT&T/Cingular technicians have begun visiting Apple Stores around America to test mobile network strength, presumably to aid in the demonstration of network features.

Apple advertises in The Record for iPhone team

Apple also appears to be making preparations for the arrival of the iPhone with an advert in ‘The Record’ a newspaper based in the Elk Grove region of California.

The half page advert reads:

The revolution continues.

This event is invite only, so call 1.866.238.6785 to reserve your spot today.

Apple has also begun advertising in the Elk Grove area for iPhone Personal Trainer’s and iPhone Personal Trainer Team Manager.

AT&T Blocking Out June/July

A report from Boy Genius posts an email sent from within AT&T to employees requesting that they don’t take holiday (vacation) during the period of June 15th to July 15th.

The email reads:

As previously announced, Apple and AT&T will soon debut the iPhone, which combines a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and breakthrough internet communications into one small and lightweight handheld device. The new AT&T has a multiyear, exclusive agreement to provide U.S. service for the iPhone.

I want to thank you in advance for your understanding as this is likely to be the biggest selling period we have seen in a few years.