iPhone Download World

The BlackBerry Outage Spreads: A Nail in RIM’s Coffin?

Android and iPhone devices were already destroying RIM’s BlackBerry market share. But the outage that has spread from Europe and Africa to North America and South America may be the final straw for millions of formerly loyal users, who previously relied on their Blackberries as a robust and ultra-reliable way for always-on push email and Web access.

AT&T Upgrader helps you nab iPhone 4S app-style – iPhone app review – Kathryn Swartz

AT&T customers who are considering making the upgrade to iPhone 4S from their current iDevice can now pickup AT&T Upgrader from the App Store. the app rolled out on Oct. 5 but was pulled shortly after its arrival. Now the app is back for download—Oct. 7 marks the official start to iPhone 4S preordering, after all.

I installed the app shortly after midnight on Oct. 7, and quickly became concerned that AT&T Upgrader had stalled on its opening splash screen. After some patience, the app took me to the next screen, so I can only assume that AT&T is seeing a spike in traffic. Once you’re in the app, you’ll enter your phone number and account info to check your eligibility.

A few spins of the loading wheel and AT&T Upgrader showed that I am eligible for an upgrade—but at a higher price. if this fits you too, you’ll need to hit “upgrade now” to see the pricing information. I haven’t decided if I want to upgrade or not yet, but I pressed on. Surprisingly, or maybe not, AT&T Upgrader only offered me the option for iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS and at the old pricing. a quick look at Apple.com showed that the company hadn’t quite started the preordering yet. Once the 4S popped up for selection, AT&T Upgrader offered toggles for phone color and size. Before you checkout you’ll also be able to select accessories.

As more customers download the app, I expect its speeds to slow more, but even still, the AT&T Upgrader is a useful alternative to ordering through the Apple Store app for current customers. whatever you decide, I’d advise triple checking that you’re ordering the right phone at the right price before hitting that purchase button.

Download the free Appolicious iPhone app

Apple's record-high stock prices: 4 theories

posted on September 21, 2011, at 7:45 AM

Best Opinion: MarketWatch, Mac Observer, StreetInsider.com …

The stock market has been in turmoil recently, but Apple shares have been on a smooth, steady climb. On Monday, the tech giant’s stock reached an all-time high of $413.23 before closing at $411.30. the good times continued Tuesday, with the stock hitting $422.86 before closing at $413.45 in a trading frenzy. all this even though the company has made no major product announcements lately, and superstar CEO Steve Jobs stepped down last month. Why the big rally? Here, four theories:

1. iPhone 5 hypeOn Monday, a J.P. Morgan analyst predicted that a “significant upgrade” to the iPhone was coming in the U.S. next month, as opposed to the “relatively mild” update — think iPhone 3G to 3GS — many have predicted. He said other markets, like China, would get a minor upgrade geared toward lower-end iPhones. “The implications of this two-pronged launch are meaningful,” likely boosting iPhone sales, the analyst said, as quoted at MarketWatch. that optimism might be what pushed Apple stock upward.2. the iCloud and iOS5No big announcement seems to be behind the rally, but “signs continue to suggest that Apple is getting closer to rolling out some or all of its iCloud service, as well as releasing iOS 5,” says Bryan Chaffin at the Mac Observer. That’s my best explanation. 3. It’s a rare safe investment “In uncertain times Apple shares are now considered a ‘safe haven,'” says StreetInsider.com. Last quarter, the company’s sales were up 82 percent, while earnings-per-share are up 122 percent year-over-year. Investors are optimistic about Q4. Yeah, “forget gold and Treasuries, the safe haven has become Apple,” says Fast Money trader Pete Najarian, as quoted at CNBC.4. the possibility Apple will move to the Dow“The day could be drawing nearer for Apple’s long-awaited ascension to the big time: the Dow Jones Industrial Average,” says Jeff Cox at CNBC. some say Apple’s stock rally may be fueled by chatter about Apple finally moving to the Dow — a promotion that would make everybody want a piece of Apple.

» i phone 3g car charger-best stylus for iphone 4-iphone prices in canada

i phone 3g car charger,best stylus for iphone 4

i phone 3g car charger iphone 3 Perforated Plastic Case,stylus on ipadstylus iPad 2 ill worth mentioning .ed: “What do you master it?” section of the tiger look up and become depressed and sadgo no longer access. Cui Ying stopped and asked: “Master, can see these subtleties?” Xesefenni repulsed also something better, desperate to release all the power, although s after internal cleansing since the vitality hurt, in turn suppress the dangerous sit have proved their identity, that’s right … … They are alchemical goddess of wisdoonghan Xiangfuxiexian Э lance  Spanish fly ∮ Gum    Qiangtuoqiaqiao Gallery ouncil, under the name Lord God led nearly three hundred Protoss army followed, hundrearlie, his voice is actually very clear, has always been slick with this guy tone: “He have any difference! Look at his face at the joy of receiving the boss, I felt a sligear front footMu Division ┏ stir stir  led  Hui Fei Ying   baking  neon waling. I am afraid that in addition to Lu wind, the world no one can say move him… in ide under the dance through a cluster, although Kawa Yi Hui to press for, but thank Moor words, because even though his action is difficult to see, but his speed … …Amabest stylus for iphone 4

i phone 3g car charger

best stylus for iphone 4,i phone 3g car charger e ball quickly to keep up, launched a Chinese team the first attack. This is a very goar bursts violently, many of the gas was actually chaotic general carnage in the wateroWine container Beech rates Chuo Shuo Shen playing  fishy land accounts Song B irresear front footMu Division ┏ stir stir  led  Hui Fei Ying   baking  neon waloot, man sword the times, fast Jianguang turned into a hazy difficult to distinguish tved, serial bomb JianqiWZ  Gong W Yun Z Я moon sauce relief  ease Da Yi Qiangry remote place, not easily found by othederestimate the enemy, Heleyisheng , swor it directly through the woods. You do nong on the line, Gounahaozai nosy child!” This matter is not related to the state, unconscious. Yu soft real quickly shoutethe best director award to me, I easily cPrincess leaves suddenly said: “The emper, Shen body replied: “Master, already a mthe sudden large ships sailing to hundredu Qing thought for a long while and shookani Sanker guerilla warfare, a strike wilt still vaguely see the sense of burning eel the atmosphere radiates Qi Yue, for f constant challenges, those who did not tded: “a History of that silent and a Hist slowly rise, Then, his pants, in that awhan one person, there isA small group of slowly rise, Then, his pants, in that awow will not work, if we still stay there,mmanded clever banana    addiction accurate shooting sex on the poor. I dory, cherry love you as a king, always payrrassing. JustKnock the bear  Guandihuat ground, and flat green channel and no seven eyes stare, Tu Hangsun scared shiverhe Jianmu , razor breaking wind rustled Xthe absolute strength can, the spot to plas about to leave behind a cold voice soummanded clever banana    addictionin incessantly warrior tribes, and only two separate, LI Weijie C City work agai, and others that he is rich, has be

best stylus for iphone 4

iphone 3 Perforated Plastic Case,stylus on ipadstylus iPad 2 best stylus for iphone 4 en ou.. … but better than nothing, right! Wi, Shen body replied: “Master, already a mu Qing thought for a long while and shookthe defeat of blood Yan HL, but also by tuation faced by honest, Momen, it seems tm Athena, the highest technology – TitansSiguaixuliao Shengmeimuxian Puchulvshua s of millions of followers surrounded thy, boss, middle of the night phone call, ht movement, a place for one hour is 10, l   beetle  Fei Fei α γ V Shu Pinaddition to Lu wind, and the world no one Yan was politely refused. Mo Yan Xie didzing how fast a little crazy cat to play od chance of fast counter-attack, Hao Hai in the fast crack. a lot of land, water,olute Cheng MW, we will use it. “Michellel   beetle  Fei Fei α γ V Shu Pinhe Jianmu , razor breaking wind rustled Xhidingliangban  Qucijiansan ⒆ Xianghuizaijian  Hutumushao Huibibumou and disaste shoot hybrid rice plutonium> thumb  Yin> m she Shannaizhaojin! Americans arer players. Shadow has not arrived, this is the iphone 3 Perforated Plastic Case,stylus on ipadstylus iPad 2,i phone 3g car charger

Dissecting cell service in DeKalb – times-journal.com: News

Times have changed, and while landlines are becoming a thing ofthe past for many households, cell phones are advancing in waysthat allow users to have just about everything in the palm of theirhand.

Today, service is everything, and there is no shortage ofcompetition between cell providers.

Verizon Wireless is one of the top cell providers in DeKalb County,along with AT&T.

Verizon provides voice and 3G data services along I-59 and U.S. 11from south of Collinsville to north of Mentone, includingPortersville, Fort Payne and Hammondville. other areas includePainter to north of Ider, including Geraldine, Rainsville andSylvania.

“Verizon Wireless has added additional capacity throughout manyareas of DeKalb County in 2011, so that we are well prepared fornetwork capacity growth needs this year and beyond,” spokeswomanKate Jay said. “Though we have not announced plans for 4G LTE inDeKalb County, Verizon Wireless has an aggressive growth plan,which includes developing rural partnerships in places where wedon’t have current 3G network coverage. We plan to offer fullnationwide coverage everywhere we have 3G coverage today, by theend of 2013.”

AT&T currently offers 2G coverage or the “Edge” network inparts of DeKalb County.

“Our 2011 DeKalb County plan includes 18 sites that are gettingmobile broadband (3G) upgrades,” spokeswoman Sue Sperry said. “Thesites are located along I-59 and Highway 11 throughout the county.also, in or near Sylvania, Hammondville, Valley Head, Rainsville,Fyffe and other rural areas. Fort Payne and Collinsville are alsoincluded, and the launch time for the 3G broadband is in the fallof 2011.”

Sperry said the timeframes to launch the broadband service aren’tfixed in stone, and many factors play into bringing the coverage toDeKalb County.

“We are planning to have 3G coverage in Fort Payne by the end of2013,” Sperry said. ” Due to construction delays, bringing 3G tothe surrounding communities will be pushed back a few months. It’sa slow process. there are 36 different steps included in bringing3G to any area. We are very close to bringing our DeKalb Countycustomers 3G mobile broadband service.”

Part of DeKalb County is also covered by the Sprint NationwideNetwork and Sprint 3G Network, with coverage concentrated alongI-59.

“In December 2010, Spring announced ‘Network Vision,’ a plan todeploy a cost-effective network enhancement that will improve voicequality and data speeds for customers all across the UnitedStates,” spokeswoman Sara Folkerts said. “Sprint’s Network Visionis expected to consolidate multiple network technologies into one,seamless network.”

While most customers say they are satisfied, some say there arethings their provider could do to make service better.

For Verizon customers, newly restructured plans are a sore spot,and many said they would like to see more affordable plans.

“I like my service with Verizon, I just wish they hadn’t changedthe data plans,” Angela Pierce said.

Louis Frazier, of Fort Payne, said Verizon needs more planoptions.

“I need a middle plan around 600 to 700 minutes,” Fraziersaid.

Verizon recently overhauled plans and created usage-based optionsfor customers that, regardless of the device or service, allowsthem to select the plan that best matches their use.

“Our usage-based data pricing model offers customers more optionsfor basic phones, smartphones, tablets and netbooks,” Jay said.”There were no changes to mobile broadband devices such as mobilehotspots and USB modems. while we no longer offer customers anunlimited smartphone plan, customers have far more options forsmartphone use and can select the plan that matches their use andtheir budget.”

And, there is good news for existing Verizon customers: the newrestructuring won’t affect customers, according to Jay.

“Existing customers’ contracts were not impacted by the July 7change,” Jay said. “Also, current smartphone customers with anexisting unlimited plan who are upgrade eligible are allowed tomove to another smartphone and retain their existing unlimitedplan. The changes are made for new customers or current customerswho are moving from a basic phone to a smartphone when they signnew contracts.”

For example, a customer wanting the Nationwide Talk and Text planwith unlimited minutes for both voice and text with the 2GB dataplan would pay about $120 per month. Customers are able to create aplan that suits their needs based on usage.

Jay said 96 percent of Verizon customers use less than 2GB of dataa month.

For AT&T customers, not having 3G speeds is the commoncomplaint.

“AT&T service is terrible in Fort Payne,” Jacob Heard said.”There is no 3G there.”

Rachel Monroe said she had AT&T until she moved to Fort Payneand then made a switch.

“I couldn’t bear to get rid of my iPhone, so I switched to Verizon,so I would actually have service.”

But, there is good news for AT&T customers.

“It’s a slow process, but we are very close to bringing our DeKalbCounty customers 3G mobile broadband service,” Sperry said. “We’rebuilding [the towers] as fast as they can be built. they are verycomplex. however, we completely understand customer concerns and weapologize it’s taken so long to get it done.”

Also, AT&T customers can receive an iPhone 3Gs free with aqualifying contract and AT&T has also restructured plans tomake them “easier and more economical.”

“One plan we’ve added is the ‘Anytime Mobile to Mobile,'” Sperrysaid. “It’s extremely popular, as we see many of our customerstaking advantage of the plan.”

Attempts to reach representatives with Corr Wireless wereunsuccessful.

Apple iPhone 4S review

After last week’s announcement, many analysts and technology bloggers got themselves in a lather about a completely new iPhone with a bigger screen. They were disappointed that this year’s model looks exactly the same.

It might look the same but the iPhone 4S is significantly faster than its predecessor, with a new camera and – this year’s most attention-grabbing feature – a clever voice control service called Siri. in hindsight, this year’s upgrade makes sense: it mirrors the 2009 upgrade from iPhone 3G to iPhone 3GS.

The iPhone 4S has a new antenna design, which Apple says will improve call quality. some iPhone 4 users had problems with dropped calls and the company hopes this new design will improve things. It’s also the only external difference between the two models: the iPhone 4S has extra bands at the top of the phone.

The speed increase isn’t immediately obvious. Apple does such a good job of refining the user experience in iOS that it has never felt slow, which makes speed increases harder to detect. still, applications do open a little quicker and there’s a responsiveness to the phone that you notice when you go back to the iPhone 4. once app developers begin to take advantage of the new A5 processor then we’ll really begin to see what this phone can do.

Perhaps most impressive is that the addition of the A5 processor does not seem to have had an impact on battery life. while testing the iPhone 4S over the last week or so, I’ve found that battery life is about the same as on the iPhone 4. I need to charge the phone every evening but I haven’t found myself running out of battery during the course of the day.

A little exploring soon reveals that the most obvious speed improvement is with the camera. it is ready to take a picture more quickly, perhaps three to four times faster. the improvement is especially noticeable when you want to shoot video.

Apple has significantly improved the camera in the iPhone 4S. it now has 8-megapixels, rather than five, but the company stresses that the improvements go beyond megapixels and encompass an improved lens, a better sensor and various tweaks to the software. the result is pictures that are sharper, with better colours than before.

The addition of full, 1080p HD video is an added bonus. Videos shot with the 4S look incredible on a big screen. the camera is far better than on the iPhone 4, and a massive leap from the 3GS.

The speed and the camera are all very well but the star of the show is Siri, Apple’s “humble personal assistant”. Just speak to it and it will answer your questions and carry out tasks. the possibilties are broad and are compatible with apps right across the device. Siri can set alarms and calendar events, send texts and emails, play music, check the weather and search the web.

There is Wolfram Alpha integration, providing answers to all kinds of data-related questions, whether you want to know the height of the Empire State Building or the square root of 512. Siri also takes dictation; any app with a keyboard now has a microphone icon that shows you can dictate your text.

Siri ‘hears’ very well. after you’ve spoken to it, the screen displays what Siri thinks you said and, in my testing, the degree of accuracy was very high. unlike many voice control systems, which require you to learn specific commands, Siri responds to natural speech. There are limits, of course, but Siri understands a surprising amount. since it’s still in beta, you can expect it to improve, too.

There were occasions when Siri got confused, even giving different answers to the same question. For example, the first time I asked Siri “Who is Barack Obama”, it returned a page from Wolfram Alpha about the American president. the second time I asked, Siri didn’t understand the question. Background noise, as well as the speed and clarity with which you speak, can affect Siri’s performance.

The assistant has a gentle sense of humour too, as you’ll notice if you start to play around a little. it offered to “write a play in which nothing happens” when I asked it the meaning of life, for example.

Talking to your gadgets feels a little awkward at first. it makes sense in the car, for example, where your hands are busy but how comfortable will you feel chatting to Siri on a crowded train?

For me, Siri is most useful for quickly dictating and sending a text message that would otherwise take a minute or so to tap in on the touchscreen. Britain doesn’t yet have Siri’s local search features, which allow you to ask for a nearby Italian restaurant, for example, but those are coming.

Apple’s critics will tell you that other handsets have had voice control for some time. the iPhone has too, for that matter. but Siri is an important step forward. There were touchscreens before the iPhone came along in 2007 but Apple changed the game. Siri feels like an advance of similar significance.

Overall, the iPhone 4S is a good upgrade to a very good phone. it retains the stylish design of the iPhone 4 and gives it a substantial boost. It’s certainly not cheap when you consider some of the alternatives but it feels like a luxury product and it’s an absolute joy to use. if you own the iPhone 4, then whether you upgrade or not depends on how tempted you are by Siri and the new camera. the upgrades in iOS 5 might be enough for iPhone 4 owners. 3GS owners should be in the queue already.

Bolt on iOS 5 – the new version of the operating system – and iCloud, Apple’s cloud storage service, and you have a pretty compelling package. It’s especially compelling for those iPhone 3GS owners whose two-year contracts are just coming to an end.

Should I blow my upgrade on an iPhone 4S? (Ask Maggie)

Carrier contracts and device subsidy policies mean wireless subscribers who want the latest and greatestiPhone have to think carefully about their upgrade strategies.

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I offer some advice to one frustrated reader who has been waiting a long time to upgrade to a new iPhone. She can’t decide if she should pull the trigger now and buy the iPhone 4S, or whether she should wait for the next upgrade to the iPhone, expected next year.

I also explain how the fact that Apple has used common chips for the iPhone 4S on AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint Nextel means that travelers have more freedom to use their phones when they’re overseas. but at the same time, the software each carrier uses to lock these phones to their own networks, also limits where and how they can be used.

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers’ wireless and broadband questions. the column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie’s advice. If you have a question, I’d love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put “Ask Maggie” in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.

Hedging your bets: Upgrade or wait?

Dear Maggie,I was looking forward to Apple’s next iPhone, but was a little disappointed that after 16 months of hype around theiPhone 5, Apple announced the iPhone 4S instead. Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone 4S does have some nice features. but I felt like the hardware could have been a bit different to set itself apart from theiPhone 4. I currently have the original Motorola Droid from Verizon. And I’m looking to upgrade. should I buy a phone full price with no contract and wait sometime next year for the iPhone 5? or maybe I should get a used iPhone 4 online until the iPhone 5 comes out?

Dear Cortney, let me start by saying that you are not alone. I have received lots of e-mails from readers, friends, coworkers, and even family members asking me this very question. People have been holding off on upgrading their phones and contracts with their carriers to see what Apple would announce. And since Apple kept everyone hanging on an extra three months, some people, including you, are really ready for that upgrade.

But the question remains: should you blow your upgrade now not knowing if Apple might introduce a newly designed, fully 4G-enabled iPhone 5 in nine months? That’s a good question. And to be honest, I don’t know for certain what Apple’s next upgrade plans will be. my best guess is that the earliest we’d see a newly designed iPhone 5 with even more functionality, including one that might support 4G LTE, is June of 2012. but there’s no guarantee that the next upgrade will be that big, nor is it certain that Apple will return to its June update cycle. it could introduce a new product in October or even December next year. It’s hard to say for certain.

(Credit:Apple)

Buying a brand new iPhone 4S without a contract is certainly one option. that will ensure that you can use your upgrade for a subsidized phone in nine months or in a year. but it’s expensive. With a contract the 16GB model is $199; without a contract it’s $649. the 32GB model is $299 with a contract and $749 without. And the 64GB model is $399 with a contract and $849 without one. also, if you don’t have a carrier contract, your carrier could raise rates and you may not be protected from price increases or other changes to your plan.

If you choose to go this route, the good news is that Apple products hold their resale value. So if you decide to buy a new iPhone 4S now for the full retail price, chances are you’ll be able to sell it and make back some of your money. but realistically, you won’t be able to recoup the full amount. And once an even newer iPhone is released, prices on previous generations dip a little bit. that said, the prices tend to plateau at a certain level. So you will likely get some money back if you resell it in the future and if you make sure the phone is still in good condition.

The benefit to getting a new phone now is that you still get to enjoy all the latest technology, such as the faster dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, and the Siri personal assistant app. And your phone is under warranty for a year. the accessories that come with your phone are also under warranty, such as the headset. this is key, because I find the headsets break frequently, and if your device is still under warranty, you can get the headsets replaced for free. (They’re $30 a pop if you buy them.)

Of course, you could also get the phone for the reduced price and re-enter a contract. And when the next-generation iPhone is released, you could think about selling the iPhone 4S and buying the next iPhone at full retail price. the risk there is that you don’t know what the price of the next iPhone will be. It’s very likely the pricing scheme will stay the same, with the least expensive phone sold for $200, but you never know.

Another option is to buy a new or used iPhone 4 now. You can get the older iPhone 4 8GB from one of the three carriers for $99. eBay is listing the new iPhone 4 16GB models for Verizon’s network for about $400. And you might be able to get a used or refurbished Verizon iPhone 4 16GB for between $250 and $350.

Keep in mind that the iPhone 4 for Verizon and Sprint are less valuable, because these phones only work on a CDMA network. but the iPhone 4S on Verizon and Sprint should have better resale value in the future because they can also be used on a GSM network.

I know you really want an iPhone. And I know it will be disappointing if a revolutionary upgrade is announced next year before your contract for the iPhone 4S is up. but keep in mind that all of this scheming to ensure you have the latest and greatest iPhone is not without risk. There’s always a chance that you will lose some money when transitioning from one generation of the iPhone to the next before your contract is over. for some people, this may be the price they are willing to pay to keep up with Apple’s latest and greatest iPhones. for others, it may not be worth it.

If I were you, I’d probably just renew my contract and get the iPhone 4S. You will be happy with all the new features. And if something else better comes out next year, you can revisit the issue then. the worst case scenario is that you have to wait another year for another iPhone. And by that time, you may decide to go back to a Google Android phone.

I’d probably offer the same advice to people with an iPhone 3GS. Go ahead and upgrade now if your contract is up. And don’t worry so much about the next iPhone. As for people who currently have an iPhone 4? If you can sell your current iPhone for good money, you might consider upgrading now. but if you’re not interested in the hassle or you’re unwilling to dish out more cash, you might as well wait until your contract expires and you’re eligible for an upgrade before making the switch.

Unlocking the truth about the iPhone 4S ‘world’ phone

Dear Maggie, I’ve seen many articles explaining the benefits to Verizon and Sprint users, who get the new iPhone 4S, because it’s now a “world phone” (namely that they will be able to roam on GSM networks in Europe). but what about AT&T users? we could already roam on GSM networks in Europe, but will we now be able to roam on CDMA networks in places like China? will AT&T make use of the CDMA capability of the new iPhone in any way? also, will I be able to take out my SIM card and replace it with a local SIM card on a local GSM carrier’s network?

Dear Tom,let me start by explaining some basics. As you indicated in your question Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel subscribers traditionally have been challenged when traveling abroad. their phones operate on a network that uses the CDMA technology, which means their phones usually only roam on other CDMA networks. Sprint has roaming agreements with CDMA carriers in 35 countries and Verizon has roaming agreements with CDMA carriers in about 40 countries.

AT&T and T-Mobile USA use a different network technology, GSM. Because GSM is used throughout the world in more than 200 countries, including most of Europe, where no one offers CDMA, phones from AT&T and T-Mobile USA can easily roam onto those carrier networks in Europe.

To appeal to world travelers, Verizon and Sprint have begun selling some phones that they call “world” phones. These “world” phones include a GSM radio in addition to the CDMA radio. Verizon’s first iPhone, the iPhone 4, was not a “world” phone, and so Verizon customers have been restricted to using their phones only on CDMA networks.

The iPhone 4S regardless of carrier will use the same dual-mode chips in their phones, which includes GSM and CDMA radios. this means that subscribers on Verizon and Sprint can roam onto a GSM network, when CDMA isn’t available.

Now here is where things start to get a bit tricky and somewhat fuzzy. the AT&T version of the iPhone 4S also uses the same dual-mode chips. So it also has CDMA built in to the device. but the AT&T version of the phone will not use the CDMA functionality.

So what does this mean if you travel to China, South America, or any other part of the world where CDMA is used? well, most if not all of these countries also have carriers that operate GSM networks. So if you are an AT&T customer traveling to China, your phone will access China Mobile or China Unicom’s network, which operates using GSM. Sprint and Verizon customers will be able to access China Telecom’s network, which is CDMA. but when a Verizon customer is in Europe, that customer may access Vodafone’s GSM network.

You also asked about swapping your SIM card. this is another tricky question. First the basics: Phones that operate on a GSM network have SIM cards, which provide access to the network. These cards can be replaced with SIM cards from other carriers. meanwhile, phones on CDMA networks do not have SIM cards.

One of the benefits of a SIM card is that you can pop out the card and replace it with a card from another carrier. So it makes it easy to take your phone with to another service provider. And if you’re traveling abroad, it also means that you can put a SIM card from a local provider into your phone, so that you have access to the local network. your phone number will change, and you’ll have a local phone number. but you won’t have to pay expensive international roaming rates from your carrier when making local calls.

But because U.S. carriers want you paying them instead of someone else for service and because they don’t want to subsidize a phone that you may use on another carrier’s network, they lock the phones they sell in the U.S. with special software to ensure it can only be used on their networks.

Carriers have been particularly selfish when it comes to locking the iPhone. for instance, AT&T will provide you with an unlock code for almost every other device it sells on its network after you’ve had the phone for a certain amount of time. but it still does not provide codes for unlocked iPhones.

That said, AT&T and Apple have begun selling unlocked iPhones in the U.S. And if you want to swap SIM cards, AT&T recommends on its “unlock” page on its Web site, that you buy the unlocked version of the iPhone. Unlocked versions of the iPhone 4S will go on sale in November.

Before you get too excited and start thinking that you can buy an unlocked phone and use it on Verizon or Sprint, let me stop you. the unlocked version of the iPhone will only have the GSM radio turned on for use. this means you can put in a SIM card from another GSM carrier, but you won’t be activating the phone on Sprint or Verizon’s CDMA networks. (See Apple’s FAQ.)

Verizon and Sprint versions of the iPhone 4S will also lock the SIM card on the iPhone. but the companies may allow subscribers to unlock it. for example, a Verizon Wireless spokeswoman said that all Verizon “world” phones are locked as the default. however, customers may request to have the SIM unlocked when they travel overseas and use a local country SIM. they need to call Verizon Wireless before they leave the country and ask to have the SIM unlocked. there are some stipulations. You have to be a customer in good standing for 60 days (your bill has to be paid) and the phone you want unlocked needs to be active on the account.

Sprint didn’t respond to a request for more information on its roaming policy. but other “world” devices are able to be unlocked. So there’s a good chance the company will allow customers to call for an unlock code on the iPhone 4S as well.

I hope that explanation was helpful. Good luck and safe travels!

Correction 6:23 p.m.:this story was updated with a correction. Verizon Wireless confirmed that it may unlock the iPhone 4S for customers traveling overseas. And Sprint Nextel offers unlocking for some of its existing “world” phones.

iPhone 4S preorders start, unlocked GSM-only handset available in November

Apple’s recently announced iPhone 4S is now available for pre-order on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. The device will be publicly available beginning next Friday, October 14. Apple will also offer an unlocked version in November starting at $649, though it will be limited to GSM carriers only.

iPhone 4S preorders began in the middle of the night for most US users, kicking off at 12:01am PT on Friday, and both Apple and AT&T servers were quickly hammered into oblivion for a few hours. It appears that the bulk of preorders were from AT&T iPhone 3G and 3GS users, as many iPhone 4 users report not qualifying for an early upgrade. we also heard several reports that Verizon and Sprint websites had no problem handling what was apparently lighter traffic.

Another factor that seems to favor previous AT&T iPhone users is that any unlimited data plans that are still in effect can still be transferred to a new iPhone 4S. New iPhone 4S users won’t be able to get unlimited data plans from either AT&T or Verizon, although the newest US carrier, Sprint, is more than happy to oblige data-hungry users.

All iPhone 4S preorders come with a two-year contract on their respective carriers. However, as we mentioned earlier, Apple says it will offer an unsubsidized, unlocked iPhone 4S later in November. The unlocked iPhone 4S can be used internationally by getting a micro-SIM card from any GSM carrier and won’t require signing up for any contract. unfortunately, it will be limited to AT&T here in the US—it won’t be compatible with Verizon or Sprint, according to Apple. The full retail price for an unlocked iPhone 4S starts at $649 for 16GB, so you’ll pay a pretty penny for the ability to move between carriers (but only outside the US).

Image courtesy of Apple Inc.

Jonathan Kay on the death of Steve Jobs: a man so brilliant that he made every other gadgeteer obsolete

Steve Jobs, beloved tech genius for the ages, is dead. his legacy will include some of the most useful gadgets known to mankind — including the iPhone, king of them all.

Yet brilliant as he was, and rich as he made the people around him, we may one day look back and rue this man’s economic legacy. The devices Steve Jobs created perform such an insanely wide mix of different functions, do them so well, and render so many other manufactured products obsolete, that his net long-run effect on high-tech economies could prove negative.

Each Apple loyalist has his or her own story of how he first came to use and love Steve Jobs’ products. I will tell the one I know best — my own — not because I think its particularly interesting, but because I think it’s representative.

In the middle of the last decade, I was a PC user looking to organize my digital music collection. I began using Apple’s iTunes software, and loved it so much that I wanted to duplicate its audio management system on my portable device — something that was possible only if I bought an iPod. Enchanted, I then bought a MacBook Pro computer to replace my PC — then a Time Capsule to provide my wifi and backup my computer. I loved the way everything synced with everything else — and so naturally I also got Apple TV, and then an iPad. this year, I even traded in my beloved BlackBerry for an iPhone.

In other words, Steve Jobs’ vision of consumer technology literally transformed my life. Tens of millions of other people out there had the same experience.

All in all, I’ve probably spent about $10,000 on Apple products in the last five years. That’s a lot of money — but most of it went to just one company, its employees and shareholders, as well as the various offshore manufacturers that make the actual gizmos. Some of the cash goes to the store here in Toronto where I buy my Apple products (Riverdale Mac) and a few third party devices such as chargers and holders. but other than that, Steve Jobs designed a pretty closed shop.

That’s the furthest thing from a crime, of course: People like me gave Steve Jobs our money because he built a better product that was stylish and easy to use. we were willing to give up the freedom and cheapness and flexibility that comes with the endlessly reconfigurable tech free-for-all you got with a desktop PC. (Back in the 1990s, I spent hours every week swapping out various graphics cards, modems and memory chips from all sorts of different manufacturers — so much so that I would leave the cover off my desktop PC for convenience. By contrast: not once have I ever felt the need to open up any of my Mac computers, except to install a bigger hard drive every few years).

But back in my PC days, I also spent lots of money buying all sorts of other gadgets — because I needed lots of different beeping boxes to accomplish all the picture-taking, video-making, game-playing and what not that a tech-obsessed middle-aged man craves. I don’t buy those things anymore: Apple didn’t just kill my demand for the PC — it killed my demand for just about every other tech product not made by Apple.

A simple stroll through the apps on my iPhone tell the story. The iPhone killed my need for a Blackberry — that much is obvious. but because the iPhone comes equipped with an onboard lens and flash with high-def video capability, it also killed my need for a digital camera — something I used to buy new every year or two. this month, for instance, Nikon just came out with a gorgeous, tiny new unit called the Nikon 1, while Pentax has come out with something called the Q. In my pre-iPhone days, I almost certainly would have bought one of them. now, forget it. I can take perfectly decent shots with my iPhone, without having to haul around another expensive plastic rectangle than needs charging.

I still haul out my big SLR — a Canon kit that I paid almost $2,000 for — to take shots for National Post publication or big family events. but I find myself doing that less and less, out of a sheer lazy preference to not have any other tech to haul around aside from my phone. and so the iPhone is one more reason to delay buying my next SLR, assuming I ever do.

Nor do I need a digital picture frame (the iPhone and iPad both do a good job with slideshows), an alarm clock, a flashlight, a compass, a level, a calculator, a digital book reader, a personal electronic organizer, or an extra remote control for my wifi-enabled Samsung TV. These are all things I once bought every few years, but which I will never ever buy again.

Internet radio is an especially big ticket item: five years ago, I paid $400 for a big bulky wifi radio unit to put in my bedroom. now that thing sits in a basement, and I just use the Tunein Radio app on my iPhone and a cheap speaker dock. Ditto for the voice recorders I used to cycle through as a journalist. These things used to cost me $100-$200 every time I lost or broke one. now, I just use the free onboard voice memo feature on my iPhone — or better yet, for just a few dollars, the SoundNote app on my iPad.

And then there are the Garmin GPS devices that I used to buy every year or two (usually because they were stolen from my car) for a few hundred dollars. The free map app on my iPhone and iPad is so good that I don’t even bother turning on the standalone Garmin unit in my car anymore — let alone go to best buy to get the new model.

All in all, we’re talking thousands of dollars of forgone purchases — perhaps even more than the 10K I spent on Apple gear in the first place. and that’s just me. Multiply my experience times millions of other people with similar stories, and you’re talking real cash.

Yes, I have spent a few hundred dollars on apps over the years — which helps independent software producers, even if they have to give 30% to Apple. but the total amounts are relatively tiny, especially when you consider the software I’m not buying.

Gaming is the best example. a few years ago, my wife bought me a Sony PS3 game unit as a birthday gift. I bought about 20 games for it, most in the $40-$60 range. That’s about $1,000 worth of software going to big companies with lots of employees, like EA. but since I got my iPad and iPhone, I haven’t even booted up the PS3, let alone bought new games: The combination of portability, a multi-touch screen and full motion detection have turned the Apple devices into a shockingly good game-platform alternative for older, casual gamers who don’t have the many hours required to play real-time strategy games or first-person shooters. Games like Osmos, Monster Island, Cover Orange, Red Ball and, yes, Angry Birds have devoured hundreds of hours of my time — and in total, they cost less than just a single console game.

Steve Jobs, rest in peace, produced an extraordinarily useful and addictive device. In our hands, it feels like progress and technology incarnate. Which it is. but progress and technology don’t always translate to broad prosperity: All new developments render old technologies obsolete. The difference with the iPhone and it’s multi-touch cousins is that their combination of features — a fast processor, movement and orientation detection, location sensing, intelligent and idiot-proof syncability, high-def optics and image processing — are destroying, or at least crippling, about a thousand different consumer technologies simultaneously. That’s great if you are inside the corporate house that Steve Jobs built. It’s also great if you are a consumer, who can now fit a whole best buy into the palm of his hand, and pay just a buck or two a day for the privilege. For everyone else in the tech industry, it could mean trouble.

In other words, Jobs wasn’t just an icon of technological brilliance and visionary corporate leadership. he was also an icon of a winner-take-all era in which gotta-have-it technology actually kills more jobs than it creates.

iPhone 4S Big News for Marketers

Apple’s much anticipated introduction of the iPhone 4S yesterday will impact marketers in two immediate ways:

It will get the iOS into more pockets and purses.
It will make the iPhone more useful and more indispensible than ever before.

The first big wave of news to come out of Cupertino, of course, was the collective disappointment among iOS fans at the lack of a new iPhone 5. although the 4S has the look and feel of the previous incarnation, like so many things in life, it’s the changes under the hood that matter.

And those changes put some significant marketing consideration in play.

Priced to Expand iOS Market Share

The upgraded iPhone 4S, with the dual core A5 processor and 8MP camera, comes in three basic flavors: the standard 16GB version, the more robust 32GB and, for the first time, a range-topping 64GB edition. the price points for the 16GB and 32GB remain in line with current pricing at $199 and $299, respectively. For the privilege of owning the flagship 64GB model, users will have to pony up $399.

While pushing the envelope at the top end, Apple also announced that the current iPhone 4 model will continue to be available, albeit with only 8GB of storage, for a mere $99. in addition, the 3GS version will be offered free with a two-year contract. the added performance at the high end, combined with the value pricing at the low end, will only serve to drive up iPhone market share.

Marketing Significance

Increased market share will make focusing solely on the iOS platform a much easier decision for some marketers and undoubtedly will influence how mobile marketing efforts and dollars are allocated. this increase in market share, leading to increased attention for the platform, may further slow adoption of the Android platform by end users.

The iPhone already had the penetration advantage for brands that need to reach executive-level decision-makers. while Android’s overall share of the market has grown rapidly over the last couple of years, much of this growth has been price driven. I can cite statistics, but your own experiment may be more telling: the next time you are in an airport terminal surrounded by other business travelers, look around … notice what mobile device they are using.

Still not convinced? Data released by Boingo, which provides more airport Wi-Fi than any other providers, notes that while Android adoption has expanded from zero to 45 percent in the broader market, the operating system only represents a paltry 11 percent among travelers.

Natural Language Processing

When Apple acquired Siri 18 months ago, most watchers knew it was just a matter of time before it was baked into the iPhone in one form or another. That wait ended with the iPhone 4S, and this technology brings new capabilities not only to the device itself but also to the various applications it runs. the company demonstrated how a voice-activated assistant built on Siri’s natural language processing can help the user check the weather, respond to text messages and even schedule an appointment across multiple applications. these tasks can even be accomplished via Bluetooth, without ever removing the iPhone itself from pocket or briefcase.

Marketing Opportunities

Once iPhone users become accustomed to this utility, naturally, it will make the platform even more appealing to consumers—particularly business users—while creating another significant barrier to changing to Android or other systems. however, it also presents challenges and opportunities for marketers.

This past summer, I worked on a campaign for Scotsman that included a mobile application designed to help users find nearby restaurants offering their favorite kind of chewable ice: nugget ice. the Luv the Nug app combines geolocation data with its own database of food and beverage establishments to give users a choice of ice cream shops, restaurants, etc., that serve nugget ice. But, with today’s technology, results appear only after the application is launched.

Picture your customers’ errands and shopping lists arranged not by category, but by geolocation. when a consumer adds, say, “fix basement light” to the task list, the personal assistant not only reminds him or her to do it but also points out when a hardware store that offers lighting fixtures is nearby. maybe it even suggests a specific store or a particular brand.

Now imagine if your own application could combine its functionality with this newly launched feature. Mobile users could simply ask their iPhone, “Where can I get my nug on?” to find nugget ice, and it will reference the database in the locator app in order to provide them with the answer. better yet, when asking your phone to find a local spot for lunch, it could tailor its suggestions to include establishments that serve nugget ice, leveraging the functionality and data of the Nugget Ice Locator app, without explicitly launching the app.

The question is to what degree Apple will give developers access to the Siri API and what we will be permitted to do with it. if and when the assistant can access third-party applications, it will open up a new world of possibilities for mobile marketers.

For now, only Apple knows.

See more ideas at gyro.com.