AIS & 3G iPhone Soon?

Uncle Walt Mossberg told us recently – and later denied – that you can expect Apple’s next-generation 3G iPhone by mid-’08. Now why doesn’t that make you suspicious – because The Nation reported that Thailand’s AIS will debut a third-generation 3G service in Chiang Mai on May 6th, followed by Bangkok on June 15th.

As we heard in January, AIS (owned by Singapore’s SingTel) was already in negotiations to carry the iPhone exclusively in Thailand. But as we all know as well, the iPhone has long arrived in Thailand. Looks to me like legit imports honored with warranty and customer care are about to arrive as well.

AIS though is rather mum on the issue: They will offer three 3G-compatible phones at the beginning: Nokia’s 6121 and PhoneOne’s 500 and 602 models to enjoy download speeds of up to 7,000 kbps. Awesome!

But: As you’ll need a new 3G-enabled SIM card (yes you can keep your old GSM-phone number and roaming will still be possible), AIS will try to make sure that with those new SIM cards you buy one of those AIS-authorized 3G phones. Later on, AIS says, you’ll be able to buy any 3G phone.

Looks like a whole new set of challenges for the unlock-hackers out there!

Good news though: I read it as a clear sign that the launch of AIS’ next-generation network “coincides” with the not-too-faraway, official arrival of the iPhone. AIS is gearing up for it, it’s as simple as that.

Responds Todd, the iPhreak: I would love a 3G iPhone in two months but I think it is too optimistic. I have been following Apple product releases for a few years now and from past experiences and info gleamed from the rumor sites, my gut says an iPhone refresh w/3G in time for the Christmas buying season.

I haven’t been following the AIS 3G rumor at all. The only info is mostly from you. If two months is the date then that would be awesome. I sure could use it right now typing from the middle of nowhere on my way to Chiang Mai. But I like to multiply any time estimate with the TIT FACTOR of 3 = 6 months.

Can’t wait to see how the story evolves. My conclusions though:

1. Apple will announce the 3G in a couple months (WWDC 08, June 9-13 in SF,
USA) but they will delay the release of the 3G until later. Apple will
repeat what they did with the initial release of the iPhone and therefore
keeping the FCC from stealing the new iPhone announcement thunder. The FCC
in America has to give the iPhone its OK. Apple will want to officially
announce the iPhone way before the FCC does their official signoff.

2. The release will be perfectly timed with the Christmas buying season, so late Oct. or early Nov.

3. The iPhone will not be officially released in Thailand for a while. Why?
Because the new firmware upgrade does not include Thai language in the
upgrade. The closest it will come will be Korea. Maybe they will include in
in a future build (2.0 is still beta and has a long way to go) When we see
Thai language in the firmware then we will know an official release is
imminent. Check out the new languages added to the 2.0 beta firmware here.

4. Is there really going to be a decent 3G network coming soon to Thailand?

I’ve been hearing that for a long time and whatever happened to WiMax?

*** If you missed absolutely’s story on the arrival of the first iPhones in Thailand, read our Bangkok iPhone Whispers.




Sphere: Related Content

Related posts on absolutelyBangkok.com:

  1. Top Thai iPhone Apps
  2. 3G’s Here, Why The Rush
  3. Corporate 3G Disobedience & True Hypocrisy

April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Gadgets & Technology 

Comments

3 Responses to “AIS & 3G iPhone Soon?”

  1. Jenny on April 10th, 2008 12.26 pm

    Thanks for the heads-up – just wanted to buy an iPhone at MBK. Let’s wait and see – there’s also a major firmware-upgrade on the way with OS 2.0?! Maybe really time to wait …

  2. BangkokDan on May 12th, 2008 2.13 pm

    See here? SingTel, the parent company of AIS, will provide the iPhone to multiple countries. I may have been very right.

    BangkokDan

  3. iPhone AIS Ship Finder on January 3rd, 2010 8.17 pm

    Interesting but I thought you were talking about AIS … the system for finding ships. But a good article indeed!

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