FCC Approves iPhone
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Alfredo Padilla Published on May 17, 2007 Comment on this |
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Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Apple's eagerly awaited iPhone for use in the United States. FCC approval is required for cellular devices to be sold in the United States. The iPhone is expected to be available for purchase late in June. Apple requested 45 days of confidentiality for several documents submitted to the FCC, including the user manual and photographs of the device. Such requests for confidentiality are fairly common to protect trade secrets.The iPhone has garnered much interest since it was introduced by Steve Jobs (Apple CEO) at the Macworld event on January 9th of this year. The iPhone is Apple's first attempt at gaining entry into the cell phone market. It introduces new technologies such as "multi-touch", which allow users to use multiple fingers on the touch screen to manipulate the interface.
Apple had been developing the iPhone for over two years at the time of its announcement. The traditionally secretive company succeeded in keeping details of the product out of public view, although rumors that it was working on such a device have been circulating for years. The iPhone will compete with other high end smart phones such as Palm's Treo phones and Nokia's N-Series devices.
The iPhone will be carried exclusively by AT&T (formerly Cingular) in the United States. It will be sold in two versions, a 4GB model that will retail for $499 and an 8GB model at $599. The agreement that Apple made with Cingular has been the source of much speculation. In a market that is traditionally dominated by carriers some have speculated that Apple will receive concessions such as a share of carrier subscription income for customers that purchase the iPhone. Unlike most phones sold by carriers the iPhone will not be sold at a discount to customers. Reports have surfaces that Verizon Wireless was initially offered the opportunity to carry the iPhone but refused due to the concessions that Apple was requesting.
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