Showing posts with label GSM History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GSM History. Show all posts
In addition to the manufacturers the community includes:
- Software integration companies such as Sasken, Elektrobit, Teleca, Digia, Mobica, Atelier.tm
- Semiconductor companies Texas Instruments, ST Microelectronics, Broadcom, SONY, Freescale, Samsung Electronics
- Operators such as Vodafone and Orange who develop and provide S60-based mobile applications and services
- Software developers and independent software vendors (ISVs).
The S60 software is a multivendor standard for smartphones that supports application development in Java MIDP, C++, Python[3] and Adobe Flash. Originally, the most distinguishing feature of S60 phones was that they allowed users to install new applications after purchase. Unlike a standard desktop platform, however, the built-in apps are rarely upgraded by the vendor beyond bug fixes. New features are only added to phones while they are being developed rather than after public release. Certain buttons are standardized, such as a menu key, a four way joystick or d-pad, left and right soft keys and a clear key.
S60 editions
In Series 60 1st Edition, the devices' display resolution was fixed to 176×208. Since 2nd Edition Feature Pack 3, Series 60 supports multiple resolutions, i.e. Basic (176×208), and Double (352×416). Nokia N90 was the first S60 device to support a higher resolution (352×416). Some devices, however, have non-standard resolutions, like the Siemens SX1, with 176×220. Nokia 5500 Sport has a 208×208 screen resolution, and the Nokia E90 with its wide 800×352 inner display.
- S60 3rd Edition
- (S60v3) uses a hardened version of Symbian OS (v9.1), which has mandatory code signing. In S60v3, a user may install only programs that have a certificate from a registered developer, unless the user disables that feature or modify the phone's firmware through third-party hacks that circumvent the mandatory signing restrictions. This makes software written for S60 1st Edition or 2nd Edition not binary-compatible with S60v3.
- S60 5th Edition
- In October 2008, S60 5th Edition was launched. (Nokia decided to move from 3rd Edition directly to 5th Edition "as a polite gesture to Asian customers",[4] because the number four means bad luck in some Asian cultures). S60 5th Edition runs on Symbian OS version 9.4.[5] The major feature of 5th Edition is support for high-resolution 640×360 touchscreens; before 5th Edition, all S60 devices had a button-based user interface. S60 5th Edition also integrates standard C/C++ APIs and includes Adobe Flash Lite 3.0 with S60-specific ActionScript extensions that give Flash Lite developers access to phone features like contacts, text messaging, sensors and device location information (GPS).
- The S60 5th Edition is the last edition of S60. Its assets along with Symbian OS, UIQ and MOAP(S) have been used as a base for Symbian, an open source operating system being developed by the Symbian Foundation. The first edition of Symbian, Symbian^1, uses S60 5th Edition on top of Symbian OS 9.4 as its base.
S60 versions and supported devices
Many devices are capable of running the S60 software platform with the Symbian OS. Devices ranging from the early Nokia 7650 running S60 v0.9 on Symbian OS v6.1,[6][7] to the latest Samsung i8910 Omnia HD running S60 v5.0 on Symbian OS v9.4.[8] In Symbian^3 the version of the revised platform is v5.2.The table lists devices carrying each version of S60 as well as the Symbian OS version it is based on.
Symbian is now progressing through a period of organisational change to metamorph into an open source software platform project. As an OS, Symbian OS originally did not provide a user interface (UI), the visual layer that sits on top of the operating system. This was implemented separately. Examples of Symbian UIs are MOAP; Series 60; Series 80; Series 90 and UIQ. This separation of UI from underlying OS has created both flexibility and some confusion in the market place. The Nokia purchase of Symbian was brokered with the involvement of the other UI developers and all major user interface layers have been (or have been pledged to be) donated to the open source foundation who will independently own the Symbian operating system. The new Symbian Foundation has announced its intention to unify different Symbian UIs into a single UI based on the S60 platform. (Announcements made in March 2009 indicated this would be the S60 5th edition with feature pack 1).
               Blackberry Pearl 9100 Quad Band GSM Phone with Tri-Band 3G Support, 3.2MP Camera, Hi-Resolution Display, GPS and Wi-Fi (Black) |
 BlackBerry Storm is one of the recent devices in BlackBerry line. This one is using features provided by Canada's Telus. | |
| Screen | 480 × 360 pixels (Curve 8900/Tour 9630/Bold 9650/Bold 9700/Bold 9780) 360 × 480 pixels (Storm 9500/Torch 9800 ) 480 × 320 pixels (Bold 9000) 360 × 400 pixels (Pearl 3G) 320 × 240 pixels (8300/8500/8700/8800/Curve 3G) 240 × 260 pixels (7100/8100 Series) 240 × 160 pixels (7200/7300 Series) |
|---|---|
| Default ringtone | Polyphonic, MP3, MIDI |
| Memory | 64 MB to 512 MB Reserved Application Memory, 4gb Media memory on Storm models, expandable up to 32gb with microSD |
| Networks | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 GPRS/EDGE/UMTS CDMA/1xEV-DO iDEN |
| Connectivity | microSD, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
| Physical size | 50 mm × 106.7 mm × 14.5 mm[1] |
| Weight | 87.9 g to 155 g dependent upon model |
BlackBerry functions as a personal digital assistant with address book, calendar, memopad and task list capabilities. It also functions as a portable media player with support for music and video playback and camera and video capabilities. BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive (push) Internet e-mail wherever mobile network service coverage is present, or through Wi-Fi connectivity. BlackBerry has the ability to use wireless data efficiently while using less power than other phones, three BlackBerrys use the same wireless spectrum as only one other smartphone. BlackBerry is a powerful messaging phone with a large array of messaging features in a smartphone today, including auto-text, auto-correct, text prediction, support for many languages, keyboard shortcuts, text emoticons, push email, push Facebook, Twitter and Myspace notifications, push Ebay notifications, push instant messaging with BlackBerry Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, AOL Instant Messanger and Yahoo Messenger; threaded text messaging and a customizable indicator light near the top right of all BlackBerry devices. All notifications and conversations from applications are shown in a unified messaging application which third party applications can access. BlackBerry's push gives BlackBerry devices a long battery life. All data on the phone is compressed through BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS).
BlackBerry commands a 14.8% share of worldwide smartphone sales, making it the fifth most popular device manufacturer after Nokia, Samsung, LG, and Apple.[3] The consumer BlackBerry Internet Service is available in 91 countries worldwide on over 500 mobile service operators using various mobile technologies.[4]
Modern GSM-based BlackBerry handhelds incorporate an ARM 7, 9 or ARM 11 processor,[5] while older BlackBerry 950 and 957 handhelds used Mudit 80386 processors. The latest GSM BlackBerry models (8100, 8300 and 8700 series) have an Intel PXA930 624 MHz processor, 256 MB (or 4 GB in case of the Torch 9800) flash memory and 265 MB SDRAM.[6] CDMA BlackBerry smartphones are based on Qualcomm MSM6x00 chipsets which also include the ARM 9-based processor and GSM 900/1800 roaming (as the case with the 8830 and 9500) and include up to 256MB flash memory.[7][8] The CDMA Bold 9650 is the first to have 512MB flash memory for applications. All currently manufactured BlackBerrys support up to 32GB microSD cards.
History
The first BlackBerry device, the 850, was introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager. In 2002, the more commonly known smartphone BlackBerry was released, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, Internet faxing, Web browsing and other wireless information services. It is an example of a convergent device. The original BlackBerry devices, the RIM 850 and 857, used the DataTac network.BlackBerry first made headway in the marketplace by concentrating on e-mail. RIM currently offers BlackBerry e-mail service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as the Palm Treo, through its BlackBerry Connect software.
The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays. All models except for the Storm Series had a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. The Storm 1 and Storm 2 include a SureType keypad for typing, and are the two models that are full touch-screen devices with no physical keyboard. Originally, system navigation was achieved with the use of a scroll wheel mounted on the right side of phones prior to the 8700. The trackwheel was replaced by the trackball with the introduction of the Pearl series which allowed for 4 way scrolling. The trackball was replaced by the optical trackpad with the introduction of the Curve 8500 series. Models manufactured for use with iDEN networks such as Nextel and Mike also incorporate a push-to-talk (PTT) feature, similar to a two-way radio.
Operating system
Third-party developers can write software using these APIs, and proprietary BlackBerry APIs as well. Any application that makes use of certain restricted functionality must be digitally signed so that it can be associated to a developer account at RIM. This signing procedure guarantees the authorship of an application but does not guarantee the quality or security of the code. RIM provides tools for developing applications and themes for BlackBerry. Applications and themes can be loaded onto BlackBerry devices through BlackBerry App World, Over The Air (OTA) through the BlackBerry mobile browser, or through BlackBerry Desktop Manager.
CPU
Early BlackBerry devices used Intel-80386-based processors.[9] BlackBerry 8000 series smartphones, such as the 8700 and the Pearl, are based on the 312 MHz ARM XScale ARMv5TE PXA900. An exception to this is the BlackBerry 8707 which is based on the 80 MHz Qualcomm 3250 chipset; this was due to the PXA900 chipset not supporting 3G networks. The 80 MHz processor in the BlackBerry 8707 meant the device was often slower to download and render web pages over 3G than the 8700 was over EDGE networks. In May 2008 RIM introduced the BlackBerry 9000 series which are equipped with XScale 624 MHz processors.[10] The BlackBerry Curve 8520 features a 512 MHz processor, while the Bold 9700 features a newer version of the Bold 9000's processor, but is clocked at the same speed.Connectivity
BlackBerry Enterprise Server
BlackBerry handhelds are integrated into an organization's e-mail system through a software package called BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). Versions of BES are available for Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise. Google has made a Connector for BES which makes BES available for Google Apps as well. While individual users may be able to use a wireless provider's e-mail services without having to install BES themselves, organizations with multiple users usually run BES on their own network. Some third-party companies provide hosted BES solutions. Every BlackBerry has an ID called a BlackBerry PIN, which is used to identify the device to the BES. BlackBerry now provides a free BES software called BES Express.[11]BES acts as an e-mail relay for corporate accounts so that users always have access to their e-mail. The software monitors the user's local Inbox, and when a new message comes in, it picks up the message and passes it to RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC). The messages are then relayed to the user's wireless provider, which in turn delivers them to the user's BlackBerry device.
This is called push e-mail, because all new e-mails, contacts, task entries, memopad entries, and calendar entries are pushed out to the BlackBerry device automatically and instantaneously (as opposed to the user synchronizing the data manually or having the device poll the server at intervals). BlackBerry also supports polling email, which is how it supports POP. Device storage also enables the mobile user to access all data off-line in areas without wireless service. When the user reconnects to wireless service, the BES sends the latest data.
An included feature in the newer models of the BlackBerry is the ability for it to quickly track your current location through trilateration without the use of GPS, thus saving battery life and time. Trilateration can be used as a quick, less battery intensive way to provide location-aware applications with the co-ordinates of the user. However, accuracy of BlackBerry trilateration is less than that of GPS due to a number of factors, including cell tower blockage by large buildings, mountains, or distance.
BES also provides handhelds with TCP/IP connectivity accessed through a component called "Mobile Data Service - Connection Service" (MDS-CS). This allows for custom application development using data streams on BlackBerry devices based on the Sun Microsystems Java ME platform.
In addition, BES provides network security, in the form of Triple DES[12] or, more recently, AES[13] encryption[14][15] of all data (both e-mail and MDS traffic) that travels between the BlackBerry handheld and a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
Most providers offer flat monthly pricing for unlimited data between BlackBerry units and BES. In addition to receiving e-mail, organizations can make intranets or custom internal applications with unmetered traffic.
With more recent versions of the BlackBerry platform, the MDS is no longer a requirement for wireless data access. Beginning with OS 3.8 or 4.0, BlackBerry handhelds can access the Internet (i.e. TCP/IP access) without an MDS - previously only e-mail and WAP access was possible without a BES/MDS. The BES/MDS is still required for secure e-mail, data access, and applications that require WAP from carriers that do not allow WAP access.
BlackBerry Internet Service
The primary alternative to using BlackBerry Enterprise Server is to use the BlackBerry Internet Service. BlackBerry Internet Service, or BIS is available in 91 countries internationally. BlackBerry Internet Service was developed primarily for the average consumer rather than for the business consumer. BlackBerry Internet Service allows POP3 and IMAP email integration for an individual personal user. BlackBerry Internet Service allows up to 10 email accounts to be accessed, including many popular email accounts such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo and AOL. BlackBerry Internet Service also allows for the function of the push capabilities in various other BlackBerry Applications. Various applications developed by RIM for BlackBerry utilize the push capabilities of BIS, such as the Instant Messaging clients, Google Talk, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. Social Networks Facebook, Myspace and Twitter's notification system is accessed through BIS, allowing for push notifications for them.Supported software
Further information: BlackBerry App World
BlackBerry Messenger
Newer BlackBerry devices use the proprietary BlackBerry Messenger, also known as BBM, software for sending and receiving instant messages via BlackBerry PINThird-party software
Third-party software available for use on BlackBerry devices includes full-featured database management systems, which can be used to support customer relationship management clients and other applications that must manage large volumes of potentially complex data.[16] Photo Editor Suite developed by a Pakistani IT firm Five Rivers based in Lahore has become the best selling paid-for application for the BlackBerry. According to BlackBerry, the Photo Editor Suite had hit the top spot across all sectors on BlackBerry's AppWorld store and made its way to the number one spot.[17]Nicknames
BlackBerry is widely referred to as "CrackBerry", which is a reference to crack cocaine. Use of the term CrackBerry became so widespread that in November 2006 Webster's New World College Dictionary named "crackberry" the "New Word of the Year."[18] A popular BlackBerry user forum is called crackberry.com.Models
Main article: List of BlackBerry products
- Early Pager Models: 850, 857, 950, 957
- Monochrome Java-based Models: 5000-series and 6000-series
- First Color Models: 7200-series, 7500-series and 7700-series
- First SureType Phone Models: 7100-series
- Modern BlackBerry Models (2006–2008): 8000-8830-series including: BlackBerry 8800, BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Pearl Flip and BlackBerry Curve 8300
- Latest BlackBerry Models (2008–2009): 8900+ GPS WiFi Series: BlackBerry Bold (9000), BlackBerry Curve 8900, BlackBerry Tour (9630), BlackBerry Storm (9500/9530), BlackBerry Curve 8520/8530
- BlackBerry Storm 2 (9520/9550) (2009): BlackBerry Storm2[19]
- BlackBerry Bold Series (2009): BlackBerry Bold 9700 or Onyx (9700)[20][21]
- BlackBerry Bold Series (2010): BlackBerry Bold 9650 (9650)
- BlackBerry Bold Series (2010): BlackBerry Bold 9780 (9780)
- BlackBerry Pearl Series (2010): BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9100/9105 (9100/9105)
- BlackBerry Torch Series (2010): BlackBerry Torch 9800
- BlackBerry Curve Series (2010): BlackBerry 9300
- BlackBerry Style 9670 (2010) Officially Announced[citation needed]
- BlackBerry Bold 9900 (2011) Possible[citation needed]
- BlackBerry Curve 8980 (2011) Possible[citation needed]
- BlackBerry Storm 3 (2011) Possible[citation needed]
Phones with BlackBerry e-mail client
Several non-BlackBerry mobile phones have been released featuring the BlackBerry e-mail client which connects to BlackBerry servers. Many of these phones have full QWERTY keyboards- AT&T Tilt
- HTC Advantage X7500
- HTC TyTN
- Motorola MPx220 (selected models only)
- Nokia 6810
- Nokia 6820
- Nokia 9300
- Nokia 9300i
- Nokia 9500
- All Nokia E-Series phones (Excluding the Nokia E71 and Nokia E66 models)
- Qtek 9100
- Qtek 9000
- Samsung t719
- Siemens SK65,
- Sony Ericsson P910
- Sony Ericsson P990
- Sony Ericsson M600i
- Sony Ericsson P1
BlackBerry PIN
BlackBerry PIN is an eight character hexadecimal identification number assigned to each BlackBerry device. PINs cannot be changed manually on the device (though BlackBerry technicians are able to reset or update a PIN server-side), and are locked to each specific BlackBerry. BlackBerrys can message each other using the PIN directly or by using the BlackBerry Messenger application.Certification
- BCESA (BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Sales Associate, BCESA40 in full) is a BlackBerry Certification for professional users of RIM (Research In Motion) BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices.
The BCESA, BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Sales Associate qualification, is the first of three levels of professional BlackBerry Certification.
- BCTA (BlackBerry Certified Technical Associate)
- BlackBerry Certified Support Associate T2
The BlackBerry Technical Certifications available are:
- BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Server Consultant (BCESC)
- BlackBerry Certified Server Support Technician (BCSST)
- BlackBerry Certified Support Technician (BCST)
he BlackBerry Store
In December 2007 a BlackBerry Store opened in Farmington Hills, Michigan. While it is the only BlackBerry store currently in existence, it actually was not the first. There were three prior attempts at opening BlackBerry stores in Toronto, London, and Charlotte,[22] but they eventually folded.[23] The store offers BlackBerry device models from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint, the major U.S. carriers which offer smartphones. Employees are trained not only on the BlackBerry devices themselves but in the practices of each service provider. There is also an unofficial BlackBerry store called BlackStore in Caracas, Venezuela, because of the BlackBerry brand's popularity in Venezuela, especially in Caracas and Maracaibo, making Venezuela one of the biggest BlackBerry consumers in the world. There is also a BlackBerry Store in the Atlanta airport.RIM patent infringement litigation
In 2000 NTP sent notice of its wireless email patents to a number of companies and offered to license the patents to them. NTP brought a patent-infringement lawsuit against one of the companies, Research In Motion, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This court is well-known for its strict adherence to timetables and deadlines, sometimes referred to as the "rocket docket", and is particularly efficient at trying patent cases.[24]The jury eventually found that the NTP patents were valid, that RIM had infringed them, that the infringement had been "willful," and that the infringement had cost NTP $33 million in damages (the greater of a reasonable royalty or lost profits). The judge, James R. Spencer, increased the damages to $53 million as a punitive measure because the infringement had been willful. He also instructed RIM to pay NTP's legal fees of $4.5 million and issued an injunction ordering RIM to cease and desist infringing the patents. This would have shut down the BlackBerry systems in the US.[25]
RIM appealed all of the findings of the court. The injunction and other remedies were stayed pending the outcome of the appeals.
In March 2005 during the appeals process, RIM and NTP tried to negotiate a settlement of their dispute; the settlement was to be for $450 million. Negotiations broke down due to other issues. On June 10, 2005, the matter returned to the courts.
In early November 2005 the US Department of Justice filed a brief requesting that RIM's service be allowed to continue because of the large number of BlackBerry users in the US Federal Government.[26]
In January 2006 the US Supreme Court refused to hear RIM's appeal of the holding of liability for patent infringement, and the matter was returned to a lower court. The previously granted injunction preventing all RIM sales in the US and use of the BlackBerry device might have been enforced by the presiding district court judge had the two parties not been able to reach a settlement.
On February 9, 2006, the US Department of Defense (DOD) filed a brief stating that an injunction shutting down the BlackBerry service while excluding government users was unworkable. The DOD also stated that the BlackBerry was crucial for national security given the large number of government users.
On February 9, 2006, RIM announced that it had developed software workarounds that would not infringe the NTP patents, and would implement those if the injunction was enforced.
On March 3, 2006, after a stern warning from Judge Spencer, RIM and NTP announced that they had settled their dispute. Under the terms of the settlement, RIM has agreed to pay NTP $612.5 million (USD) in a “full and final settlement of all claims.” In a statement, RIM said that “all terms of the agreement have been finalized and the litigation against RIM has been dismissed by a court order this afternoon. The agreement eliminates the need for any further court proceedings or decisions relating to damages or injunctive relief.” The settlement amount is believed low by some analysts, because of the absence of any future royalties on the technology in question.[27]
Obama's use
President of the United States Barack Obama became known for his dependence on a BlackBerry device for communication during his 2008 presidential campaign. Despite the security issues, he insisted on using it even after inauguration,[28] becoming the first President of the United States to use mobile e-mail.[29] This was seen by some as akin to a "celebrity endorsement," which marketing experts have estimated to be worth between $25 and $50 million.[30]Competition
The primary competitors of the BlackBerry are smartphones running Android, Windows Phone 7, and the iPhone. Those who use the BlackBerry defend its utility,[31] supporting its physical keyboard, secure e-mail, and applications such as BlackBerry Messenger.In June 2010, according to RIM, they had sold up to 100 million BlackBerry including record sales in their first trimester.[32]Government regulation
Some countries have expressed reservations about the BlackBerry's strong encryption and the fact that data is routed through Research In Motion's servers, which are outside the legal jurisdictions of those countries. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were reported [33] to consider the BlackBerry as a "security threat" for this reason, with the former having earlier been reported as trying to get users to install an "update" on their BlackBerry devices, ostensibly for performance enhancement, but which turned out to be spyware that allowed call and email monitoring. The update and subsequent performance deteriorating spyware were reportedly generated by UAE company Etisalat, about which it commented minimally. [34]On August 1, 2010 Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) of The United Arab Emirates officially announced the suspension of BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry Email, and BlackBerry Web browsing services in the country as of October 11, 2010. This measure was taken due to failed attempts to bring the service and have it hosted locally as per the UAE Telecommunication regulations.
On October 8, 2010 the TRA officially announced that the BlackBerry services e.g. BBM E-mail web will continue to work as regular.[35]
Other countries threatening to ban the use of the BlackBerry Messenger include Algeria, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, though, has since reportedly continued it's service of BlackBerry Messenger. [36] On January 10, 2011 RIM agree to set up web filters in Indonesia. It is follow ask from Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to filter pornographic websites.[37] On January 17, 2011 RIM met Indonesian Communication and Information Technology minister and signed commitment to abide law. The deadline is January 21, 2011.[38] Blackberry has filtered the porn site with local DNS Nawala software a few days before the deadline.[39] RIM announced officially that they has blocked pornographic websites accesses from Indonesia and will discuss and effort about ask from Indonesian Information Minister to build a local server called a network of aggregrators to cut communications costs, hire more local workers and planned to established 40 service centers in Indonesia.[40]
Indian authorities have asked Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry to provide them some means to access the encrypted data for calls to, from or within India, following concerns that it could be used by terrorist and rebel groups to carry out proxy war attacks on India. In the November, 2008 Mumbai attacks, terrorists used mobile and satellite phone technologies after which security agencies and Government of India have become more strict and alert towards communication within the country. BlackBerry has indicated willingness to set up a server in India by October, 2010 and giving the country limited access to its highly effective encryption technology.[41] However this will only apply to personal devices which route via RIM's infastructure: organisations providing their own BlackBerry Enterprise Server will continue to have encrypted message flow, to which even RIM themselves will not have access. [42]
Saudi Arabia has also threatened to ban the service, but it was reported close to reaching an agreement with RIM to set up a server for the service inside the Kingdom.[43]
In 2010 the government officials of Barbados announced a sharp increase in crime due to thefts of cell phones, with BlackBerrys being the usual target.[44] The Commissioner of police in the country announced steps were being taken to make stolen BlackBerry devices less attractive in the country
| iPhone | |
|---|---|
| The iPhone 4, the most recent generation of iPhone. |
| iPhone models |
|---|
| Related articles: iPod Touch, iPad |
An iPhone functions as a video camera, camera phone with text messaging and visual voicemail, a portable media player, and an Internet client with e-mail, web browsing, and both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. The user interface is built around the device's multi-touch screen, including a virtual keyboard rather than a physical one. Third-party as well as Apple applications are available from the App Store, which launched in mid-2008 and now has well over 300,000[2] "apps" approved by Apple. These apps have diverse functionalities, including games, reference, GPS navigation, social networking, security[3] and advertising for television shows, films, and celebrities.
There are four generations of iPhone models, and they were accompanied by four major releases of iOS (formerly iPhone OS). The original iPhone was a GSM phone which established design precedents like screen size and button placement that have persisted through all models. The iPhone 3G added 3G cellular network capabilities and A-GPS location. The iPhone 3GS added a compass, faster processor, and higher resolution camera, including video. The iPhone 4 has two cameras for FaceTime video calling and a higher-resolution display. It was released on June 24, 2010. On January 11, 2011, Apple and Verizon together launched a CDMA2000 compatible iPhone 4 specifically for the Verizon network in the US, due for release on February 10, 2011. The CDMA2000-compatible iPhone 4 has a slightly revised antenna design to accommodate CDMA2000 communication. This moves the ringer switch and volume buttons slightly down, requiring many cases for the phone to be redesigned. Other than this cosmetic change, the CDMA iPhone 4 is identical to the GSM/UMTS one. With the release of a forthcoming firmware update, both the CDMA and GSM/UMTS iPhones will have a Personal Hotspot feature, though offering this feature on their network will be the option of each carrier.
History and availability
Original iPhone
iPhone 3G
iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4
Original iPhone was available; now iPhone 4
iPhone 3GS and 4
Coming soon
Main article: History of the iPhone
See also: List of iOS devices
Development of the iPhone began with Apple CEO Steve Jobs' direction that Apple engineers investigate touchscreens.[4] Apple created the device during a secretive and unprecedented collaboration with AT&T Mobility—Cingular Wireless at the time—at an estimated development cost of US$150 million over thirty months.[5] Apple rejected the "design by committee" approach that had yielded the Motorola ROKR E1, a largely unsuccessful collaboration with Motorola. Instead, Cingular gave Apple the liberty to develop the iPhone's hardware and software in-house.[6][7]Jobs unveiled the iPhone to the public on January 9, 2007 at Macworld 2007. Apple was required to file for operating permits with the FCC, but since such filings are made available to the public, the announcement came months before the iPhone had received approval. The iPhone went on sale in the United States on June 29, 2007, at 6:00 pm local time, while hundreds of customers lined up outside the stores nationwide.[8] The original iPhone was made available in the UK, France, and Germany in November 2007, and Ireland and Austria in the spring of 2008.
On July 11, 2008, Apple released the iPhone 3G in twenty-two countries, including the original six.[9] Apple released the iPhone 3G in upwards of eighty countries and territories.[10] Apple announced the iPhone 3GS on June 8, 2009, along with plans to release it later in June, July, and August, starting with the U.S., Canada and major European countries on June 19. Many would-be users objected to the iPhone's cost,[11] and 40% of users have household incomes over US$100,000.[12] In an attempt to gain a wider market, Apple retained the 8 GB iPhone 3G at a lower price point. When Apple introduced the iPhone 4, the 3GS became the less expensive model. Apple reduced the price several times since the iPhone's release in 2007, at which time an 8 GB iPhone sold for $599. An iPhone 3GS with the same capacity now costs $99. However, these numbers are misleading, since all iPhone units sold through AT&T require a two-year contract (costing several hundred dollars), and a SIM lock.
Apple sold 6.1 million original iPhone units over five quarters.[13] The sales has been growing steadily thereafter, by the end of fiscal year 2010, a total of 73.5 million iPhones were sold.[14] Sales in Q4 2008 surpassed temporarily those of RIM's BlackBerry sales of 5.2 million units, which made Apple briefly the third largest mobile phone manufacturer by revenue, after Nokia and Samsung.[15] Approximately 6.4 million iPhones are active in the U.S. alone.[12] While iPhone sales constitute a significant portion of Apple's revenue, some of this income is deferred.[16]
The back of the original iPhone was made of aluminum with a black plastic accent. The iPhone 3G and 3GS feature a full plastic back to increase the strength of the GSM signal.[17] The iPhone 3G was available in an 8 GB black model, or a black or white option for the 16 GB model. They both are now discontinued. The iPhone 3GS was available in both colors, regardless of storage capacity. The white model was discontinued in favor of a black 8 GB low-end model. The iPhone 4 has an aluminosilicate glass front and back with a stainless steel edge that serves as the antennae. It is available in black; a white version was announced, but has as of January 2011[update] not been released.
The iPhone has garnered positive reviews from critics like David Pogue[18] and Walter Mossberg.[19][20] The iPhone attracts users of all ages,[12] and besides consumer use the iPhone has also been adopted for business purposes.[21]
On January 11, 2011, Verizon announced during a media event that it had reached an agreement with Apple and would begin selling a CDMA2000 iPhone 4. Verizon said it would be available for pre-order on February 3, with a release set for February 10.[22][23][24]
[edit] Hardware
Screen and input
The touchscreen is a 9 cm (3.5 in) liquid crystal display with scratch-resistant glass.[25] The capacitive touchscreen is designed for a bare finger, or multiple fingers for multi-touch sensing. The screens on the first three generations of the iPhone have a resolution of 320 x 480 (HVGA) at 163 ppi, while the display on the iPhone 4 has a resolution of 640 x 960 at 326 ppi.The touch and gesture features of the iPhone are based on technology originally developed by FingerWorks.[26] Most gloves and styluses prevent the necessary electrical conductivity;[27][28][29][30] however, capacitive styli can be used with iPhone's finger-touch screen. The iPhone 3GS also features a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.[31]
The display responds to three sensors. A proximity sensor deactivates the display and touchscreen when the device is brought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery power and to prevent inadvertent inputs from the user's face and ears. An ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness which in turn saves battery power. A 3-axis accelerometer senses the orientation of the phone and changes the screen accordingly, allowing the user to easily switch between portrait and landscape mode.[32] Photo browsing, web browsing, and music playing support both upright and left or right widescreen orientations.[33] Unlike the iPad, the iPhone does not rotate the screen when turned upside-down, with the Home button above the screen. The 3.0 update added landscape support for still other applications, such as email, and introduced shaking the unit as a form of input.[34][35] The accelerometer can also be used to control third party apps, notably games. The iPhone 4 also includes a gyroscopic sensor, enhancing its perception of how it is moved.
A software update in January 2008[36] allowed the first generation iPhone to use cell tower and Wi-Fi network locations trilateration,[37] despite lacking GPS hardware. The iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 employ A-GPS, and the iPhone 3GS and 4 also have a digital compass.[38]
Audio and output
The 3.5 mm TRRS connector for the headphones is located on the top left corner of the device.[40] The headphone socket on the original iPhone is recessed into the casing, making it incompatible with most headsets without the use of an adapter.[41][42] Subsequent generations eliminated the issue by using a flush-mounted headphone socket. Cars equipped with an auxiliary jack allow for handsfree use of the iPhone while driving as a substitute for Bluetooth.
While the iPhone is compatible with normal headphones, Apple provides a headset with additional functionality. A multipurpose button near the microphone can be used to play or pause music, skip tracks, and answer or end phone calls without touching the iPhone. A small number of third-party headsets specifically designed for the iPhone also include the microphone and control button.[43] The current headsets also provide volume controls, which are only compatible with more recent models.[44] These features are achieved by a fourth ring in the audio jack that carries this extra information.
The built-in Bluetooth 2.x+EDR supports wireless earpieces and headphones, which requires the HSP profile. Stereo audio was added in the 3.0 update for hardware that supports A2DP.[34][35] While non-sanctioned third-party solutions exist, the iPhone does not officially support the OBEX file transfer protocol.[45] The lack of these profiles prevents iPhone users from exchanging multimedia files, such as pictures, music and videos, with other bluetooth-enabled cell phones.
Composite or component video at up to 576i and stereo audio can be output from the dock connector using an adapter sold by Apple.[46] iPhone 4 also supports 1024x768 VGA output via a dock adapter. The iPhone did not support voice recording until the 3.0 software update.[34][35]
Battery
Apple runs tests on preproduction units to determine battery life. Apple's website says that the battery life "is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity after 400 full charge and discharge cycles",[49] which is comparable to iPod batteries. The original iPhone's battery was stated to be capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing, eight hours of talk time, 24 hours of music or up to 250 hours on standby.[25] The iPhone 3G's battery is stated to be capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or five on 3G, ten hours of 2G talk time, or five on 3G, 24 hours of music, or 300 hours of standby.[50] Apple claims that the 3GS can last for up to ten hours of video, nine hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or five on 3G, twelve hours of 2G talk time, or five on 3G, 30 hours of music, or 300 hours of standby.[51]
The battery life of early models of the iPhone has been criticized by several technology journalists as insufficient and less than Apple's claims.[52][53][54][55] This is also reflected by a J. D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction survey, which gave the "battery aspects" of the iPhone 3G its lowest rating of 2 out of 5 stars.[56][57]
If the battery malfunctions or dies prematurely, the phone can be returned to Apple and replaced for free while still under warranty.[58] The warranty lasts one year from purchase and can be extended to two years with AppleCare. Though the battery replacement service and its pricing was not made known to buyers until the day the product was launched,[59][60] it is similar to how Apple (and third parties) replace batteries for iPods. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer advocate group, has sent a complaint to Apple and AT&T over the fee that consumers have to pay to have the battery replaced.[59] Since July 2007 third party battery replacement kits have been available[61] at a much lower price than Apple's own battery replacement program. These kits often include a small screwdriver and an instruction leaflet, but as with many newer iPod models the battery in the original iPhone has been soldered in. Therefore a soldering iron is required to install the new battery. The iPhone 3G uses a different battery fitted with a connector that is easier to replace, although replacement by any besides Apple still voids the warranty.[62]
Camera
The iPhone and iPhone 3G feature a built-in Fixed focus 2.0 megapixel camera located on the back for still digital photos. It has no optical zoom, flash or autofocus, and does not support video recording, however jailbreaking allows users to do so. Version 2.0 of iPhone OS introduced the capability to embed location data in the pictures, producing geocoded photographs.The iPhone 3GS has a 3.2 megapixel camera, manufactured by OmniVision, featuring autofocus, auto white balance, and auto macro (up to 10 cm). It is also capable of capturing 640x480 (VGA resolution) video at 30 frames per second,[63] although compared to higher-end CCD based video cameras it does exhibit the rolling shutter effect.[64] The video can then be cropped on the device itself and directly uploaded to YouTube, MobileMe, or other services
The iPhone 4 introduced a 5.0 megapixel camera (2592x1936 pixels), also located on the back, which is equipped with a backside illuminated sensor capable of capturing pictures in low-light conditions, as well as an LED flash capable of staying lit for video recording at 720p resolution, considered high-definition.[65] In addition the iPhone 4 has a second camera on the front capable of VGA photos and SD video recording.
Storage and SIM
The SIM card sits in a tray, which is inserted into a slot at the top of the device. The SIM tray can be ejected with a paperclip or the "SIM eject tool" (a simple piece of die-cut sheet metal) included with the iPhone 3G and 3GS.[68][69] In most countries, the iPhone is usually sold with a SIM lock, which prevents the iPhone from being used on a different mobile network.[70]
The iPhone 4 features a MicroSIM card that is located in a slot on the right side of the device.[71]
Liquid contact indicators
The iPhone is equipped with liquid contact indicators which change from white to red in color when they come in contact with water. These suggest whether water damage has affected the device. The indicators on the iPhone include a small disc which is located at the bottom of the headphone jack and with the iPhone 3G and all later models an additional one is located at the bottom of the dock connector.[72] The indicators are often used by Apple employees to determine whether the device qualifies for a warranty repair or replacement. If the indicators show that the device was exposed to water, they may determine that the device is not covered by Apple. However, the liquid contact indicators may be triggered through routine use, and if a device is worn while exercising, the sweat from an owner may dampen the indicators enough to indicate water damage.[73] On many other mobile phones from different manufacturers, the liquid contact indicators are located in a protected location, such as beneath the battery behind a battery cover, but the indicators on an iPhone are directly exposed to the environment. This has led to criticism of the placement of the indicators, which may also be affected by steam in a bathroom or other light environmental moisture.[74]Included items
Models
| Discontinued | Current |
Main article: List of iOS devices
| Model | iPhone | iPhone 3G | iPhone 3GS | iPhone 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial operating system | iPhone OS 1.0 | iPhone OS 2.0 | iPhone OS 3.0 | iOS 4.0 |
| Highest Supported operating system | iPhone OS 3.1.3 | iOS 4.2.1 | iOS 4.3 Beta 2 | |
| Display | 3.5 in (89 mm), 3:2 aspect ratio, scratch-resistant[79] glossy glass covered screen, 262,144-color LCD, 480 × 320 px (HVGA) at 163 ppi | In addition to previous, features a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating[80] | 3.5 in (89 mm), 3:2 aspect ratio, aluminosilicate glass covered IPS LCD screen, 960 × 640 px at 326 ppi, 800:1 contrast ratio | |
| Storage | 4, 8 and 16 GB | 8 and 16 GB | 8, 16 and 32 GB | 16 and 32 GB |
| Processor | 620 MHz (underclocked to 412 MHz) Samsung 32-bit RISC ARM 1176JZ(F)-S v1.0[81][82] | 833 MHz (underclocked to 600 MHz) ARM Cortex-A8[83][84] Samsung S5PC100[83][85] | ARM Cortex-A8 Apple A4[86] | |
| Graphics | PowerVR MBX Lite 3D GPU[87] | PowerVR SGX535 GPU[88][89] | ||
| Memory | 128 MB DRAM[90] | 256 MB DRAM[83][84] | 512 MB DRAM[91] | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), USB 2.0/Dock connector, Quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR Cambridge Bluecore4[92] | In addition to previous: Assisted GPS, Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz),[93] Includes earphones with mic | In addition to previous: 7.2 Mbit/s HSDPA, Voice Control, Digital compass, Nike+, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Broadcom 4325,[94] Includes earphones with remote and mic | In addition to previous: Penta-band UMTS/HSDPA (800, 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz),[95][96] 5.76 Mbit/s HSUPA, 2.4 GHz 802.11n, 3-axis gyroscope, Dual-mic noise suppression, microSIM |
| CDMA model: Dual-band CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A (800 1900 MHz) | ||||
| Camera | 2.0 MP | In addition to previous, 3.0 MP with VGA video at 30 fps, tap to focus, and focus, white balance, macro focus & exposure | In addition to previous, a rear 5.0 MP backside illuminated CMOS image sensor with 720p HD video at 30 fps and LED flash | |
| Front 0.3 MP (VGA) with tap to focus and 480p SD video at 30 fps | ||||
| Audio codec | Wolfson Microelectronics WM8758BG[97] | Wolfson Microelectronics WM6180C[98] | Cirrus Logic CS42L61[99][100] | |
| Materials | Aluminum, glass and plastic | Glass and plastic; black or white (white not available for 8 GB models) | Aluminosilicate glass and stainless steel; black (white announced) | |
| Power | Built-in non removable rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery[101][102][103] | |||
| 3.7 V 1400 mA·h[citation needed] | 3.7 V 1150 mA·h[102] | 3.7 V 1219 mA·h[104] | 3.7 V 1420 mA·h[105] | |
| Rated battery life (hours) | audio: 24 video: 7 Talk over 2G: 8 Browsing internet: 6 Standby: 250 | audio: 24 video: 7 Talk over 3G: 5 Browsing over 3G: 5 Browsing over Wi-Fi: 9 Standby: 300 | audio: 30 video: 10 Talk over 3G: 5 Browsing over 3G: 5 Browsing over Wi-Fi: 9 Standby: 300 | audio: 40 video: 10 Talk over 3G: 7 Browsing over 3G: 6 Browsing over Wi-Fi: 10 Standby: 300[106] |
| Dimensions | 115 × 61 × 11.6 mm (4.5 × 2.4 × 0.46 in) | 115.5 × 62.1 × 12.3 mm (4.5 × 2.4 × 0.48 in) | 115.2 × 58.6 × 9.3 mm (4.5 × 2.31 × 0.37 in) | |
| Weight | 135 g (4.8 oz) | 135 g (4.8 oz) | 135 g (4.8 oz) | 137 g (4.8 oz) |
| Released | 4 and 8 GB: June 29, 2007 16 GB: February 5, 2008 | July 11, 2008 | 16 and 32 GB: June 19, 2009 Black 8 GB: June 24, 2010 | June 24, 2010 |
| Discontinued | 4 GB: September 5, 2007 8 and 16 GB: July 11, 2008 | 16 GB: June 8, 2009 Black 8 GB: June 4, 2010 | 16 and 32 GB: June 24, 2010 Black 8 GB: In production | In production |
| Type Allocation Codes | 01/124500 | 01/161200, 01/181200 | 01/194800 | 01/233800 |
Software
Like the iPod, the iPhone is managed with iTunes. The earliest versions of the OS required version 7.3 or later, which is compatible with Mac OS X version 10.4.10 Tiger or later, and 32-bit Windows XP or Vista.[108] The release of iTunes 7.6 expanded this support to include 64-bit versions of XP and Vista,[109] and a workaround has been discovered for previous 64-bit Windows operating systems.[110] Apple provides free updates to the OS for the iPhone through iTunes,[107] and major updates have historically accompanied new models.[111] Such updates often require a newer version of iTunes — for example, the 3.0 update requires iTunes 8.2 — but the iTunes system requirements have stayed the same. Updates include both security patches and new features.[112] For example, iPhone 3G users initially experienced dropped calls until an update was issued.[113][114]
Interface
The interface is based around the home screen, a graphical list of available applications. iPhone applications normally run one at a time (not including iOS 4, which includes running applications in the background [115]) , although most functionality is still available when making a call or listening to music. The home screen can be accessed at any time by a hardware button below the screen, closing the open application in the process.[116] By default, the Home screen contains the following icons: Messages (SMS and MMS messaging), Calendar, Photos, Camera, YouTube, Stocks, Maps (Google Maps), Weather, Voice Memos, Notes, Clock, Calculator, Settings, iTunes (store), App Store, and (on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4) Compass. Docked at the base of the screen, four icons for Phone, Mail, Safari (Internet), and iPod (multimedia) delineate the iPhone's main purposes.[117] On January 15, 2008, Apple released software update 1.1.3, allowing users to create "Web Clips", home screen icons that resemble apps that open a user-defined page in Safari. After the update, iPhone users can rearrange and place icons on up to nine other adjacent home screens, accessed by a horizontal swipe.[36] Users can also add and delete icons from the dock, which is the same on every home screen. Each home screen holds up to sixteen icons, and the dock holds up to four icons. Users can delete Web Clips and third-party applications at any time, and may select only certain applications for transfer from iTunes. Apple's default programs, however, may not be removed. The 3.0 update adds a system-wide search, known as Spotlight, to the left of the first home screen.[34][35]Almost all input is given through the touch screen, which understands complex gestures using multi-touch. The iPhone's interaction techniques enable the user to move the content up or down by a touch-drag motion of the finger. For example, zooming in and out of web pages and photos is done by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them farther apart or bringing them closer together, a gesture known as "pinching". Scrolling through a long list or menu is achieved by sliding a finger over the display from bottom to top, or vice versa to go back. In either case, the list moves as if it is pasted on the outer surface of a wheel, slowly decelerating as if affected by friction. In this way, the interface simulates the physics of a real object. Other user-centered interactive effects include horizontally sliding sub-selection, the vertically sliding keyboard and bookmarks menu, and widgets that turn around to allow settings to be configured on the other side. Menu bars are found at the top and bottom of the screen when necessary. Their options vary by program, but always follow a consistent style motif. In menu hierarchies, a "back" button in the top-left corner of the screen displays the name of the parent folder.
Phone
The iPhone includes a visual voicemail (in some countries)[122] feature allowing users to view a list of current voicemail messages on-screen without having to call into their voicemail. Unlike most other systems, messages can be listened to and deleted in a non-chronological order by choosing any message from an on-screen list.
A music ringtone feature was introduced in the United States on September 5, 2007. Users can create custom ringtones from songs purchased from the iTunes Store for a small additional fee. The ringtones can be 3 to 30 seconds long from any part of a song, can fade in and out, pause from half a second to five seconds when looped, or loop continuously. All customizing can be done in iTunes,[123] or alternatively with Apple's GarageBand software 4.1.1 or later (available only on Mac OS X)[124] or third-party tools.[125]
Multimedia
The layout of the music library is similar to that of an iPod or current Symbian S60 phones. The iPhone can sort its media library by songs, artists, albums, videos, playlists, genres, composers, podcasts, audiobooks, and compilations. Options are always presented alphabetically, except in playlists, which retain their order from iTunes. The iPhone uses a large font that allows users plenty of room to touch their selection. Users can rotate their device horizontally to landscape mode to access Cover Flow. Like on iTunes, this feature shows the different album covers in a scroll-through photo library. Scrolling is achieved by swiping a finger across the screen. Alternatively, headset controls can be used to pause, play, skip, and repeat tracks. On the iPhone 3GS, the volume can be changed with the included Apple Earphones, and the Voice Control feature can be used to identify a track, play songs in a playlist or by a specific artist, or create a Genius playlist.[121]The iPhone supports gapless playback.[126] Like the fifth generation iPods introduced in 2005, the iPhone can play digital video, allowing users to watch TV shows and movies in widescreen. Double-tapping switches between widescreen and fullscreen video playback.
The iPhone allows users to purchase and download songs from the iTunes Store directly to their iPhone. The feature originally required a Wi-Fi network, but now[when?] can use the cellular data network if one is not available.[127]
The iPhone includes software that allows the user to upload, view, and e-mail photos taken with the camera. The user zooms in and out of photos by sliding two fingers further apart or closer together, much like Safari. The Camera application also lets users view the camera roll, the pictures that have been taken with the iPhone's camera. Those pictures are also available in the Photos application, along with any transferred from iPhoto or Aperture on a Mac, or Photoshop in Windows.
[edit] Internet connectivity
Internet access is available when the iPhone is connected to a local area Wi-Fi or a wide area GSM or EDGE network, both second-generation (2G) wireless data standards. The iPhone 3G introduced support for third-generation UMTS and HSDPA 3.6,[128] but not HSUPA networks, and only the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 support HSDPA 7.2.[129] AT&T introduced 3G in July 2004,[130] but as late as 2007 Steve Jobs stated that it was still not widespread enough in the US, and the chipsets not energy efficient enough, to be included in the iPhone.[28][131] Support for 802.1X, an authentication system commonly used by university and corporate Wi-Fi networks, was added in the 2.0 version update.[132]
By default, the iPhone will ask to join newly discovered Wi-Fi networks and prompt for the password when required. Alternatively, it can join closed Wi-Fi networks manually.[133] The iPhone will automatically choose the strongest network, connecting to Wi-Fi instead of EDGE when it is available.[134] Similarly, the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 prefer 3G to 2G, and Wi-Fi to either.[135] Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G (on the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4) can all be deactivated individually. Airplane mode disables all wireless connections at once, overriding other preferences. However, once in Airplane mode, one can explicitly enable Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth modes to join and continue to operate over one or both of those networks while the cellular network transceivers remain off.
The iPhone 3GS has a maximum download rate of 7.2 Mbit/s.[136] Furthermore, files downloaded over cellular networks must be smaller than 20 MB.[137] Larger files, often email attachments or podcasts, must be downloaded over Wi-Fi (which has no file size limits). If Wi-Fi is unavailable, one workaround is to open the files directly in Safari.[138]
Safari is the iPhone's native web browser, and it displays pages similar to its Mac and Windows counterparts. Web pages may be viewed in portrait or landscape mode and supports automatic zooming by pinching together or spreading apart fingertips on the screen, or by double-tapping text or images.[139][140] The iPhone supports neither Flash[141] nor Java.[142][unreliable source?] Consequently, the UK's Advertising Standards Authority adjudicated that an advertisement claiming the iPhone could access "all parts of the internet" should be withdrawn in its current form, on grounds of false advertising.[143] In a rare public letter in April 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs outlined the reasoning behind the absence of Flash on the iPhone (and iPad).[144] The iPhone supports SVG, CSS, HTML Canvas, and Bonjour.[145][146]
The maps application can access Google Maps in map, satellite, or hybrid form. It can also generate directions between two locations, while providing optional real-time traffic information. During the iPhone's announcement, Jobs demonstrated this feature by searching for nearby Starbucks locations and then placing a prank call to one with a single tap.[4][147] Support for walking directions, public transit, and street view was added in the version 2.2 software update, but no voice-guided navigation.[148] The iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 can orient the map with its digital compass.[38] Apple also developed a separate application to view YouTube videos on the iPhone, which streams videos after encoding them using the H.264 codec. Simple weather and stock quotes applications also tap in to the Internet.
iPhone users can and do access the Internet frequently, and in a variety of places. According to Google, in 2008 the iPhone generated 50 times more search requests than any other mobile handset.[149] According to Deutsche Telekom CEO René Obermann, "The average Internet usage for an iPhone customer is more than 100 megabytes. This is 30 times the use for our average contract-based consumer customers."[150] Nielsen found that 98% of iPhone users use data services, and 88% use the internet.[12] In China, the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS were built and distributed without Wi-fi.[151]
Text input
For text input, the iPhone implements a virtual keyboard on the touchscreen. It has automatic spell checking and correction, predictive word capabilities, and a dynamic dictionary that learns new words. The keyboard can predict what word the user is typing and complete it, and correct for the accidental pressing of keys near the presumed desired key.[152] The keys are somewhat larger and spaced farther apart when in landscape mode, which is supported by only a limited number of applications. Touching a section of text for a brief time brings up a magnifying glass, allowing users to place the cursor in the middle of existing text. The virtual keyboard can accommodate 21 languages, including character recognition for Chinese.[153] The 3.0 update brought support for cut, copy, or pasting text, as well as landscape keyboards in more applications.[34][35]
E-mail and text messages
The iPhone also features an e-mail program that supports HTML e-mail, which enables the user to embed photos in an e-mail message. PDF, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint attachments to mail messages can be viewed on the phone.[50] Apple's MobileMe platform offers push email, which emulates the functionality of the popular BlackBerry email solution, for an annual subscription. Yahoo! offers a free push-email service for the iPhone. IMAP (although not Push-IMAP) and POP3 mail standards are also supported, including Microsoft Exchange[154] and Kerio Connect.[155] In the first versions of the iPhone firmware, this was accomplished by opening up IMAP on the Exchange server. Apple has also licensed Microsoft ActiveSync and now[when?] supports the platform (including push email) with the release of iPhone 2.0 firmware.[156][157] The iPhone will sync e-mail account settings over from Apple's own Mail application, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Entourage, or it can be manually configured on the device itself. With the correct settings, the e-mail program can access almost any IMAP or POP3 account.[158]Text messages are presented chronologically in a mailbox format similar to Mail, which places all text from recipients together with replies. Text messages are displayed in speech bubbles (similar to iChat) under each recipient's name. The iPhone has built-in support for e-mail message forwarding, drafts, and direct internal camera-to-e-mail picture sending. Support for multi-recipient SMS was added in the 1.1.3 software update.[159] Support for MMS was added in the 3.0 update, but not for the original iPhone[34][35] and not in the U.S. until September 25, 2009.[160][161]
Third party applications
- See also: iPhone SDK and App Store
Once a developer has submitted an application to the App Store, Apple holds firm control over its distribution. Apple can halt the distribution of applications it deems inappropriate, for example, I Am Rich, a US$1000 program that simply demonstrated the wealth of its user.[166] Apple has been criticized for banning third party applications that enable a functionality that Apple does not want the iPhone to have: In 2008, Apple rejected Podcaster, which allowed iPhone users to download podcasts directly to the iPhone claiming it duplicated the functionality of iTunes.[167] Apple has since released a software update that grants this capability.[148]
NetShare, another rejected app, would have enabled users to tether their iPhone to a laptop or desktop, using its cellular network to load data for the computer.[168] Many carriers of the iPhone later globally allowed tethering before Apple officially supported it with the upgrade to the iOS 3.0, with AT&T Mobility being a relative latecomer in the United States.[169] In most cases, the carrier charges extra for tethering an iPhone.
Before the SDK was released, third-parties were permitted to design "Web Apps" that would run through Safari.[170] Unsigned native applications are also available for "jailbroken" phones.[171] The ability to install native applications onto the iPhone outside of the App Store is not supported by Apple, the stated reason being that such native applications could be broken by any software update, but Apple has stated it will not design software updates specifically to break native applications other than those that perform SIM unlocking.[172]
Legal action
In December 2010, Reuters reported that some iPhone and iPad users were suing Apple Inc because some applications were passing user information to third party advertisers without permission. Some makers of the applications such as Textplus4, Paper Toss, Weather Channel, Dictionary.com, Talking Tom Cat and Pumpkin Maker have also been named as co-defendants in the lawsuit.[173]Accessibility
The iPhone can enlarge text to make it more accessible for vision-impaired users,[174] and can accommodate hearing-impaired users with closed captioning and external TTY devices.[175] The iPhone 3GS also features white on black mode, VoiceOver (a screen reader), and zooming for impaired vision, and mono audio for limited hearing in one ear.[176] Apple regularly publishes Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates which explicitly state compliance with the US regulation "Section 508".[177]Intellectual property
Apple has filed more than 200 patent applications related to the technology behind the iPhone.[178][179]LG Electronics claimed the iPhone's design was copied from the LG Prada. Woo-Young Kwak, head of LG Mobile Handset R&D Center, said at a press conference, "We consider that Apple copied Prada phone after the design was unveiled when it was presented in the iF Design Award and won the prize in September 2006."[180]
On September 3, 1993, Infogear filed for the U.S. trademark "I PHONE"[181] and on March 20, 1996 applied for the trademark "IPhone".[182] "I Phone" was registered in March 1998,[181] and "IPhone" was registered in 1999.[182] Since then, the I PHONE mark had been abandoned.[181] Infogear's trademarks cover "communications terminals comprising computer hardware and software providing integrated telephone, data communications and personal computer functions" (1993 filing),[181] and "computer hardware and software for providing integrated telephone communication with computerized global information networks" (1996 filing).[183] Infogear released a telephone with an integrated web browser under the name iPhone in 1998.[184] In 2000, Infogear won an infringement claim against the owners of the iphones.com domain name.[185] In June 2000, Cisco Systems acquired Infogear, including the iPhone trademark.[186] On December 18, 2006 they released a range of re-branded Voice over IP (VoIP) sets under the name iPhone.[187]
In October 2002, Apple applied for the "iPhone" trademark in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and the European Union. A Canadian application followed in October 2004 and a New Zealand application in September 2006. As of October 2006 only the Singapore and Australian applications had been granted. In September 2006, a company called Ocean Telecom Services applied for an "iPhone" trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, following a filing in Trinidad and Tobago.[188] As the Ocean Telecom trademark applications use exactly the same wording as Apple's New Zealand application, it is assumed that Ocean Telecom is applying on behalf of Apple.[189] The Canadian application was opposed in August 2005 by a Canadian company called Comwave who themselves applied for the trademark three months later. Comwave has been selling VoIP devices called iPhone since 2004.[186]
Shortly after Steve Jobs' January 9, 2007 announcement that Apple would be selling a product called iPhone in June 2007, Cisco issued a statement that it had been negotiating trademark licensing with Apple and expected Apple to agree to the final documents that had been submitted the night before.[190] On January 10, 2007 Cisco announced it had filed a lawsuit against Apple over the infringement of the trademark iPhone, seeking an injunction in federal court to prohibit Apple from using the name.[191] More recently, Cisco claimed that the trademark lawsuit was a "minor skirmish" that was not about money, but about interoperability.[192]
On February 2, 2007, Apple and Cisco announced that they had agreed to temporarily suspend litigation while they held settlement talks,[193] and subsequently announced on February 20, 2007 that they had reached an agreement. Both companies will be allowed to use the "iPhone" name[194] in exchange for "exploring interoperability" between their security, consumer, and business communications products.[195]
The iPhone has also inspired several leading high-tech clones,[196] driving both Apple's popularity and consumer willingness to upgrade iPhones quickly.[197]
On October 22, 2009 Nokia filed a lawsuit against Apple for infringement of its GSM, UMTS and WLAN patents. Nokia alleges that Apple has been violating ten of Nokia's patents since the iPhone's initial release.[198]
Restrictions
Activation
The iPhone normally prevents access to its media player and web features unless it has also been activated as a phone with an authorized carrier. On July 3, 2007, Jon Lech Johansen reported on his blog that he had successfully bypassed this requirement and unlocked the iPhone's other features with a combination of custom software and modification of the iTunes binary. He published the software and offsets for others to use.[201]Unlike the original, the iPhone 3G must be activated in the store in most countries.[202] This makes the iPhone 3G more difficult, but not impossible, to hack. The need for in-store activation, as well as the huge number of first-generation iPhone and iPod Touch users upgrading to iPhone OS 2.0, caused a worldwide overload of Apple's servers on July 11, 2008, the day on which both the iPhone 3G and iPhone OS 2.0 updates as well as MobileMe were released. After the update, devices were required to connect to Apple's servers to authenticate the update, causing many devices to be temporarily unusable.[203] Apple avoided this by releasing the 3.0 software two days before the iPhone 3GS.
Users on the O2 network in the United Kingdom, however, can buy the phone online and activate it via iTunes as with the previous model.[204] Even where not required, vendors usually offer activation for the buyer's convenience. In the U.S., Apple has begun to offer free shipping on both the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS (when available), reversing the in-store activation requirement. Best Buy and Wal-Mart will also sell the iPhone.[205]
Unlicensed third party software and jailbreaking
See also: Jailbreaking for iOS and iPhone Dev Team
The iPhone's operating system is designed to only run software that has an Apple-approved cryptographic signature. This restriction can be overcome by "jailbreaking" the phone,[206] which involves replacing the iPhone's firmware with a slightly modified version that does not enforce the signature check. Doing so may be a circumvention of Apple's technical protection measures.[207] Apple, in a statement to the United States Copyright Office in response to EFF lobbying for a DMCA exception for this kind of hacking, claimed that jailbreaking the iPhone would be copyright infringement due to the necessary modification of system software.[208] Jailbroken iPhones may be susceptible to computer viruses, but few such incidents have been reported.[209][210]SIM unlocking
United States
Most iPhones are sold with a SIM lock, which restricts the use of the phone to one particular carrier, a common practice with subsidized GSM phones. Unlike most GSM phones however, the phone cannot be officially unlocked by entering a code. The locked/unlocked state is maintained on Apple's servers per IMEI and is set when the iPhone is activated.
While the iPhone was initially sold in the US only on the AT&T network with a SIM lock in place, various hackers have found methods to "unlock" the phone from a specific network.[211] Although AT&T and Verizon are the only authorized iPhone carriers in the United States, unlocked iPhones can be used with other carriers after unlocking.[212] More than a quarter of the original iPhones sold in the United States were not registered with AT&T. Apple speculates that they were likely shipped overseas and unlocked, a lucrative market before the iPhone 3G's worldwide release.[213] iPhones are unlocked by users who wish to use networks other than AT&T's.[11][not in citation given]
AT&T has stated that the "iPhone cannot be unlocked, even if you are out of contract".[212][214] On March 26, 2009 AT&T in the United States began selling the iPhone without a contract, though still SIM-locked to their network.[215] Such iPhone units are often twice as expensive as those with contracts, because Apple and AT&T lose the deferred income.[216] Outside of the United States, policies differ, especially in US territories and insular areas like Guam, where GTA TeleGuam is the exclusive carrier for the iPhone, since neither AT&T and Verizon have a presence in the area.[217]
