ON DESIRED APPLE iPHONE FEATURE

WISH UPON A STAR

Apple's long-expected iPhone is in the news again on Techmeme, with speculation of expected features like a 2 megapixel camera this time around. 

I've written in the past about the iPhone in terms of the network model that Apple might potentially follow (MVNO, straight carrier deal, or unlocked phone with no strings attached).

But I thought I'd add a new, talked much talked about feature request of my own into the mix.

I don't know about you, but I've long wished for the ability to have a very easy way to switch networks with a given mobile phone.  And while it's not possible to do this today with Verizon and Sprint phones given their non-GSM networks, it is possible on the GSM networks of Cingular/AT&T and T-Mobile in the US via swapping SIM chips (subscriber identity module). 

Of course most of the rest of the world in Europe and Asia have already standardized on GSM networks, where SIM chip swapping is a little more mainstream practice.

That assumes of course that the carriers have unlocked their phones to permit SIM chip swapping, and in most cases today that is not possible on store-bought US phones.

But Apple could make a difference by offering an unlocked version of the iPhone that would then have the following, additional, wished-for Apple convenience designed with characteristic Apple design ingenuity.

This would offer consumers a lot more flexibility in style and functionality between several models of iPhones, just like they have the flexibility today to listen to their music over different types of iPods that each are designed for different uses and contexts.

Not to mention fostering more competition among carriers to offer more competitive pricing for voice and data driven features.

So mechanically, I'm talking about the ability to have one or more of the following:

1.  Switch SIM chips with far greater ease than on today's phones.  Today, switching SIM chips usually means prying open the battery case, removing the battery, and then carefully removing the tiny, delicate SIM chip without hopefully breaking the thing.  Then inserting the second SIM chip, putting back the battery and the cover.  Not very convenient at all.

2.  Use what I call dangling dual-SIM chip designs that are relatively popular in Asia.

3.  Use dual-SIM chip cover designs that are just beginning to show up on the market.  They are typically available as third-party options in Europe for certain phones (see picture).

Of course, none of these would do for Apple...they'd come up with a really cool and elegant way to switch phones that in hind-sight would seem so obvious.

And it goes without saying that the inclusion of a chip on the iPhone that allows seamless roaming between Wi-Fi based internet telephony and carrier-based cell phone networks would be a huge added bonus.

And that's the general functionality that I most wish Apple was working on for the iPhone. 

Any SIP-based software functionality that Apple would provide to manage multiple phone numbers and related services would be a super-duper added bonus and an additional wish.

But that needs to be the subject for a possible future post.

Comments

[Yaser Anwar]

MP-

I've heard for the first 6 months or so the deal might be exclusive to Cingular, though they will later open to all networks.

The unlock feature is good, another one would be- two sim cards on 1 phone. We have that for some phones in Dubai, really convenient, especially if you've got 2 lines (which pretty much everyone has these days) you won't need two phones.

A touch screen would be awesome, though I would really like wireless bluetooth headsets that plays music and answers the phone.

[in the shower]

I want an iPhone that is waterproof to 3 meters (10 feet) to use in the shower.

But not with slip on cover. I want the total original look but waterproof.

Maybe add $200?

Cheers.

[iPhoneChat]

iPhone II with a camera also on the display side. $799.

And 180 GB with 36 hour battery.