WSJ reports Apple and Cingular launching cellphone

"People familiar with the situation" have apparently informed the WSJ that Apple is launching the Applephone (or whatever it's called) as early as tomorrow. (See, even the kings of MSM aren't omitted from the Apple rumor mill.) They don't really give any more than that, but it's the WSJ, and conventional wisdom kind of states that when the business journal of record goes on the record, you should perk your ears up and listen (at least). Maybe we're interested just because we want to be done printing rumors and rumors about rumors from blogs and papers alike.

[Thanks, O Jason my Jason]

[rutsy @ Jan 8th 2007 9:12PM]

sahweeet!
wait...its cingular
&%$&^#$^%$!!!!

[kuhndog @ Jan 9th 2007 7:02AM]

makes sense to me.. cingular said they were going to announce a video calling feature didn't they?

[tony @ Jan 8th 2007 10:05PM]

bets are iphone or ipod-phone but as far as the phone goes my bets are on that this is an ipod that can make phone calls and looks really sleek

[Jacobo @ Jan 8th 2007 10:08PM]

Where's the love for t-mobile? This depresses me very much =*(...

[Paul J. @ Jan 8th 2007 9:13PM]

At least Cingular usually is willing to give you a unlock code for your phone if you prove to them you paid full retail for it. That's what I'm planning to do so I can use it on Tmobile.

[CharlieX @ Jan 8th 2007 9:14PM]

"...as early as tomorrow..."

or by that logic

"...as late as never..."

[DaveTehWave @ Jan 8th 2007 9:20PM]

I'll believe it when I'm holding it in my sweaty lil hands.

[AKBlade13 @ Jan 8th 2007 10:57PM]

Why can't this also be CDMA. Apple...why, why can't you release the phone for all of us? I dont' want to switch to Cinugular to get the phone...or get it converted to be Sprint CDMA.

AKBlade13

[oZ @ Jan 8th 2007 11:42PM]

Because the rest of the world uses GSM.

[Tim @ Jan 8th 2007 10:52PM]

GSM? Yuck!
EDGE? Yuck!
Cingular? Yuck!

Can't wait, I'll be the first in line!

[Ulrich @ Jan 8th 2007 10:20PM]

don't you mean 'prick up your ears' ??

[Clayj @ Jan 8th 2007 9:58PM]

Eh. Unless the Apple phone can sync with an Exchange Server, this is going to make ZERO penetration into the business space.

[Chris @ Jan 9th 2007 11:06AM]

Who cares about the boring business space. Theres more money in the consumer market for cell phones anyway.

[Jason @ Jan 8th 2007 10:03PM]

Not interested at all.

[Dave @ Jan 8th 2007 10:44PM]

"Jason @ Jan 8th 2007 10:03PM

Not interested at all."


well then why in gods name did you:
1. read the article?
2. write a comment that has absolutely ZERO value?
and
3. waste everyone's time reading your worthless comment?

some people amaze me.. they really do...

[i really want the cingular 8125 @ Jan 8th 2007 10:33PM]

Dude, I'm gonna pick myself up one of these tomorrow! Well, if it's cool anyway; Cingular doesn't have any nice/sleek/advanced phones out right now. HOPEFULLY this phone will be cool since my 2 year contract is up on my barely functional RAZR... let's pray this phone is 199.99 max, ok? Stupid 2 year contracts. One would be great for me. Sorry I just continue to rant. I just really want/need a new phone, and I use Cingular, and Apple is awesome...

Which could lead to me having an awesome phone too.

Any spec predictions? I'm hoping for a 320x240 hi-res display with 262k colors, same compatibility as iPod 5G (so I can sync videos).
Who knows if this is even going to happen? I mean, this rumor has been brewing for dare I say years now?

Wow; I really can't wait tomorrow for your Macworld page; I'm definitely going to be on autofire-refresh! Hmm, I might even have to cancel my Wii party! Ha- just kidding.

[kivers @ Jan 8th 2007 10:13PM]

Cingular has a terrible data network compared to Sprint and Verizon. If Apple releases it on Congular's network I think we'd be missing a lot of features like OTA music downloads, iChat Video, and really anything else that requires a fast data connection.

[Galley @ Jan 8th 2007 10:31PM]

Sorry Apple, no Sprint support = no sale.

[nicleT @ Jan 8th 2007 10:40PM]

Snif, Snif! Does that smell like hoax?

[Evan @ Jan 8th 2007 10:28PM]

What are you talking about, Cingular's data network blows Sprint's away and is catching up to Verizon pretty nicely

[KIVERS @ Jan 8th 2007 10:36PM]

Yeah, EDGE is so much faster than EVDO. If you're one of the 4 people who live in an HSPDA area it would be as fast but like I said... it only covers like 4 or 5 people.

[David @ Jan 8th 2007 10:46PM]

And this is a consumer show(MacWorld Expo), not for developers(WDC=Worldwide Develpers Conference). This will be primarily a consumer NOT business device. And It will sync with Exchange servers...

[Jacob @ Jan 8th 2007 10:35PM]

Cingular is GSM, right? If so, then it looks good that either Rogers or Fido will get the phone up here in Canada. (Here's hoping...)

[Geoff @ Jan 9th 2007 7:26AM]

Under $199.99, now thats optimistic.

[Evan @ Jan 8th 2007 11:48PM]

UMTS coverage is in 160 markets as of the end of 2006...that is much more than 4 or 5 people

[v_dogg @ Jan 8th 2007 10:56PM]

wtc? Cingular sucks.

[ben @ Jan 8th 2007 10:59PM]

Ummmmmmmmm I just saw a Cingular commercial during the Florida vs. Ohio game where a girl was dialing into pink phone on a lanyard and then swung it around her neck and took off on the back of a motorcycle. This was a brand new commercial and the phone had a very distinctive click wheel. Could this be the new phone or is it just one I don't know about?

[LittleJoe @ Jan 8th 2007 11:26PM]

Are you sure you didnt just see the Pink Moto Slvr with iTunes?

http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?q_list=true&q_phoneName=Motorola+SLVR+L7+-+Pink&q_sku=sku1000030-2

[JM @ Jan 8th 2007 11:00PM]

Thankfully, Stevie will never allow Cingular to put their name on the phone... or will he? Aaargh...

[some dude @ Jan 8th 2007 11:08PM]

Hey all you CDMA whiners...don't you realize Apple will probably go with GSM because it will make it easier to go international with the product. There are vastly more GSM users out there than CDMA.

I don't see how you can complain when you knowingly chose a US-centric technology. Haven't you realized we get the crappiest phones for a reason?

Unfortunately, I'm sure Cingular paid a pretty penny for a nice long exclusive agreement...so no love for T-Mobile. Then again, didn't the FCC just rule that operators have to unlock your phone if asked?

[erik brunn @ Jan 8th 2007 11:17PM]

Its either gonna just GSM or both GSM and CDMA.

[LittleJoe @ Jan 8th 2007 11:19PM]

This news has got me more excited than I should be. Not fond of the Cingular side of the post however. Then agian my Verizon contract wont be up for a couple more months, so I can hold out until the unlocked phone hits the market.

[Jean-Michel Decombe @ Jan 8th 2007 11:54PM]

Holy shit! Today is my birthday and my wife just gave me my gift and it's a $500 Apple gift card. She knew something cool would be coming at Macworld Expo but she could not wait for the gift. Awesome!!!

[muaddib420 @ Jan 8th 2007 11:59PM]

dude, your wife rocks.

[Bob Mikki @ Jan 8th 2007 11:59PM]

A previous story on engadget said that the iPhone would be released on all major services, i'm crossing my fingers and hoping that comes true.

[Chris @ Jan 9th 2007 12:15AM]

The New York Times said the same thing...

[Martin @ Jan 9th 2007 2:08AM]

I really don't understand the negative comments about Cingular. Cingular is clearly the best service provider with the best phones (SYNC,SLVR,V3i,8525,Blackjack,750,680,whatever that samsung slider is,E62,9300,Sony's new phone(I hate sony but everyone loves that damn thing),the list goes on), fastest data (average mid 800s or higher and sprint/verizon are just now getting 800 with rev. a and hsdpa theoretical speeds are so much faster with no need to upgrade phone), largest coverage area need I go on?

[Martin @ Jan 9th 2007 2:10AM]

Oh and did I mention a lot better international coverage and widespread use of GSM. Oh and voice and data at the same time which you don't get with crappy CDMA so no video calling/conferencing for you CDMA losers.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jan 9th 2007 2:49AM]

Wow, you people are the ultimate fanboys! You don't know what the phone's specs will be, you have no idea how good the reception will be, you have no idea how the sound quality will be, or even how much it will cost, but you are going to be "the first in line" because of the company logo on the phone.

How embarrassing! I remember a time when the geeks were the smart ones, and it was all the yuppies who bought products just because of the brand. How sad it is that being a geek became hip. Now "geek" just denotes a particular type of mindless status consumption among affluent losers who buy based on how cool the label makes them look.

[Wonderboy @ Jan 9th 2007 7:28AM]

You're being far too generous to most of the posters here... based on the sheer ridiculousness of mose comments made on Engadget I'd dare say 15% of posters are true "geeks", the rest are wanna-be's since, like you said, being a geek became hip.

[Denny @ Jan 9th 2007 7:56AM]

I love Apple, but despise Cingular... Guess I'll have to sign up for Cingular and pay the early termination fee, unlock the phone, and bring it to my trusty old T-Mobile account where I'll surely get better signal and much better customer service.

[Derek @ Jan 9th 2007 9:42AM]

the reason this will launch on cingulars network is becase they use this as there corp account for wireless phones!!!!!!!!!