The AT&T and Apple bonding for the iPhone sales across the United States has solely dominated the market share for years now. But word is that the two companies are about to break up in a years time.

This isn’t a confirmed detail but Apple analysts have reported that the sales for the iPhone have been more conquering in places where the single service provider approach hasn’t been used. Consequently Apple intends to end its single carrier exclusivity model to further expand its market share.

Reports also suggest that this change will be brought about with the launch of a new product in 2010. As far as the American alliance is concerned, people have been happy with the iPhone but the AT&T services have not really been satisfying.

Although AT&T is eager to continue the deal through 2011, Verizon might be next on Apple’s roadmap. Given that Verizon has sped up work for its 4G network and the next iPhone model is bound to adore that, that sounds like a deal made in Heaven, don’t you think?

[via AppleInsider]

If you thought that the app store helps rake in millions for a developer, it is probably your misconception and not all (actually not sure if any) developers sitting out there are driving Ferraris because their application was a popular arrival at the app store.

As per a recent AdMob survey (with 1,117 relevant respondents) users purchasing applications at the App Store spent on average $9 per five downloads.

Apparently there’s $200 million worth of applications sold in Apple’s iPhone store every month, which makes for some $2.4 billion a year. But people love freebies and believe it or not the main thing that convinces them to spend money is actually playing with the free one at first.

The iPhone and the Android users download ten new applications a month and the iPod touch users get 18 new apps downloaded a month on average. Combining the stats for both iPhone and Android, almost half the number of people downloads the freebies. The fact of the matter is that ‘cheap is here to stay’ and a free version is how you can entice a user to download your application.

So how many of you have made money with apps … and can you tell us how much?

[via ArsTechnica]

All the Apple gadgetry fanatics realize the importance of the Keynote event which the company holds since 2005. The event discloses all about the updates related to Apple products such as new iPods, iPhones or iTunes new features.

Hence why we think that you should know that this year the “grand ceremony” will be held on Wednesday on September 9th. Most likely the will be Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, for the keynote event has has been held there on all previous occasions.

Sadly all the hype regarding the event revolves around Steve Jobs making his first public appearance after coming back from his medical leave.

More to it, the buffs expecting to see the Apple Tablet will have to return home disappointed since it’s now pretty obvious that the project has been postponed and we’ll get our eyes on one, no earlier than next year. Of course that doesn’t mean that Steve won’t have one to play with in front of everyone.

Smells like, it’s going to be an exciting fall!

[via allthingsd] Image courtesy of dekuwa

Is Apple finally targeting the lucrative Social Networking business? The big question has a lot of confusing answers and the latest speculation to add to that long list of answers — after the Paypal killer, is that Apple is keen on tying iTunes with a social application that should release to the market in the near future (whatever that means).

The application will be similar to Yahoo One Connect and will be capable of consolidating all social networking services.

As a consequence you will be able to broadcast what music you are listening to and you could even share music with people on your network. Not just that, you could connect with your friend’ friends and update all your statuses at one go. In combination with iTunes 9, your music status could also be broadcasted.

The problem with all these is that nothing is confirmed, which just leaves us in a state of jeopardy for now.

[via BGR]

Is there is an Apple PayPal Killer in the ranks!? That’s the question on everyone’s minds these days.

After being rumored to come up with the Apple Tablet and a bunch of new iPhones, the newest thing we’re itching to know is if Apple is planning a service that would allow the iTunes Store account holders to make purchases on participating third-party sites across the Internet.

Considering that behind the rumor are the Wall Street gossips, you’ll have to take it with a pinch of salt before getting too excited. There’s no official word from Apple, but if we’re to consider the success of Paypal and the fact that Facebook recently introduced a “pay with Facebook” feature, Cupertino may want to cash in on their amazing user base in the online payments business.

Could it be that Apple depends too much on their hardware products (iPhones, Macs, iPods) — which may see a drop in sales, soon — and they’re looking for a way to diversify their business?

No matter whatever the reason is, we’d love to get it tested out.

[via BusinessWire]

The FCC has been questioning who has been behind the termination and rejection of Google applications from the App Store — to be more exact the rejection of the Google Voice Mobile (a VOIP solution for mobile phones that offers free text messages and really cheap international calls) by Apple, from last week.

It is pretty obvious that Apple was prompted to react the way it did owing to the persuasion coming from the AT&T camp but it never realized that they’ll have to come up with an explanation for all these. The answer could be that Apple is yet to recognize Voice as an application and not as a service, but then why did Skype get a preferential treatment?

Also, there is chance that both Apple and AT&T want to curtail the rise of the VoIP inside of WiFi hotspots on mobile devices. But then again, the allowance to Skype hints double-standards for Skype has a business favor as it is purchasing some of their US termination from AT&T.

The answers sure might be kept confidential but we will still get a lot to know from this development and we are delighted over FCC to stamp its authority by intruding in a way it always should.

[via Pulver]

The Google request to run Google Voice as an application on the Apple iPhone has been rejected by the App Store. Surprisingly the big G isn’t disappointed by the development as they will continue to work to bring the services to iPhone users — for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.

Except GV Mobile, all third-party applications that use the service have also been pulled out by Apple. The reasons that can be cited for such a development is that Google is a direct competitor to the iPhone OS with its Android which is fast conquering the market share. The official reason is that the application had “duplicating built-in iPhone features” — which we think it’s bull …

A ‘spicier’ reason could be that AT&T is behind the whole deal as Google Voice offers free texting whereas AT&T is still charging minutes for texts. Also, international calling plans for AT&T can suffer a severe setback given the advantages offered by Google Voice. If the latter one has got more to do with the development, the future of Google Voice on the iPhone is very much over.

[via AppleInsider]

Apple and AT&T are facing two more lawsuits over what customers claim is poor iPhone 3G network performance and hairline cracks in the casing.

Florida residents Onel Gonzalez and Ron J. Brayteson filed a 24-page complaint in the Southern District of Florida on behalf of themselves and all members of the class in their state, demanding statutory, compensatory, and punitive damages plus interest. They also seek a ruling deeming Apple and AT&T’s practices ruled unlawful, an injunction preventing them from “continuing to disseminate false and misleading advertising,” and pay restitution for any ill-gotten gains.

Meanwhile, New Jersey resident Timothy Ritchie filed a 23-page complaint in the District of New Jersey for himself and all similarly situated members of his state, making the same demands as Gonzalez and Brayteson. Ritchie claims to have purchased his iPhone 3G in September 2008, while Gonzalez bought one in June 2008, and Brayteson in August.

The filings feature several pages of comments reprinted from blog posts and messageboards, including one customer who posted on Wired, “I have a brand new [iPhone 3G], and my home is inside an AT&T 3G coverage map (suburban area) and I NEVER get 3G reception. The iPhone flickers “3G” for a second or two and then it’s all Edge all the way.”

Source: Apple Insider