OPINION/SPECULATION: 3G iPhone at WWDC 2008


I’ve gotten quite a few emails about the recent iPhone shortages and what that may or may not mean for for the upcoming 3G iPhone.

There is a lot of speculation about the date that the 3G version of the iPhone will be released, and I guess it’s time to talk about it – so here goes.

It seems fairly clear to me that the 3G iPhone will be released at WWDC 2008. The Developer’s Conference this year is going to be all about the iPhone, in my opinion, and I actually think the teaser image that Apple released confirms that. I think we’re looking at adding this second bridge of development in the iPhone applications.

This year’s WWDC will be all about pushing development on the iPhone, and the things that it can do. I don’t think OSX will be completely left out in the cold, but I think its clear that iPhone Development is going to steal the show.

With that said, I think its safe to say that we’re going to be looking at an iPhone focused keynote, and I fully expect Steve Jobs to announce that 3G iPhone at that time.

The current iPhone shortages all but confirm a release in the very near future, in fact some are speculating that we’ll see the 3G iPhone even before WWDC…but I don’t agree.

My guess is that the 3G model will not be replacing the current models, but will be in addition to, and at an additional cost – perhaps even with an additional feature or two. We’ll just have to wait and see.

For now, though, 3G iPhone at WWDC 2008 is my official predictions – what do you guys think?


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

7 Comments

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  1. I don’t have any idea when the new iPhones will come out. But I feel strongly that the current shortages are NOT an indicator of things to come.

    First, every little thing that Apple does is over scrutinized. Every minor change is thought to have great meaning. Sometimes a shortage is just a shortage.

    Second, if the shortages DO portend the delivery of a new iPhone in June, then Apple has totally mismanaged inventory. It’s the BEGINNING of April. No way Apple should be running out of inventory TWO AND A HALF MONTHS prior to delivering a new product.

  2. I think the shortages have absolutely nothing to do with the 3G iPhone. There is probably some component problem that needs to be corrected. I’d heard about some iPhones that were not responsive to the touch in a certain area. That might have just been some fluke, but maybe there were thousands of iPhones that were having that problem. I only know that Apple is losing money by being short. Of course 5-7 days isn’t a very long time and I would think most people would just wait until the stock is replenished. We Apple fanboys just like to find every little glitch and turn it into a major happening. No iPhones for a few days and all of a sudden a new model is about to hit the streets. Not this time, I’m sad to say. We’ll just have to wait a few more months before going ballistic.

  3. I agree with you Mike. They wouldn’t release the 2nd generation of the iPhone without an event, and what better than WWDC. However I think the 3G iPhone will have more than just 3G, it is the 2nd generation after all. I think it will replace the current models but perhaps offer the current generation with a significant discount. Its not like Apple too not replace the line with each generation. I suspect if it does stay it will be phased out sometime before 2009.

  4. If you think about it… 3G does not live up to Apple’s standards.

    I think AT&T’s rumored 4G network will be available before WWDC. Possibly by the end of June, in time for the new ‘iPod phone’ update or the release of a new fully-functional ‘iPod pda’.

  5. I personally bought the 16 GB iPhone the day it came out. As most people said, the internet was way to slow, and the colors werent that great… black appeared more gray than anything. I returned it and payed the 50$ restocking fee. If the 2nd generation iPhone’s only improvement is the 3G, i will definently be waiting a lot longer for the 3rd.