3G iPhones and the FCC Myth
When the iPhone was first announced at Macworld San Francisco 2007, Steve Jobs specifically said that he did not want the iPhone's existence first revealed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This comment has generated a bit of a following, with some commenters continuing to insist that the 3G iPhone will be revealed by the FCC first.
The problem with this theory is that Apple frequently announces new products that don't first show up in the FCC database. Also, companies are allowed to have some degree of confidentiality for products.
Apple submitted the original iPhone to the FCC on March 9, 2007. The documents, however, remained confidential until May 17, 2007, about six weeks prior to its launch. So while it may have required months for approval, it only appeared in the FCC database for all to see about 6 weeks prior to the ship date.
In another example, Apple's Time Capsule was submitted to the FCC on January 15, 2008 -- the same day as its announcement. The documents were immediately public and the product again shipped about 6 weeks later.
If this rough pattern continues, we could see the 3G iPhone shipping by late July if Apple announces it (for example) at WWDC on June 10th.
The problem with this theory is that Apple frequently announces new products that don't first show up in the FCC database. Also, companies are allowed to have some degree of confidentiality for products.
Apple submitted the original iPhone to the FCC on March 9, 2007. The documents, however, remained confidential until May 17, 2007, about six weeks prior to its launch. So while it may have required months for approval, it only appeared in the FCC database for all to see about 6 weeks prior to the ship date.
In another example, Apple's Time Capsule was submitted to the FCC on January 15, 2008 -- the same day as its announcement. The documents were immediately public and the product again shipped about 6 weeks later.
If this rough pattern continues, we could see the 3G iPhone shipping by late July if Apple announces it (for example) at WWDC on June 10th.
Top Rated Comments
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50 months ago
Smart... But does this mean that apple can not privately send their documents and stuff to the FCC before the launch? The FCC reveals all?
Hmmm...ill be back in america for a visit in July...maybe ill pick up a 3g iphone and unlock it for japan:p
Hmmm...ill be back in america for a visit in July...maybe ill pick up a 3g iphone and unlock it for japan:p
50 months ago
thank you for posting this, hopefully now there won't be a slew of replies on every iPhone thread pleading the same argument.
50 months ago
To clarify, on 17 May 2007 the FCC approved the iPhone but Apple had requested a 45 day period of silence on the FCC's part beginning with the day of approval. Just read the letters in the link:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=268052&fcc_id=%27BCGA1203%27
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=268052&fcc_id=%27BCGA1203%27
50 months ago
That is a topic that has been needing clarification, nicely done. The wait is now on then I suppose!!
50 months ago
I doubt that Apple will do that due to Mossbergs comment. He so definitively said that the iPhone will be 3G in 60 days, that I'm sure it will ship at WWDC. Maybe they will hold a media event in May and announce it will ship at WWDC.
50 months ago
Glad some more people are working to clarify this statement. Just as you say, Steve said they pre-announced at Macworld because they didn't want the iPhone to be discovered by the FCC filings. The delay between the announcement and release happened to be 6 months.
And what a lot of people have started to believe is the truth is the inverse of the situation. That the 6 month delay was dictated by the FCC approval process.
Memories of events can be a lot like the telephone game. If he mentioned the FCC approval process in the keynote, and the it took 6 months for the product to come out, well then the approval process must take 6 months.
And what a lot of people have started to believe is the truth is the inverse of the situation. That the 6 month delay was dictated by the FCC approval process.
Memories of events can be a lot like the telephone game. If he mentioned the FCC approval process in the keynote, and the it took 6 months for the product to come out, well then the approval process must take 6 months.
50 months ago
A forthcoming 3G iPhone isn't a secret. Unless there were something about it that made it significantly different from the current iPhone (other than 3G), I see no reason for Apple to wait until they announce it before filing with the FCC.
50 months ago
Glad some more people are working to clarify this statement. Just as you say, Steve said they pre-announced at Macworld because they didn't want the iPhone to be discovered by the FCC filings. The delay between the announcement and release happened to be 6 months.
And what a lot of people have started to believe is the truth is the inverse of the situation. That the 6 month delay was dictated by the FCC approval process.
Memories of events can be a lot like the telephone game. If he mentioned the FCC approval process in the keynote, and the it took 6 months for the product to come out, well then the approval process must take 6 months.
Jobs also said that the iPhone would come out in June and not sooner because of the FCC approval process.
50 months ago
there is a difference. this is a second generation iphone. I think current version will see some form of price cuts to pursuade some consumers to think about getting the current version even if 3G iPhone were to be released in March (which I think will see some price premium....about $499).
if Apple does not apply for FCC approval until the day of announcement, I would expect something like this:
3G iPhone $499 (32GB, GPS, some different form factor to distinguish from EDGE iPhone)
EDGE iPhone $399 (16GB, software 2.0, no GPS)
EDGE iPhone $299 (8GB, software 2.0, no GPS)
if Apple does not apply for FCC approval until the day of announcement, I would expect something like this:
3G iPhone $499 (32GB, GPS, some different form factor to distinguish from EDGE iPhone)
EDGE iPhone $399 (16GB, software 2.0, no GPS)
EDGE iPhone $299 (8GB, software 2.0, no GPS)
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