Apple to Drop iPhone 3GS, Introduce 8 GB iPhone 4S Next Week?

The Telegraph reports that Apple is likely to drop the iPhone 3GS from its lineup once the company introduces the iPhone 5 next week, leaving room for the iPhone 4 to slide down to the free-on-contract price point currently occupied by the iPhone 3GS. The report also indicates that Apple may introduce an 8 GB version of the iPhone 4S to occupy a middle price point as the company did last year with the iPhone 4.
The new update will mean that the 8GB version of the iPhone 4 will be the entry-level iPhone, probably given away free on £20 per month contracts, as the 3GS is currently. Sources close to retailers also suggested that an 8GB version of the 4S could be introduced.

According to the report, Apple will be releasing the iPhone 5 with three different capacities, presumably the same 16 GB/32 GB/64 GB lineup seen with the current iPhone 4S.

It would certainly not be a surprise for Apple to discontinue the iPhone 3GS in order to keep its iPhone family at three separate devices with the cheapest being offered for free on contract. Shifting the iPhone 4 into the position currently held by the iPhone 3GS would also give more carriers the ability to offer a free iPhone, as the iPhone 4 is available in both GSM and CDMA versions while the iPhone 3GS is only available as a GSM device.


The iPhone 3GS would likely be most missed by contract-free customers, prevalent in high numbers in many emerging markets. Apple currently sells the unlocked, contract-free iPhone 3GS for $375 in the United States and at somewhat higher prices elsewhere such as 2888 yuan ($455) in China, and it could presumably drop that price even further if it elected to continue offering the device alongside the three other iPhone models.

Read More ->>

iPhone 3GS Now Available For ₹9999 ($180) In India

Indian carrier Aircel has started selling the three year old iPhone 3GS for approximately $180 (₹9,999) along with an advance rental of $55 (₹3,000). Previously, the device was being sold at a price of approximately $360 (₹19,990).

Although the purchase would require subscribing to a mandatory data plan, the device would still be unlocked and available without a contract.

To grab this deal customers will need to pay advance rental of Rs 3,000 in addition to the cost of the phone which will offer them 2 GB unlimited (after 2 GB at a slower 128 Kbps speed) plan for 12 months in 3G circles, and in circles where only 2 G network is available users will get 1000 mins local and STD calls and 2500 local and national SMS along with unlimited 2G data for 6 months



It's highly unlikely that Apple is behind this huge price drop, but this is a route that the company is very likely to take after the new iPhone is announced.

The combined cost of the device and the mandatory data plan totals up to $235, which is still a pretty good deal for a device that would be getting the iOS 6 upgrade, and be compatible with most apps on the App Store.


Bringing the iPhone 3GS to a lower price bracket enables Apple to better compete with Android handsets that are being sold around the $200 mark in various countries. This is one of the primary reasons why Android dominates hugely in markets like India.

Read More ->>

iPhone 3GS gains Shared Photo Streams, VIP Mail in iOS 6 Beta 3

Users of the iPhone 3GS, a handset first released by Apple in 2009, may have access to the new Shared Photo Streams and VIP Mail features after all, as support has been added in the third beta release of iOS 6.

Previously, Apple's website indicated that the iPhone 3GS would not have access to Shared Photo Streams or VIP Mail when iOS 6 is released to the public later this year. But with Monday's release of iOS 6 Beta 3 to developers, Apple has since modified its iOS 6 preview page and removed footnotes that said the features would not be available on the iPhone 3GS.



Finally, new "Made for iPhone" branded hearing aids, expected to hit the market later this year, will require that users own an iPhone 4S.



Accordingly, iPhone 3GS users who are testing iOS 6 Beta 3 found that the features were in fact added to the latest pre-release build of the operating system update, as noted by MacRumors on Tuesday.

But the iPhone 3GS still does not have access to the Offline Reading List. In addition, the new Flyover feature in Apple's revamped Maps application, along with turn-by-turn navigation, will only be available on the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later.

The iPad 2, along with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS, also won't have access to Siri voice control, though that functionality is coming to the third-generation iPad. And FaceTime calls over a cellular data network will require the iPhone 4S or third-generation iPad.



While Apple added a handful of features to the iPhone 3GS with the latest beta of iOS 6, the new operating system update still isn't compatible with the first-generation iPad. Apple's first iPad was released in 2010, more than 9 months after the iPhone 3GS became available.

In addition, only owners of the fourth-generation iPod touch will be able to install iOS 6. The portable media player has not seen a significant update since September of 2010.


Though it was first released in 2009, Apple continues to sell the iPhone 3GS alongside the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. The iPhone 3GS is available for free with a new two-year service contract with some carriers.

Read More ->>