• Read more about Verizon and AT&T to Carry Apple iPad: What It Means

So, you thought that AT&T already sold the Apple iPad, did you? You can't be faulted for that, considering that the 3G models of the popular mobile media tablet uses an optional AT&T data plan. However, AT&T will not actually be selling iPads until Oct 28th -- the same day that their wireless competitor Verizon will be selling the iPad as well. Thrown into the mix, Wal-mart will join the list of retailers selling the device, which includes the recent addition of Best Buy this past summer.

But forget the retailers; it's the resulting competition between AT&T and Verizon that will be interesting to watch. How will they compete each other? They can't reduce the device price, since Apple has that fixed -- no discounts, unless they themselves offer it. So obviously, the differentiation between carriers will be data plans and connection options, though one or both might decide to throw in goodies such as special cables. Except that AT&T has one advantage, as discussed in the next section.

Device Options

Overall, there are six models of the iPad. One variable is memory size (16GB, 32GB and 64GB), and the other is a choice between a WiFi-only model and WiFi+3G model. AT&T will be offering all six models of iPad, since the 3G network used belongs to them. Verizon will be offering the three WiFi-only models, but to entice consumers over, they're also offering a Internet connection bundle for each of the three models, the details of which are below.

Internet Connection Options

With the AT&T offerings, if you need to be connected to the Internet regularly, you'd probably want one of the WiFi+3G models. If a wireless network connection suffices, then a WiFi-only model will probably do, and is cheaper besides. For Verizon, you have a choice of just a WiFi-only iPad, or getting a bundle that includes a MiFi 2220 mobile hotspot device. Normally, a hotspot device might be awkward to carry around, though MiFi 2200 is said to be quite small and pocketable. What's more, the MiFi 2200 lets you connect up to five devices to the Internet.

There are other options. Myself, I use a different Verizon option, based on what was available when I got my iPad (on its launch day in April 2010). I have a Palm Pre Plus smartphone that has an embedded mobile hotspot feature, which is free of charge and lets me connect up to five devices to the Internet. The only drawback is that if I'm on the go and am not carrying a car charger (or my iPad or iPhone is already plugged into the car charging socket) or don't have an AC outlet to charge from, then the Pre's battery burns out extremely fast while the mobile hotspot feature is enabled. I've never kept an accurate time, but it feels like about an hour before the battery is dead, whether I'm using the Internet connection or not. I'm not mistaken, I'm paying $40/month for the data plan (5GB) and $40/month for the cell phone minutes -- which I never use. My understanding is that Verizon also has Android phones that have mobile hotspots, if you don't want a Palm Pre Plus.

iPad Data Plans: A Comparison

In retrospect, had the iPad 3G been available on launch day, I would probably have purchased that. It's much more convenient than carrying my Palm Pre Plus and its charger around (as I already carry my iPhone and sometimes my iPod Touch as well). However, for those consumer who don't want to use AT&T, it's important to note that Verizon currently has the more cost-effective data plans:

• Verizon's MiFi 2200 data plans: 1GB for $20/month; 3GB for $35/month; 5GB for $50/month. Overage charges are $10 per GigaByte for the two top-end plans, and $20 per GigaByte on the low-end plan. Verizon is offering these special MiFi rate plans only for new iPad purchases and not for other MiFi use. (Note: normal Verizon rates are are actually higher than AT&T: 250MB for $35/month and 5GB for $60/month. These are special iPad bundle rates.)
• AT&T: 250MB for $14.99/month (about 3 times Verizon for 1GB worth); 2GB for $25/month. (Had AT&T stuck with their original $25/month "unlimited" plan for iPad, they would have had the best rate.) AT&T will also offer iPads free access to their 23,000+ WiFi hotspots in the USA.

So Verizon's data plans are much cheaper on a per-GB average. Normally, Verizon charges $299 for a MiFi device costs $299 or significantly less if you sign a new 2-year contract, but they've dropped the cost to $130 and dropped data plan rates for their iPad bundles. Their data plans are month to month, but you cannot buy an iPad "now" then go back later for a MiFi 2200 and expect the bundle rates. AT&T's data plan also does not require a contract, but the three 3G models do cost $130 more than their WiFi-only counterparts.

Which Carrier Should You Choose?

Confused yet? It's a bit difficult to recommend a carrier here. I use both AT&T and Verizon, but I am a mobile apps developer, so my needs are different than for most iPad users. It really depends on how you would use your iPad and whether you need to connect other devices. A 3G model is more convenient but binds you to AT&T. Verizon's iPad bundles let you connect multiple devices, but battery power would likely be less than the iPad's relatively long battery life, even in use. (Note: Apple's Verizon press release says the MiFi 2200 "provides up to four hours of active use and 40 hours of standby time on a single charge.")

For businesses that plan to have employees use the device for internal corporate use, WiFi-only models might suffice if a wireless network is always available. If an employee is will be "out in the field," then it's up to either cost, convenience, connection needs or carrier preference. (Don't forget AT&T's domestic network of 23,000+ free WiFi hotspots.) The same reasoning applies to individuals considering purchasing an iPad.

What This Means for the Future

Now of course the fact that Verizon will carry the iPad is refueling rumors that a Verizon iPhone is coming in 2011, and if that's true, I wouldn't be surprised if they offer Internet tethering, even if AT&T will not. What do I think? Well, it seems to me that Apple is starting a new, open relationship with Verizon and that that will very likely lead to other joint offerings. In other words, a Verizon iPhone will eventually come, once Apple is happy with Verizon's cellular network. Apple needs to diversify U.S. cellular provider coverage and cannot afford to lose more ground in the U.S. to Android phones.

Whichever carrier iPad buyers go with starting Oct 28th, the percentage of American adults owning media tablet devices is going to climb from the Pew Internet's current estimate of ~4%, and iPad sales will be a significant part of that. Gartner, Inc., feels that, worldwide, nearly 20 million units of media tablets (aka slates) will be sold in 2010, nearly 55M units in 2011, and over 208M units worldwide in 2014. Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, recently predicted that iPads alone would sell 21M units in 2011 -- nearly half of Gartner's total for all types of media tablets -- a number that's up from his initial estimate of 14.5M iPad units worldwide.

The net result of this is that mini notebook sales will suffer. If that means consumers start to use the iPads or other media tablets more often, there will be an increased demand for touch-based tablet software. This is supported by the prediction that larger media tablet devices will have an important role in the enterprise. In fact, AT&T plans to sell iPads directly to the enterprise. Once a multitasking version of Apple's iOS mobile OS is available for the iPad -- which will allow users to run several apps simultaneously, the device will have significantly more value in the enterprise.

Need advice on an iPad strategy for your business? Just want to know how you can leverage the mobile platform in general? Feel free to contact us to discuss your app idea or mobile campaign needs.

• Read more about Why Apple's New FaceTime Video Chat is Game-Changing

Apple, Inc., loves to be a game-changer, and the new Apple iPhone 4, announced yesterday, will be one both for some of the hardware aspects as well as for the video chatting feature, FaceTime. In fact, FaceTime might have even more of a social impact than people realize, given that it's intended to be an an open standard. This is a brilliant move by Apple. Why? Well first let's look at the current situation.

Current Usage Situation

When the 4th-generation iPhone becomes available in the first round of countries on Jun 24th (preorders online in those countries starting Jun 15th), FaceTime will work only over WiFi, between two 4th-gen iPhones, only. There are consumers who will get the iPhone 4 for that reason alone. That's a very limited usage scenario and not necessarily enough to win over sales of iPhone 4.

What's Coming

However, there are some other parameters to the usage equation that are not yet taken into account.

1. Cellular networks: Availability over 3G or higher cellular networks. FaceTime over 3G has already been promised by Apple. I honestly don't care about this given AT&T's change in data plan pricing. So unless Apple gives AT&T a stern talking to about the data plans, or gives other U.S. carriers the iPhone, I don't see this as a big deal.
2. Other phones: Usage over any other handset makers' smartphones that are capable of replicating a similar experience.
3. Other mobile devices: Usage over any other mobile device with a front-facing camera, such as an iPad of the future, say in early 2011.

Apple is great a creating market demand where it didn't even exist. Look at the iPod. Did we need iPods, given there were other mobile audio players? Of course we didn't. But they created what became a classic consumer electronics device, and the technology behind the iPod seems to have helped fuel the development on the iPhone/ iPod Touch and iPad mobile devices.

History of Video Calling

FaceTime is not hardware, of course, but video calling has been something that at least North Americans have been promised for decades, and which seems to have stayed in the realm of science fiction, at least for the masses. Until now. We really do need one calling protocol to make it work, with the least technical difficulties, and by being first, Apple has the advantage.

Okay, Apple's not first with video calling. A number of VoIP desktop applications -- e.g., Skype -- have had it for several years now. Also, video calling has been available for conferencing systems -- but such systems are costly and definitely not for the mass market. Apple's not even first with video on calling on smartphones, since a couple of devices were announced within the past few weeks. However, Apple will be perceived as first because of the open standard offering.

Mass Market Video Calling

I have no doubt that Apple can get most or all of the big players such as Microsoft and Google on board to support the FaceTime standard, and in doing so, they stand to further the company's brand. Even if they don't immediately convert non-Apple device FaceTime users to hardware purchasers. How could they get them to convert? By offering additional FaceTime features available only on the iPhone. By offering enterprise integration for FaceTime on the iPad (a future model, with a front-facing camera). By constantly reminding non-Apple app developers and users that 3rd-party apps get access to FaceTime features only with the Apple iPhone SDK.

However, Apple creates the market demand for FaceTime, I'm very certain they'll do it, and video calling will likely be integrated into iPhone OS apps very quickly. Imagine gaming, social network, healthcare, distance education, tech support, service calls and many other niches having next-generation mobile apps with video calling integrated. Even social interaction will be forever changed. (For example, imagine families spread across the globe who will now be able to see each other during those long periods when they cannot meet in person.)

If Apple can convince the right players to join in, FaceTime is going to have a huge impact on mobile application usage and on the way humans interact.

Want to discuss a mobile app with video calling features for your business or projects? Feel free to contact us to discuss your app or mobile campaign needs.

• Read more about ABCs of Apple iPhone 4 and iOS 4: 25 Details and Features

If you've been off the planet for the past month or so, you can be forgiven for not knowing there's a new iPhone, and much of its feature set was confirmed today by Apple CEO Steve Jobs in his keynote address for WWDC in San Francisco. This 4th-generation iPhone is packed with new features -- some of them catching up to competing phones, some surpassing competitors. Here's a  quick list of what's new, hopefully ending much of the speculation that's been going on.

1. Availability: The release plan seems a little different than for the iPad, with five countries given first crack: US, UK, France, Germany and Japan being allowed online pre-orders on Jun 15th, and availability on Jun 24th online, at Apple and AT&T retail stores, and Best Buy and Wal-Mart. The rest of the release plan calls for 24 more countries in August, after the first five, then the remaining countries for a total of 88. According to the press release, the phone will be available in numerous countries by the end of July, including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
2. Battery: Larger battery, 40% more talk time. Specifically, 7 hours talk time on 3G; 10 hrs Web browsing on WiFi and 6 on 3G; 10 hrs of video playback; 40 hours of audio playback. Standby mode: 300 hours (nearly two weeks).
3. Bing search. While Google is still the default search engine for mobile Safari, the new iOS allows for you to switch over to Bing if you want.
4. Cameras: 5MP camera with 5x digital zoom and LED flash for low light conditions. Front-facing and rear-facing cameras.
5. Color: Black and white models.
6. Developer support: Over 1500 new APIs for developers to access 100 new features.
7. Display. The predictions were right: the iPhone 4 has 4x the pixels, for a whopping 960x640 screen resolution, at 326 ppi (pixels per inch). The new "Retina" display gives it a much higher contrast than 3GS -- apparently 800:1 contrast ratio, giving it an almost paper-like quality for display text. (Print magazines often have a resolution of 300 or 600 dpi -- dots per inch.) The 3.5 inch screen has a resolution that is almost 80% the size of the iPad.
8. Email, enhanced: Unified email inbox. Attachment support.
9. Form factor: It has a more squared-off form factor than before -- but you probably knew that from all the photos of "leaked" prototypes. It's supposedly 24% thinner than before and claims to be the thinnest (9.3 mm) smartphone on the planet. Overall, it's 4.5 inches tall, 2.31 inches, and just under 5 ounces. Unfortunately, the new form factor means the iPhone 4 has to have a new dock. The iPhone 4's alloyed metal rim is not only strong (5x stronger than steel), it acts as the the phone's antennae (plural), to improve reception.
10. Gyroscope. The iPhone 4 has a 3-axis gyroscope that can more accurately detect phone motion in 6 axes -- a plus for video gaming.
11. iAd ad network. Apple says that they have advertising commitments through their new iAd ad network for $60M in 2010 alone. Steve Jobs claimed this morning that iAds will steal 48% of the mobile advertising market.
12. iBooks. iPhone will get its own iBooks, which will allow for bookmarks and user sticky notes to be added to digital books.
13. iOS iPhone OS. Despite some talk about the name "iOS" being owned by Cisco, iOS is what iPhone OS 4.0 is being called. It'll be available for download on older 3G and 3GS phones on Jun 21st, and (probably) preloaded onto iPhone 4. (However, some new OS 4 features will not be available for 3G phones.) The iPad will get an upgrade this fall.
14. Keyboard support, Bluetooth. Just as with the iPad, the iPhone 4 will allow you to add a Bluetooth keyboard.
15. Memory: 2x128 = 256 MB RAM. 16GB and 32GB models. Looks as if they did not manage to use the new 64GB flash drives made recently available -- meaning predictions of storage capacities of 64GB and 128GB were unfortunately incorrect.
16. MicroSIM. Uses the new microSIM.
17. Microphones: Two, for noise-cancelling.
18. Netflix: Netflix is coming to the iPhone App Store free of charge, and it'll allow starting a movie on the iPad and finishing viewing on the iPhone, or vice versa.
19. Networks: 802.11n WiFi, with added quad-band HSUPA.
20. Pricing: The phones are $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB. Wonder what they're saving the $399 price slot for. The new 8GB 3GS model will be available on Jun 24 for $99.
21. Processor: A4 processor, just like the iPad.
22. UI features, enhanced. Multitasking, Folders, enhanced Mail, "deeper" enterprise support.
23. Upgrades: If your AT&T contract is up any time in 2010, you are apparently eligible to upgrade to a 4th-gen iPhone immediately (as in Jun 24th or whatever date depending where you live). You have to extend your contract for two more years. If you're merely eligible for a phone upgrade, you probably don't qualify. However, I called AT&T and the very helpful CSR concluded that while my non-iPhone line's contract, and that of my wife's, ends Mar 2011, our LG Vu phones qualify for upgrades in Aug and Nov of 2010. We are eligible for a partial discount immediately. Meaning, we might have to pay $200 extra per phone over the new prices to change the LG Vu phones into iPhone 4, as well as get new iPhone data plans. However, according to what Engadget says that AT&T told them, if you already have an iPhone and want to upgrade it, you are eligibility immediately if your contract allows an upgrade any time in 2010. So please check your online account or talk to an AT&T CSR for verification. You can also dial *639# from your AT&T phone, but the resulting text message is not all that detailed. Ultimately, you might just have to walk into your nearby AT&T store and on Jun 24th and find out for sure.
24. Video chatting: It's called FaceTime, and it allows two 4th-gen iPhones to video chat, but only over WiFi for now, with 3G support coming in the future. Given AT&T's cellular data pricing plan changes, maybe that's a good thing. Either camera can be used for FaceTime chats, in both portrait and landscape modes.
25. Video editing. Not only will the phone have HD video recording (720p@30fps), you'll be able to edit video with a built in app, or with the upcoming iMovie for iPhone ($4.99).

So there you have it. There are all sorts of other features and details that are not listed here, but these are amongst the most important. The FaceTime commercial by director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road, Jarhead) is below.

• Read more about AT&T Gives Customers Some Leeway on iPhone/iPad Data Plans

If you were non-plussed to hear that AT&T was changing their data pricing plans for the iPhone and iPad come Jun 7th -- the very day many of us expect the announcement of the 4th-generation iPhone during the WWDC keynote address by Apple's Steve Jobs -- then you might be happy to know they're giving consumers some leeway. Some, but not much.

Looks as if AT&T doesn't want too much bad publicity. Despite of one threat of a cease and desist to a blogger who wrote to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson [contact details] about the new iPhone/ iPad data pricing plans, they're making some concessions. If you really really want the previously promised $30/month unlimited data plan for the iPad 3G, you can still get it, but with some conditions. If you don't already have an iPad 3G, you have to order one before Jun 7th. When you get it, even if it's after Jun 7th, you'll be eligible to sign up for the original $30/mth data plan. Of course, if you already have the iPad 3G, you can get the data plan now, before Jun 7th.

So for some of us, that means we'll have to race to order an iPad 3G. No word on whether any similar concession is available for the next iPhone, other than if you upgrade a current iPhone. (For example, as mentioned previously, I have an iPhone 3GS that I intend to keep, and thus my plan will stay at the 5GB/month cap. But I can upgrade my LG VU phone in August to a new iPhone. Unfortunately, I do not believe I'll be able to get the 5GB/mth plan for that phone -- which is a disappointment since my wife's LG VU can be upgraded in October, and we were looking forward to video calling on the new iPhone. E.g., a feature that'll eat up data.

• Read more about AT&T Disappoints iPad/iPhone Power Users Yet Again

AT&T just announced new iPhone/ iPad wireless pricing plans which while costing more for future iPad power users, had some ray of hope: iPhone tethering. That meant you could now connect to the Internet from your iPad (whether from a WiFi-only model or a 3G model) using your iPhone's data plan. Or so we thought.

Techflash is reporting that an AT&T spokesperson told them via email that iPhone-to-iPad tethering won't be possible and mentioned something about the iPad not having USB ports. (AT&T are also saying it's an iPad/ iPhone issue, not their policy.) Sounds kind of unusual. The iPhone also has no USB port. How are other wireless devices to tether from the iPhone? This of course means that the iPhone will not have a "Mobile Hotspot" feature, unlike Android phones and Palm Pre Plus.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball suggested that the good outweighs the bad in AT&T's new iPhone/ iPad data pricing, but I'm really not so sure, in light of this -- at least not for a power user like myself. Let's look at some numbers. My iPhone costs me $70/mth (phone + data costs) to get online and has a 5GB/mth cap. Maybe I don't use all of that cap on my iPhone like AT&T says, but I expected to use close to 5GB or more than that on my future iPad 3G (I have a WiFi-only model right now). After the cost of the iPad 3G, I'd have to pay $25/mth for 2GB, plus $10/GB overage. So for 5GB, that's $55, but only if I use that much data.

On the other hand, my Palm Pre Plus costs me $80/m for phone and data, with a 5GB cap and free Mobile Hotspot. I can connect any 5 wireless devices to the Internet with the Mobile Hotspot feature. Yes, it's expensive in comparison, especially if I don't use my cap every month. Other "personal WiFi" options cost anywhere from $40-60/month, according to my research, with typical 5GB/month data caps -- though who knows if this will change.

For now, it does seem that non-power users are getting a better deal with AT&T's new pricing plans -- though power users (i.e., many early adopters) are being cheated out of what was promised: unlimited 3G for $30/mth. And even if AT&T says it's Apple's fault re iPhone-to-iPad tethering, I'm not sure everyone is going to view it that way. AT&T is the bearer of bad news in this case, and will be perceived as such, at least until there's more clarity as to what iPhone tethering means, what exactly you can do with it and what you can't.

• Read more about Joy of Skype Over 3G on iPhone Will Be Short-Lived

Skype is finally going to be available over 3G on the iPhone, but it's going to cost all of us who've been waiting.

Skype-to-Skype calls might be free from your computer or enabled VoIP phone, but that's not going to be the case with the iPhone. At least, not after the end of August. After that, if you want to make a Skype-to-Skype call from your iPhone, there'll be a monthly fee. As if that's not a downer for iPhone owners who were looking forward to this Skype feature, AT&T just changed its data plan pricing. Even if there was no monthly Skype-to-Skype 3G fee, AT&T's new plan makes it less cost effective. (Without doing a detailed calculation, it's hard to say by how much.)

This double whammy of cost is likely to dissuade Skype-to-Skype 3G calls on the iPhone, so my guess is that Skype is charging the monthly fee because they have to pay off carriers.

Notes: The Next Web.

• Read more about AT&T: iPhone Tethering, iPad 3G Data Plan Changes

The Apple iPad is now available in nine more markets, not including the USA. Both the WiFi-only and 3G models are available, in all three memory sizes (16GB, 32GB, 64GB). This is great news for non-U.S. consumers who have been waiting for these devices. Meanwhile the USA seems to be sold out of them. Unfortunately, for American consumers who bought a 3G model in hopes of getting the AT&T unlimited data plan for $29.99, if you don't have it already, you'll be out of luck after June 7th. AT&T has decided to completely change the data plans, and depending on your intended usage, it might cost you more.

There are now two per-usage options for iPad 3G data plans through AT&T:

1. DataPlus plan, $15/month, capped at 200MB/ month. Extra data costs $15 for 200MB blocks. Not sure if this is prorated if you go over by a little bit.
2. DataPro plan, $25/month, 2GB/month cap. Extra data costs $10 for 1GB chunks.

While the DataPro plan is obviously a better deal if you're going to be a power iPad data user, it's going to end up costing a lot more. AT&T claims the majority of consumers are not using up their 5GB caps on the iPhone. That's probably because they never allowed tethering. They will now, for the next iPhone, but it'll cost you an extra $20 in addition to requiring the DataPro plan. That means $45/mth to let your iPhone be a tether so that your iPad (WiFi-only or 3G models) can share the data plan.

By comparison, Verizon's Palm Pre Plus phone has a Mobile Hotspot feature that allows tethering of WiFi devices at no extra cost over the data plan (roughly $40/month), which is capped at 5GB. What do you think is the better deal, aside from the fact that the new iPhone is expected to have a much longer battery life than before, and Palm Pre Plus' tethering drains the battery within 3 hours or less.

If you were plan to use your iPad in all the amazing online ways that Apple's commercials suggest, it's going to cost you. Forget watching video on the go, because that'll eat up your data plan in short order. AT&T claims this is a new lower-priced wireless data plan intended to make mobile Internet more affordable to more people. Unfortunately, power users get punished, but this sort of plan change has been part of the cellular industry for years.

• Read more about Mobomo Mobisphere Roundup -- May 29, 2010

The mobile tech rumor mill suggests that Apple might open up iPhone/ iPad development to tools on the Windows PC environment, and for that reason, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer will appear at Apple's WWDC keynote next week. But Microsoft's officially Twitter channel says it's not true. What might be true, on the other hand, is that Microsoft's Bing search engine could become the default one for the iPhone OS.

Meanwhile, a U.S. Justice Dept probe is looking at how Apple does business with non-music media businesses. Apple's market capitalization just passed Microsoft's this week, and a recent complaint from Adobe has already triggered an anti-competitive practices probe.

Probes take time and in the meantime, it's pretty clear that Apple will be announcing a new iPhone some time in June -- an iPhone that'll be leaps and bounds, technologically, ahead of the last generation, in order to support all the new features that appear in iPhone OS 4.x.

Digitimes Research has a Q&A with senior analyst Ming-Chi Kuo about some of the iPhone rumors, but the existence of a new phone is not a rumor. In fact, BGR says in two-line post that AT&T has already confirmed to their employees that there is a new iPhone in June.

Unfortunately for consumers, AT&T seems to be upping the cost of ownership. While the new phone itself is possible going to cost only $18 to upgrade to from an older iPhone, AT&T's ETF (early termination fee) for all smartphones has increased from $175 to $325.

BGR also says that AT&T is launching a new iPhone insurance plan that costs a ridiculous $13.99 and launches in June. That's nearly half the cost of the data plan. There's also a deductible fee to be paid, for some claims. Are they expecting an increase in thefts and planning to capitalize? Or are they losing exclusivity and trying to come up with new revenue streams?  Or maybe both? Considering that AT&T claims that 40% of iPhone sales are to business users, businesses might in fact approve the insurance rates and write them off against profits.

Oddly enough, this insurance is supposed to be available in the Apple App Store, but you have to sign up within 30 days of purchasing or upgrading to a new iPhone. In case you don't feel like doing the math, that's nearly $170/year in premiums.

• Read more about Mobomo Mobisphere Roundup -- May 26, 2010

AT&T customers in New York City will be able to access free WiFi in and around Times Square. This is the company's temporarily solution to data congestion. This will of course be great for New Yorkers with iPad WiFi-only models. Just don't go near Yankee Stadium, as iPads are banned there since they're being classified as laptops. On the other hand, if you do go to Yankee Stadium with an iPad, you might want to put on iClothing's iTee ($44.95) or iDress ($89.95), right, both of which have a pocket which will hold an iPad. Given how heavy the iPad is, I'm assuming the stitching on these clothing items is strong. Let's just hope stadium security doesn't search your body.

Planning to travel and need worldwide Internet data plan? XCom Global is offering unlimited data in any of 21 countries, including USA, Canada, Mexico and the UK, for $14.95-17.95/day. Access is provided through either a USB broadband stick or a Novatel MiFi. Sounds expensive, but apparently Vodafone's rates, which are by the megabyte, could be considerably higher if you plan to be online a lot.

Unlocked smartphones are in enough demand that AT&T will provide unlocks for most of their handsets, with the exception of the iPhone, thanks to the pre-trial settlement of a class-action lawsuit.

The Android-powered Dell Streak 5" slate computer/ GSM phone launches in the UK in June. It has two cameras (to support video chat), amongst other features. The device, which was formerly known as the Mini 5, will make its U.S. appearance in late summer. I don't know; this former factor seems a bit large to use as a phone, unless you utilize the speaker or earbuds.

Android-based smartphones are selling at about 100K units per day, though given there are over 60 different handsets, that's not too surprising. What is surprising is that Android phones outsold iPhones in the U.S. in Q1 2010.

If you think the iPad is too costly, take note $100-150 Android-based tablets could hit the market by the second half of 2010. While I think Apple will drop the price of the iPad next year when newer models come out, I doubt they'll go as low as they devices, which will be powered chips from Via Technologies. I'll have seven, please -- one for each day of the week.

• Read more about 10 Confirmed or Possible Features for 4th-Gen iPhone

We all probably know by now that another generation of iPhone is coming and that it'll have numerous new features. Some of these features will catch Apple up with other handset manufactures, but other features will put them ahead of everyone else.

Foxconn, Apple's Chinese manufacturer of the iPhone, will apparently ship 24M units of the next generation of the smartphone. The new phone is likely to be announced on Jun 7, 2010, during Apple's WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), and Foxconn will ship close to 5M units before H1 2010, with the rest of the units from July-Dec. Given that the 1st half of 2010 ends Jun 30th, I'm guessing that there's an expectation of selling 5M units in June. Given that AT&T is offering an $18 upgrade fee from older iPhones, I wouldn't be surprised if they exceed 5M units. Note: Unwired View thinks
the phone will be announced Jun 22nd, but that leaves a little over a week to move 5M units. I'd put my money on Jun 7, with a faster release to markets outside the U.S. than is the case for the iPad. (The iPad becomes available in Canada and select other countries this Friday, May 28th.)

Digitimes Research is saying that the gen-4 iPhone will boast a screen resolution of 960x640, which if correct is 4 times that of the current iPhones (480x320). Inside will be an "Arm Cortex A8 processor and a 512MB memory module." However, other sites have speculated on the same A4 chip that is inside the iPad, as well 256MB of RAM, and possibly 128MB of storage, thanks to recently available, less expensive 64GB flash memory modules. It'll like have a longer battery life as well -- which will be necessary to power video chat on the go.

Confirmed New Features

Now in addition to features on the next-gen iPhone that we've recently discussed, and other openly confirmed and discussed features such as app folders and third-party multi-tasking, here are some recently revealed features:

1. Utilities folder on the default home screen containing the clock, calculator compass, and voice memo apps.
2. Tethering support. This was available in OS 3.0 but never offered. While the ability is there again in OS 4.0, AT&T or other carriers will not necessarily offer it. But if they do, you can finally connect your iPad WiFi-only model, or any WiFi device, for that matter, when you need to get online. That'd be a definite plus, as the Palm Pre Plus Mobile Hotspot feature that I use currently for my iPad is only as good as the battery life, which is maybe 2-2.5 hours while in use. If the new iPhone's battery has a longer life, that'll be a huge plus.
3. Screen lock, just like on the iPad, so that the screen doesn't rotate on you if you're lying down.
4. CDMA version, presumably for Rogers Canada, but possibly also for Verizon USA.

There will likely be many other features revealed this week and next -- or until the phone gets announced.

Potential New Features

By "potential feature" I mean that a feature is either supported by evidence but not confirmed by Apple, or it's a feature that may not be available in OS 4.0 but rather in upgrades down the road, or finally a plausible feature that has been rumored by one site or another.

1. Colors. Possibly as many as 5 case colors, though pictures of rumored prototypes show only black and white so far.
2. Video chat. Apparently the director of the movie American Beauty (Kevin Spacey, Mena Suvari), Sam Mendes, will be directing a series of commercials for the next iPhone, and Engadget says that a "trusted source" that one scene will have a simulated video chat between a mother and a daughter. It's not like we didn't already know it was coming, with all the evidence out there (including a video calls debugging feature), but this sort of thing helps cement the reality.
3. Front- and back-facing cameras, to maintain current camera abilities and to support video chat.
4. Camera flash, to light up dark environments.
5. Redesigned architecture and footprint: Thinner frame, larger battery, larger screen resolution.
6. Contextual advertising, local coupons, temporary location apps.

Of course, some of the above is still essentially speculation until the official announcement. We'll all just have to wait and see.