iPhone News Updated

Apple sells contract-less iPhones

Apple is selling iPhones that are not tied to lengthy contracts, fuelling rumours of a summer release of a new model. The company is selling its smartphone at its full unsubsidised price, which is significantly higher than even the most expensive options available under contract.

Customers in the US can buy the 8GB iPhone for USD599 and the 16GB version for USD699. While the phones will still be officially locked to exclusive carrier AT&T’s network, the phones can be unlocked to work with any network.

The US release follows an announcement earlier this month that AT&T will offer the iPhone to existing subscribers on a one-per-customer “no commit” basis.

UK customers will be able to buy the 8GB iPhone for GBP550 (USD787) and the 16GB for GBP600 (USD859), but will be allowed to use it with any carrier.

Exclusive UK carrier O2 recently announced it was reducing the price of its contracts, which include offering the iPhone free of charge. This brings the cheapest option for an 8GB model down to GBR35 (USD50) a month for a two-year contract.

Commentators say the move suggests Apple is attempting to shift existing stock ahead of the release of a new iPhone model, scheduled to coincide with its developer conference in June.

[Thanks: http://digitalmedia.strategyeye.com]

Orb’s Live Events Revolutionizes Live Content on iPhone

Orb Networks today announced the availability of Orb Live Events, a customizable iPhone application that enables any content owner to broadcast their live content on these popular handsets. Live Events provides content owners with a proven iPhone player, already approved and available in Apple’s App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch. In contrast to using other solutions, which can cost millions and take months to implement, a content provider or broadcaster can get up and running in as little 24 hours with the Orb solution.

For content owners, broadcasting live content to mobile devices can pose a number of technical challenges, including those around network bandwidth, inconsistent formats, and distributing the mobile application to the handset. There are even more formidable challenges building a reliable, high quality streaming media experience on the iPhone. And since Apple must approve all new software applications in the App Store, developers often find it difficult to coordinate their product launch with acceptance in the App Store. Orb Live Events is the fastest and most flexible solution for the iPhone / touch platform. The application delivers high-quality live streaming over 3G, WiFi, and Edge, and has already been approved for distribution in Apple’s App Store, making it readily available to millions of iPhone users. For the broadcaster, the process usually takes less than a day. The first live broadcast using the Orb Live Events technology was a broadcast of the NBA All-Star Weekend.
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