AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson blurts out 3G iPhone Available in 2008, So?

At a meeting of the Churchill Club in Santa Clara, CA, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson reportedly (by Bloomberg) blurted out that a 3G iPhone will be available in 2008. Is this news? Did he spill the beans? Will it affect iPhone sales? Our answers are yes, no and no.

It is news because it adds a bit of confirmation to what we have all been expecting from Steve Jobs' comments on the iPhone getting faster 3G networking capability. Jobs has stated that the iPhone does not have 3G capability because battery life was far more important than 3G compatibility given that it has the slower EDGE and much faster Wi-Fi capabilities already. We certainly agree with this decision if 3G capability drops the iPhone battery life below 8-10 hours for our use. Now it's over 24 hours for us most of the time. Jobs projected that a 5-hr battery life on a 3G network would be attainable by the end of 2008.

Stephenson did not spill the beans because it is what Jobs has alluded to before, if not directly.

Our view is that since it is not really new information that it will not hurt iPhone sales. Anyway, we're happy with our iPhone without 3G capability and would be very unhappy if it only got 5 hours of battery life because it used a 3G network. [Bill Fox]

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