Rumor: Apple Creating 3G iPhone for Asian Markets

It came from Rumorville, so at least part of it must be true: According to sources close to the story, Apple may have a 3G iPhone in the works for its Japanese launch in 2008. Japan, which represents the world's second largest national economy, represents millions of potential customers for Apple, which appears to have been recently involved in talks with wireless carriers DoCoMo and Softbank. The key to these talks seems to be Apple's business model and which carrier will agree to its demands; DoCoMo represents a potential 53 million customers as opposed to Softbank's 17 million and though DoCoMo is in a stronger bargaining position, Softbank seems more likely to share revenue in exchange for being the sole provider of the iPhone in Japan.

Recent suggestions have also brought forth one solid fact: there is no GSM network currently in place in Japan and for a new iPhone to compete, the unit would have to be a 3G device. As a result, suggestions of a new CDMA chip within the iPhone handset seem believable, if somewhat on the horizon.

[Via Tech.co.uk]