iPhone Madness is Starting

Michael Gartenberg | December 10, 2006, 09:36 AM

I got a call the other day from a Wall Street publication asking me if the new delays in shipping the iPhone was affecting Apple’s stock price. Excuse me? Delays? Is it possible to call a product that hasn’t been acknowledged much less shipped delayed? While I know that December is the best month for Apple rumors, this is starting to get out of hand as mainstream press and analysts comment about a product that may or may not even be announced at Macworld.

For example, we have one analyst already talking about details version 2.0 of the iPhone. (note to Jesse, any phone that isn’t a good phone first and foremost has been a disaster in the market, Apple knows this and it’s hard to see how they would focus on phone features as secondary. More likely the goal would be a great phone and great other features with one not compromising the other.)

Here’s another editorial talking about how the iPhone is doomed to fail (it’s fun to predict likely success of a product without ever seeing it, makes the review so much easier). (note to Michael, seriously, you don’t think the cell phone experience could be improved on? I’m not talking form but function. Come on, Phone UI is a disaster and there’s a lot Apple could do here)

There's more but no need to point to all of them. No doubt we’ll see lots more in terms of rumors before Macworld and probably another note or two from analysts with the “Scoop”. As in the past, almost all of these will be wrong. (as it, it seems each of these research notes is contradictory in terms of capabilities, price and carrier support. SOme say GSM, others say every carrier. Some say touch screen, some say no. Sheesh).

But there are some things to consider. First, As with the introduction of the nano, it’s possible for rumors to be totally right while at the same time, totally wrong. Second, as usual, those who know don’t speak and those who speak don’t know. Ignore most of what's being said as pure speculation and fantasy. Finally, my prediction? I do expect something pretty big coming in January from Apple. Time will tell. If and when a phone is announced (or anything else for that matter) we'll be sure to tell you what it all means for Apple and for everyone else.

Note to journalists who keep asking me for iPhone details. You must presume one of two things, I either don’t know any details so why ask or if I did know details, I probably couldn’t tell them to you for publication (or tell them to you period) so again, why ask? Please, let’s skip this question for the next few weeks, OK?