Apple says that the white iPhone is on track for spring release
Posted by: Phat^Trance in Press releases, iPhone News
Apple Inc. said Thursday the white iPhone would be released in the spring, reiterating a projection the company made in October. The company had previously indicated that manufacturing problems had delayed its release. The Cupertino, Calif.-based gadget maker declined to comment about which carrier would initially carry the white iPhone 4. Bloomberg earlier reported that both AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless would get the white version. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC.
Apple’s smartphone clad in white originally debuted on stage last June, in the hands of Chief Executive Steve Jobs as he showed off the company’s latest gadget. But when Apple began taking pre-orders for the device, only the black version was available.
At the time, Apple said the white iPhone was “more challenging to manufacture than expected,” and would have to delay its release. Since then, Apple has officially held back the device’s debut two more times, apologizing to disappointed customers who had been eagerly awaiting its arrival.
Color-related delays haven’t been the only sore spot with this iPhone release. Almost immediately after the iPhone 4 went on sale last June, customers began to complain about reception problems stemming from the device’s unusual design that placed the antenna on the outside casing of the device. The complaints grew to a fever pitch, culminating in a hastily called press conference during which Jobs offered to give out free cases to solve the problem.
Despite all of this, however, the iPhone has been a hit with consumers. Apple sold roughly 16.2 million iPhones in its holiday quarter, an 86% jump over the same time a year prior.
Analysts say the white iPhone will likely spur additional demand, which may help the company power through the summer quarter, during which speculation has risen that the next-generation iPhone may not make its annual debut.
Apple has said it won’t comment on its future plans, but a recent announcement for its yearly developer conference in June emphasized planned announcements about the company’s software offerings instead of any new hardware.
