Report: GSM-CDMA Hybrid Planned for Next Generation iPhone

[Michael Essany]

As widely anticipated, consistent reports are corroborating what is quickly becoming the world kept secret in iDevice-land. The next-generation iPhone (the iPhone 4S or iPhone 5) will be a hybrid of sorts. That is, it will be a "global model" capable of working with either GSM or CDMA networks.

The latest clues of this strong possibility come to us this weekend via Japanese site MacOtakara, which reported that the CDMA iPhone 4 for Verizon Wireless will be the base for the next generation handset. It will sport the so-called "hybrid" GSM-CDMA functionality and a SIM card slot "for countries except United States."

The report also claimed that the iPhone 4S will come with a "more narrow front receiver slit", along with a smaller FaceTime camera. It also stated that the next iPhone avatar will also feature an antenna for the 5Ghz wavelength of 802.11n wireless networking.

Sources in touch with MacOtakara and other far east news organizations largely agree with industry analysts who believe that the 5th generation iPhone's processor will get a boost and graduate to the faster A5 processor found in the iPad 2. Also on the fast track from rumor to reality is the foregone conclusion that the new iPhone will deliver a nifty 8MP camera from OmniVision (with a small number coming from Sony).

As MMi's Phillip Swanson reported Monday, all signs presently point to Apple introducing both its latest iOS (iOS 5) and the next-generation handset in early fall - likely in September.

Source: International Business Times

[xclusiveiphone]

Will this mean the price of the iPhone will suddenly sky rocket because were all essentially forced to buy an unlocked iPhone?

[CaptBojank]

"except the United States"? No sim card slot for us?

[sucram6791]

isnt this like the 15th report saying this?

[javiert30]

I hope it don't look like that picture...

[Stray]

I hope it don't look like that picture...

Thats just a mockup

[IphoneReaper]

"except the United States"? No sim card slot for us?

I second that if I can't buy I phone that isn't universal then I will stick with my iPhone 4 but can't see the logic of fragmenting the phone line by having one for "us" and one for the rest of the world. Not much love for the home team

[Italia411]

Does no sim card on US models mean the end of Att and apple?

[bootloader]

They would be making 2 versions of the same iphone sim and no sim ?

[unison999]

Does no sim card on US models mean the end of Att and apple?

It is more like no sim means At&T own TMobile.

Does no sim card on US models mean the end of Att and apple?

just a different cover is all. Not hard.

[Turnamental]

They would be making 2 versions of the same iphone sim and no sim ?

I don't see it happening this way... They lock their devices with modem firmware...

This makes perfect sense and would cut down production costs greatly though. One model phone does all the networks.

If Apple puts it on Sprint per say this fall, and the end user hacks his phone to run on any network, Apple still delivered the goods...

To Apple... This makes perfect sense.

[foolish813]

There will not be a sim needed for US GSM networks is all this means. Other GSM networks across the world will still need a Sim. It will just be pre-programmed for US GSM carriers. Luck us!

[Turnamental]

I hope it don't look like that picture...

I miss the rounded back...

The 3G and 3GS just felt so damn good in my hand.

There will not be a sim needed for US GSM networks is all this means. Other GSM networks across the world will still need a Sim. It will just be pre-programmed for US GSM carriers. Luck us!

Dude I sure hope not! It's nice to be able to just pop in your sim card in any iPhone and go...

[confucious]

This is what I feared if the iPhone went to Verizon
We will now have to put up with some half arsed jack of all trades chip rather than a dedicated GSM one.
Roll on LTE so CDMA 2000 can finally be put to rest.

[spider_romeo]

"except the United States"? No sim card slot for us?

Just put the code number from sim card. No need to put the sim card significantly.

[Niruban]

The photo looks so sick!!

[confucious]

Apple are trying to change the GSM standard- hopefully they won't succeed!

[Evoss]

dont like design

[Stray]

That is just a mockup which is just someone who makes it to what they think it will look like.