The
iPhone (
/ˈaɪfoʊn/ EYE-fohn) is a line of
smartphones designed and marketed by
Apple Inc. which run on
iOS, originally
iPhone OS. The
first iPhone was unveiled by
Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007,
[1] and released on June 29, 2007. The most recent iPhone, the 5th generation
iPhone 4S, was released in October 2011.
An iPhone can function as a
video camera (video recording was not a standard feature until the
iPhone 3GS was released
[citation needed]), a
camera phone, a
portable media player, and an Internet client with email and
web browsing capabilities, can send
texts and receive
visual voicemail, and has both
Wi-Fi and cellular data (
2G and
3G) connectivity. The
user interface is built around the device's
multi-touch screen, including a
virtual keyboard rather than a physical one.
Third-party as well as Apple
application software is available from the
App Store, which launched in mid-2008, and as of 2012, has over 500,000
[2] "apps" approved by Apple. These apps have diverse functions, including
games,
reference,
GPS navigation,
social networking, security, and advertising for television shows, films, and
celebrities.
There are five
generations of iPhone models, each accompanied by one of the five major releases of
iOS (formerly iPhone OS). The
original iPhone was a
GSM phone, and established design precedents, such as screen size and button placement, that have persisted through all models. The
iPhone 3G added
3G cellular network capabilities and
A-GPS location. The
iPhone 3GS added a compass, faster
processor, and higher resolution camera, including video recording at
480p.
The
iPhone 4 has a rear-facing camera (
720p video) and a front facing camera (at a lower resolution) for
FaceTime video calling and for use in other apps like
Skype. The iPhone 4 featured a higher-resolution 960 × 640 display; it was released on June 24, 2010. In the U.S.,
AT&T was the only authorized carrier until February 10, 2011, when a
CDMA version of the iPhone 4 launched for
Verizon. On October 4, 2011, Apple announced the
iPhone 4S.
[3]
The
iPhone 4S added a higher resolution camera (8
megapixel) with
1080p video recording,
face detection, and
video stabilization, a faster, dual core processor, support for both GSM/UMTS and CDMA on one chip,
GLONASS support and a
natural language voice control system called
Siri.
[4] It is available in 16 GB and 32 GB, as well as a new 64 GB capacity. In the United States, it was announced that two new carriers,
Sprint and
C Spire, would begin carrying the
iPhone 4 and
iPhone 4S in October and November 2011, respectively.
[5] On April 20, 2012, six more regional US carriers (Cellcom, Appalachian Wireless, Alaska Communications, GCI, MTA Solutions, and nTelos) were added in to the list of iPhone
History and availability
Development of what was to become the iPhone began in 2004, when Apple started to gather a team of 1000 employees to work on the highly confidential "Project Purple".
[7] Apple CEO
Steve Jobs steered the original focus away from a tablet, like the
iPad, and towards a phone.
[8] Apple created the device during a secretive collaboration with
AT&T Mobility—Cingular Wireless at the time—at an estimated development cost of US$150 million over thirty months.
[9]
Apple rejected the "
design by committee" approach that had yielded the
Motorola ROKR E1, a largely unsuccessful
[10] collaboration with
Motorola. Instead, Cingular gave Apple the liberty to develop the iPhone's hardware and software in-house
[11][12] and even paid Apple a fraction of its monthly service revenue (until the iPhone 3G),
[13] in exchange for four years of exclusive U.S. sales, until 2011.
Jobs unveiled the iPhone to the public on January 9, 2007, at the
Macworld 2007 convention at the
Moscone Center in San Francisco. The iPhone went on sale in the United States on June 29, 2007, at 6:00 pm local time, while hundreds of customers lined up outside the stores nationwide.
[14] The passionate reaction to the launch of the iPhone resulted in sections of the media christening it the 'Jesus phone'.
[15][16] The original iPhone was made available in the UK, France, and Germany in November 2007, and Ireland and Austria in the spring of 2008.
Worldwide iPhone availability:
iPhone was available since its original release
iPhone was available since the release of iPhone 3G
Coming soon
On July 11, 2008, Apple released the iPhone 3G in twenty-two countries, including the original six.
[17] Apple released the iPhone 3G in upwards of eighty countries and territories.
[18] Apple announced the iPhone 3GS on June 8, 2009, along with plans to release it later in June, July, and August, starting with the U.S., Canada and major European countries on June 19. Many would-be users objected to the iPhone's cost,
[19] and 40% of users have household incomes over US$100,000.
[20]
In an attempt to gain a wider market, Apple retained the 8 GB iPhone 3G at a lower price. When Apple introduced the iPhone 4, the 3GS became the less expensive model. Apple reduced the price several times since the iPhone's release in 2007, at which time an 8 GB iPhone sold for $599. An iPhone 3GS with the same capacity now has no cost to the customer, as of the release of the iPhone 4S. However, these numbers are misleading, since all iPhone units sold through AT&T require a two-year contract costing several thousand dollars, including an early termination fee,
[21] and a
SIM lock.
Apple sold 6.1 million original iPhone units over five quarters.
[22] Recorded sales have been growing steadily thereafter, and by the end of
fiscal year 2010, a total of 73.5 million iPhones were sold.
[23] By 2010/2011, the iPhone had a market share of barely 4% of all cellphones, but Apple still pulls in more than 50% of the total profit that global cellphone sales generate.
[24] Sales in Q4 2008 surpassed temporarily those of
RIM's BlackBerry sales of 5.2 million units, which made Apple briefly the third largest mobile phone manufacturer by revenue, after
Nokia and
Samsung.
[25] Approximately 6.4 million iPhones are active in the U.S. alone.
[20] While iPhone sales constitute a significant portion of Apple's revenue, some of this income is
deferred.
[26]
Three
generations of iPhone, shown from behind. Left to right: original, white 3GS, black 4.
The back of the original iPhone was made of aluminum with a black plastic accent. The iPhone 3G and 3GS feature a full plastic back to increase the strength of the
GSM signal.
[27] The iPhone 3G was available in an 8 GB black model, or a black or white option for the 16 GB model. They both are now discontinued. The iPhone 3GS was available in both colors, regardless of storage capacity.
The white model was discontinued in favor of a black 8 GB low-end model. The iPhone 4 has an
aluminosilicate glass front and back with a
stainless steel edge that serves as the
antennas. It was at first available in black; the white version was announced, but not released until April 2011, 10 months later.
The iPhone has garnered positive reviews from such critics as
David Pogue[28] and
Walter Mossberg.
[29][30] The iPhone attracts users of all ages,
[20] and, besides consumer use, the iPhone has also been adopted for
business purposes.
[31]
Users of the iPhone 4 reported dropped/disconnected telephone calls when holding their phones in a certain way. This became known as
antennagate.
[32]
On January 11, 2011,
Verizon announced during a media event that it had reached an agreement with Apple and would begin selling a
CDMA2000 iPhone 4. Verizon said it would be available for pre-order on February 3, with a release set for February 10.
[33][34] In February 2011, the Verizon iPhone accounted for 4.5 percent of all iPhone ad impressions
[vague] in the U.S. on Millennial Media's mobile ad network.
[35] On March 2, 2011, at the iPad 2 event, Apple announced that they have sold 100 million iPhones worldwide.
[36]
On Tuesday, September 27, Apple sent invitations for a press event to be held October 4, 2011 at 10:00 am at the Cupertino Headquarters to announce details of the next generation iPhone, which turned out to be
iPhone 4S. Over 1 million 4S models were sold in the first 24 hours after its release in October 2011.
[37] Due to large volumes of the iPhone being manufactured and the its high selling price, Apple became the largest mobile handset vendor in the world by revenue, in 2011, surpassing long-time leader
Nokia.
[38] American carrier
C Spire Wireless announced that it would be carrying the iPhone 4S on October 19, 2011.
[5] In February 2012,
ComScore reported that 12.4% of US mobile subscribers use an iPhone.
[39]
On Tuesday July 24, 2012, Apple released its earnings report for Q2 of 2012 with earnings of $35 billion. These earnings were not only $2.2 billion short of analyst's expectations, but also only the second time since 2003 Apple missed their quarterly earnings expectations. This was largely due to soft iPhone sales. Apple sold 26 million iPhones for the quarter. Analysts expected Apple to sell approximately 28.4 million.
[40]
From 2007 to 2011, Apple spent $647 million on advertising for the iPhone in the United States.
[7]service providers.
[6]Hardware
[edit] Screen and input
The touchscreen on all models is a 9 cm (3.5 in) liquid crystal display with scratch-resistant glass.[41] The capacitive touchscreen is designed for a bare finger, or multiple fingers for multi-touch sensing. The screens on the first three generations have a resolution of 320 × 480 (HVGA) at 163 ppi, while those on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S have a resolution of 640 × 960 at 326 ppi.
The touch and gesture features of the iPhone are based on technology originally developed by FingerWorks.[42] Most gloves and styli prevent the necessary electrical conductivity;[43][44][45][46] however, capacitive styli can be used with iPhone's finger-touch screen. The iPhone 3GS and later also feature a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.[47]
The top and side of an iPhone 3GS, externally identical to the iPhone 3G. From left to right, sides: wake/sleep button, SIM card slot, headphone jack, silence switch, volume controls. The switches were black plastic on the original iPhone. Top: earpiece, screen. [edit] Audio and output
One of two speakers (left) and the microphone (right) surround the dock connector on the base of the original iPhone. If a headset is plugged in, sound is played through it instead. [edit] Battery
Replacing the battery requires disassembling the iPhone unit and exposing the internal hardware 
The iPhone 4 is the first generation to have two cameras. The LED flash for the rear-facing camera (top) and the forward-facing camera (bottom) are both unique to that model. [edit] Camera
The original iPhone and iPhone 3G feature a built-in fixed focus 2.0 megapixel camera located on the back for still digital photos. It has no optical zoom, flash or autofocus, and does not support video recording (iPhone 3G does support video recording via third-party App available on the App Store), however jailbreaking allows users to do so. Version 2.0 of iPhone OS introduced the capability to embed location data in the pictures, producing geocoded photographs.
The iPhone 3GS has a 3.2 megapixel camera, manufactured by OmniVision, featuring autofocus, auto white balance, and auto macro (up to 10 cm). It is also capable of capturing 640 × 480 (VGA resolution) video at 30 frames per second,[79] although compared to higher-end CCD based video cameras it does exhibit the rolling shutter effect.[80] The video can then be cropped on the device itself and directly uploaded to YouTube, MobileMe, or other services.
The iPhone 4 introduced a 5.0 megapixel camera (2592 × 1936 pixels), also located on the back, which is equipped with a backside illuminated sensor capable of capturing pictures in low-light conditions, as well as an LED flash capable of staying lit for video recording at 720p resolution, considered high-definition.[81] iPhone 4 is the first iPhone that has the high dynamic range photography feature.[82] In addition the iPhone 4 has a second camera on the front capable of VGA photos and SD video recording.
Regardless of the source, saved recordings may be synced to the host computer, attached to email, or (where supported) sent by MMS. Videos may be uploaded to YouTube directly.
The camera on the iPhone 4S is capable of shooting 8MP stills and recording 1080p videos. The camera can now be accessed directly from the lock screen, and the volume up button as a shutter trigger. The built-in gyroscope is able to stabilize the camera while recording video.
Beta code pulled from iOS 5 suggests that the next feature to be released will allow users to capture a panoramic photo on their iPhone.[83]
On all five model generations, the phone can be configured to bring up the camera app by quickly pressing the home key twice.[84] On all iPhones running iOS 5 it can also be accessed from the lock screen directly.
[edit] Storage and SIM
An iPhone 3G with the SIM slot open. The SIM ejector tool is still placed in the eject hole. [edit] Liquid contact indicators
The iPhone is equipped with liquid contact indicators which change from white to red in color when they come in contact with water. These suggest whether water damage has affected the device. The indicators on the iPhone include a small disc which is located at the bottom of the headphone jack and with the iPhone 3G and all later models an additional one is located at the bottom of the dock connector.[94]
The indicators are often used by Apple employees to determine whether the device qualifies for a warranty repair or replacement. If the indicators show that the device was exposed to water, they may determine that the device is not covered by Apple. However, the liquid contact indicators may be triggered through routine use, and if a device is worn while exercising, the sweat from an owner may dampen the indicators enough to indicate water damage.[95]
On many other mobile phones from different manufacturers, the liquid contact indicators are located in a protected location, such as beneath the battery behind a battery cover, but the indicators on an iPhone are directly exposed to the environment. This has led to criticism of the placement of the indicators, which may also be affected by steam in a bathroom or other light environmental moisture.[96] In response to these criticisms, Apple made a silent change to their water damage policy for iPhones and similar products. This new policy allows the customer to request further internal inspection of the phone to verify if internal liquid damage sensors were triggered.[97]
[edit] Included items
The contents of the box of an iPhone 4. From left to right: iPhone 4 in plastic holder, written documentation, and (top to bottom) headset, USB cable, wall charger. 
The default Home screen of iOS 5.0.1 shows most of the applications provided by Apple. Users can download additional applications from the App store, create Web Clips, rearrange the icons, and create and delete folders. [edit] Interface
The interface is based around the home screen, a graphical list of available applications. iPhone applications normally run one at a time (not including iOS 4 and iOS 5, which includes running applications in the background),[130] although most functionality is still available when making a call or listening to music. The home screen can be accessed at any time by a hardware button below the screen, closing the open application in the process.[131]
By default, the Home screen contains the following icons: Messages (SMS and MMS messaging), Calendar, Photos, Camera, YouTube, Stocks, Maps (Google Maps), Weather, Voice Memos, Notes, Clock, Calculator, Settings, iTunes (store), App Store, (on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4) Compass, FaceTime and GameCenter were added in iOS 4.0 and 4.1 respectively. In iOS 5, Reminders and Newsstand were added, as well as the iPod application split into separate Music and Videos applications. iOS 6 added Passbook as well as an updated version of Maps that relies on data provided by TomTom as well as other sources. iOS 6 also added a Clock application onto the iPad's homescreen. Docked at the base of the screen, four icons for Phone, Mail, Safari (Internet), and Music delineate the iPhone's main purposes.[132] On January 15, 2008, Apple released software update 1.1.3, allowing users to create "Web Clips", home screen icons that resemble apps that open a user-defined page in Safari. After the update, iPhone users can rearrange and place icons on up to nine other adjacent home screens, accessed by a horizontal swipe.[53]
Users can also add and delete icons from the dock, which is the same on every home screen. Each home screen holds up to sixteen icons, and the dock holds up to four icons. Users can delete Web Clips and third-party applications at any time, and may select only certain applications for transfer from iTunes. Apple's default programs, however, may not be removed. The 3.0 update adds a system-wide search, known as Spotlight, to the left of the first home screen.[51][52]
Almost all input is given through the touch screen, which understands complex gestures using multi-touch. The iPhone's interaction techniques enable the user to move the content up or down by a touch-drag motion of the finger. For example, zooming in and out of web pages and photos is done by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them farther apart or bringing them closer together, a gesture known as "pinching".
Scrolling through a long list or menu is achieved by sliding a finger over the display from bottom to top, or vice versa to go back. In either case, the list moves as if it is pasted on the outer surface of a wheel, slowly decelerating as if affected by friction. In this way, the interface simulates the physics of a real object.
Other user-centered interactive effects include horizontally sliding sub-selection, the vertically sliding keyboard and bookmarks menu, and widgets that turn around to allow settings to be configured on the other side. Menu bars are found at the top and bottom of the screen when necessary. Their options vary by program, but always follow a consistent style motif. In menu hierarchies, a "back" button in the top-left corner of the screen displays the name of the parent folder.
When making a call, the iPhone presents a number of options; including FaceTime on supported models. The screen is automatically disabled when held close to the face. [edit] Multimedia
The layout of the music library is similar to that of an iPod or current Symbian S60 phones. The iPhone can sort its media library by songs, artists, albums, videos, playlists, genres, composers, podcasts, audiobooks, and compilations. Options are always presented alphabetically, except in playlists, which retain their order from iTunes. The iPhone uses a large font that allows users plenty of room to touch their selection.
Users can rotate their device horizontally to landscape mode to access Cover Flow. Like on iTunes, this feature shows the different album covers in a scroll-through photo library. Scrolling is achieved by swiping a finger across the screen. Alternatively, headset controls can be used to pause, play, skip, and repeat tracks. On the iPhone 3GS, the volume can be changed with the included Apple Earphones, and the Voice Control feature can be used to identify a track, play songs in a playlist or by a specific artist, or create a Genius playlist.[136]
The iPhone supports gapless playback.[142] Like the fifth-generation iPods introduced in 2005, the iPhone can play digital video, allowing users to watch TV shows and movies in widescreen. Double-tapping switches between widescreen and fullscreen video playback.
The iPhone allows users to purchase and download songs from the iTunes Store directly to their iPhone. The feature originally required a Wi-Fi network, but now[when?] can use the cellular data network if one is not available.[143]
The iPhone includes software that allows the user to upload, view, and email photos taken with the camera. The user zooms in and out of photos by sliding two fingers further apart or closer together, much like Safari. The Camera application also lets users view the camera roll, the pictures that have been taken with the iPhone's camera. Those pictures are also available in the Photos application, along with any transferred from iPhoto or Aperture on a Mac, or Photoshop on a Windows PC.
[edit] Internet connectivity
Internet access is available when the iPhone is connected to a local area Wi-Fi or a wide area GSM or EDGE network, both second-generation (2G) wireless data standards. The iPhone 3G introduced support for third-generation UMTS and HSDPA 3.6,[144] only the iPhone 4S supports HSUPA networks (14.4 Mbit/s), and only the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 support HSDPA 7.2.[145]
AT&T introduced 3G in July 2004,[146] but as late as 2007, Steve Jobs stated that it was still not widespread enough in the US, and the chipsets not energy efficient enough, to be included in the iPhone.[44][147] Support for 802.1X, an authentication system commonly used by university and corporate Wi-Fi networks, was added in the 2.0 version update.[148]
By default, the iPhone will ask to join newly discovered Wi-Fi networks and prompt for the password when required. Alternatively, it can join closed Wi-Fi networks manually.[149] The iPhone will automatically choose the strongest network, connecting to Wi-Fi instead of EDGE when it is available.[150] Similarly, the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 prefer 3G to 2G, and Wi-Fi to either.[151]
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G (on the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, and 4S) can all be deactivated individually. Airplane mode disables all wireless connections at once, overriding other preferences. However, once in Airplane mode, one can explicitly enable Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth modes to join and continue to operate over one or both of those networks while the cellular network transceivers remain off.
The iPhone 3GS has a maximum download rate of 7.2 Mbit/s.[152] Furthermore, email attachments as well as apps and media from Apple's various stores must be smaller than 20 MB to be downloaded over a cellular network.[153] Larger files, often email attachments or podcasts, must be downloaded over Wi-Fi (which has no file size limits). If Wi-Fi is unavailable, one workaround is to open the files directly in Safari.[154]
Safari is the iPhone's native web browser, and it displays pages similar to its Mac and Windows counterparts. Web pages may be viewed in portrait or landscape mode and the device supports automatic zooming by pinching together or spreading apart fingertips on the screen, or by double-tapping text or images.[155][156] It is worth mentioning that Safari doesn't allow file downloads except for predefined extensions. The iPhone does not support Flash.[157]
Consequently, the UK's Advertising Standards Authority adjudicated that an advertisement claiming the iPhone could access "all parts of the internet" should be withdrawn in its current form, on grounds of false advertising.[158] In a rare public letter in April 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs outlined the reasoning behind the absence of Flash on the iPhone (and iPad).[159] The iPhone supports SVG, CSS, HTML Canvas, and Bonjour.[160][161]
Google Chrome was introduced to the iOS on June 26, 2012. In a review by Chitika on July 18, 2012, they announced that the Google Chrome web browser has 1.5% of the iOS web browser market since its release.[162]
The maps application can access Google Maps in map, satellite, or hybrid form. It can also generate directions between two locations, while providing optional real-time traffic information. During the iPhone's announcement, Jobs demonstrated this feature by searching for nearby Starbucks locations and then placing a prank call to one with a single tap.[163][164] Support for walking directions, public transit, and street view was added in the version 2.2 software update, but no voice-guided navigation.[165]
The iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 can orient the map with its digital compass.[55] Apple also developed a separate application to view YouTube videos on the iPhone, which streams videos after encoding them using the H.264 codec. Simple weather and stock quotes applications also tap in to the Internet.
iPhone users can and do access the Internet frequently, and in a variety of places. According to Google, in 2008, the iPhone generated 50 times more search requests than any other mobile handset.[166] According to Deutsche Telekom CEO René Obermann, "The average Internet usage for an iPhone customer is more than 100 megabytes. This is 30 times the use for our average contract-based consumer customers."[167] Nielsen found that 98% of iPhone users use data services, and 88% use the internet.[20] In China, the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS were built and distributed without Wi-fi.[168]
With the introduction of the Verizon iPhone in January 2011, the issue of using internet while on the phone has been brought to the public's attention. Under the two US carriers, internet and phone could be used simultaneously on AT&T networks, whereas Verizon networks only support the use of each separately.[169]
[edit] Text input
For text input, the iPhone implements a virtual keyboard on the touchscreen. It has automatic spell checking and correction, predictive word capabilities, and a dynamic dictionary that learns new words. The keyboard can predict what word the user is typing and complete it, and correct for the accidental pressing of keys near the presumed desired key.[170]
The keys are somewhat larger and spaced farther apart when in landscape mode, which is supported by only a limited number of applications. Touching a section of text for a brief time brings up a magnifying glass, allowing users to place the cursor in the middle of existing text. The virtual keyboard can accommodate 21 languages, including character recognition for Chinese.[171]
Alternate characters with accents can be typed from the keyboard by pressing the letter for 2 seconds and selecting the alternate character from the popup.[172] The 3.0 update brought support for cut, copy, or pasting text, as well as landscape keyboards in more applications.[51][52] On iPhone 4S, Siri allows dictation.
[edit] Email and text messages
The iPhone also features an email program that supports HTML email, which enables the user to embed photos in an email message. PDF, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint attachments to mail messages can be viewed on the phone.[173] Apple's MobileMe platform offers push email, which emulates the functionality of the popular BlackBerry email solution, for an annual subscription. Yahoo! offers a free push-email service for the iPhone. IMAP (although not Push-IMAP) and POP3 mail standards are also supported, including Microsoft Exchange[174] and Kerio Connect.[175]
In the first versions of the iPhone firmware, this was accomplished by opening up IMAP on the Exchange server. Apple has also licensed Microsoft ActiveSync and now[when?] supports the platform (including push email) with the release of iPhone 2.0 firmware.[176][177] The iPhone will sync email account settings over from Apple's own Mail application, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Entourage, or it can be manually configured on the device itself. With the correct settings, the email program can access almost any IMAP or POP3 account.[178]
Text messages are presented chronologically in a mailbox format similar to Mail, which places all text from recipients together with replies. Text messages are displayed in speech bubbles (similar to iChat) under each recipient's name. The iPhone has built-in support for email message forwarding, drafts, and direct internal camera-to-email picture sending. Support for multi-recipient SMS was added in the 1.1.3 software update.[179] Support for MMS was added in the 3.0 update, but not for the original iPhone[51][52] and not in the U.S. until September 25, 2009.[180][181]
[edit] Third-party applications
- See also: iOS SDK and App Store
At WWDC 2007 on June 11, 2007, Apple announced that the iPhone would support third-party "web applications" written in Ajax that share the look and feel of the iPhone interface.[182] On October 17, 2007, Steve Jobs, in an open letter posted to Apple's "Hot News" weblog, announced that a software development kit (SDK) would be made available to third-party developers in February 2008. The iPhone SDK was officially announced and released on March 6, 2008, at the Apple Town Hall facility.[183]
It is a free download, with an Apple registration, that allows developers to develop native applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, then test them in an "iPhone simulator". However, loading an application onto a real device is only possible after paying an Apple Developer Connection membership fee. Developers are free to set any price for their applications to be distributed through the App Store, of which they will receive a 70% share.[184]
Developers can also opt to release the application for free and will not pay any costs to release or distribute the application beyond the membership fee. The App Store was launched with the release of iOS 2.0, on July 11, 2008.[177] The update was free for iPhone users; owners of older iPod Touches were required to pay US$10 for it.[185]
Once a developer has submitted an application to the App Store, Apple holds firm control over its distribution. Apple can halt the distribution of applications it deems inappropriate, for example, I Am Rich, a US$1000 program that simply demonstrated the wealth of its user.[186] Apple has been criticized for banning third-party applications that enable a functionality that Apple does not want the iPhone to have: In 2008, Apple rejected Podcaster, which allowed iPhone users to download podcasts directly to the iPhone claiming it duplicated the functionality of iTunes.[187] Apple has since released a software update that grants this capability.[165]
NetShare, another rejected app, would have enabled users to tether their iPhone to a laptop or desktop, using its cellular network to load data for the computer.[188] Many carriers of the iPhone later globally allowed tethering before Apple officially supported it with the upgrade to the iOS 3.0, with AT&T Mobility being a relative latecomer in the United States.[189] In most cases, the carrier charges extra for tethering an iPhone.
Before the SDK was released, third-parties were permitted to design "Web Apps" that would run through Safari.[190] Unsigned native applications are also available for "jailbroken" phones.[191] The ability to install native applications onto the iPhone outside of the App Store is not supported by Apple, the stated reason being that such native applications could be broken by any software update, but Apple has stated it will not design software updates specifically to break native applications other than those that perform SIM unlocking.[192]
As of January 2011[update], Apple has passed 10 billion app downloads.[193]
[edit] Accessibility
The iPhone can enlarge text to make it more accessible for vision-impaired users,[194] and can accommodate hearing-impaired users with closed captioning and external TTY devices.[195] The iPhone 3GS also features white on black mode, VoiceOver (a screen reader), and zooming for impaired vision, and mono audio for limited hearing in one ear.[196] Apple regularly publishes Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates which explicitly state compliance with the US regulation "Section 508".[197]
[edit] Vulnerability
In 2007, 2010, and 2011, developers released a series of tools called JailbreakMe that used security vulnerabilities in Mobile Safari rendering in order to jailbreak the device (which allows users to install any compatible software on the device instead of only App Store apps).[198][199][200] These exploits were each soon fixed by iOS updates from Apple. Theoretically these flaws could have also been used for malicious purposes.[201]
In July 2011, Apple released iOS 4.3.5 (4.2.10 for CDMA iPhone) to fix a security vulnerability with certificate validation.
[edit] Intellectual property
Apple has filed more than 200 patent applications related to the technology behind the iPhone.[202][203]
LG Electronics claimed the design of the iPhone was copied from the LG Prada. Woo-Young Kwak, head of LG Mobile Handset R&D Center, said at a press conference: "we consider that Apple copied Prada phone after the design was unveiled when it was presented in the iF Design Award and won the prize in September 2006."[204]
On September 3, 1993, Infogear filed for the U.S. trademark "I PHONE"[205] and on March 20, 1996, applied for the trademark "IPhone".[206] "I Phone" was registered in March 1998,[205] and "IPhone" was registered in 1999.[206] Since then, the I PHONE mark had been abandoned.[205] Infogear trademarks cover "communications terminals comprising computer hardware and software providing integrated telephone, data communications and personal computer functions" (1993 filing),[205] and "computer hardware and software for providing integrated telephone communication with computerized global information networks" (1996 filing).[207]
Infogear released a telephone with an integrated web browser under the name iPhone in 1998.[208] In 2000, Infogear won an infringement claim against the owners of the iphones.com domain name.[209] In June 2000, Cisco Systems acquired Infogear, including the iPhone trademark.[210] On December 18, 2006, they released a range of re-branded Voice over IP (VoIP) sets under the name iPhone.[211]
In October 2002, Apple applied for the "iPhone" trademark in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and the European Union. A Canadian application followed in October 2004, and a New Zealand application in September 2006. As of October 2006[update], only the Singapore and Australian applications had been granted. In September 2006, a company called Ocean Telecom Services applied for an "iPhone" trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, following a filing in Trinidad and Tobago.[212]
As the Ocean Telecom trademark applications use exactly the same wording as the New Zealand application of Apple, it is assumed that Ocean Telecom is applying on behalf of Apple.[213] The Canadian application was opposed in August 2005, by a Canadian company called Comwave who themselves applied for the trademark three months later. Comwave has been selling VoIP devices called iPhone since 2004.[210]
Shortly after Steve Jobs' January 9, 2007, announcement that Apple would be selling a product called iPhone in June 2007, Cisco issued a statement that it had been negotiating trademark licensing with Apple and expected Apple to agree to the final documents that had been submitted the night before.[214] On January 10, 2007, Cisco announced it had filed a lawsuit against Apple over the infringement of the trademark iPhone, seeking an injunction in federal court to prohibit Apple from using the name.[215] More recently,[when?] Cisco claimed that the trademark lawsuit was a "minor skirmish" that was not about money, but about interoperability.[216]
On February 2, 2007, Apple and Cisco announced that they had agreed to temporarily suspend litigation while they held settlement talks,[217] and subsequently announced on February 20, 2007, that they had reached an agreement. Both companies will be allowed to use the "iPhone" name[218] in exchange for "exploring interoperability" between their security, consumer, and business communications products.[219]
The iPhone has also inspired several leading high-tech clones,[220] driving both the popularity of Apple and consumer willingness to upgrade iPhones quickly.[221]
On October 22, 2009, Nokia filed a lawsuit against Apple for infringement of its GSM, UMTS and WLAN patents. Nokia alleges that Apple has been violating ten of the patents of Nokia since the iPhone initial release.[222]
In December 2010, Reuters reported that some iPhone and iPad users were suing Apple Inc. because some applications were passing user information to third-party advertisers without permission. Some makers of the applications such as Textplus4, Paper Toss, Weather Channel, Dictionary.com, Talking Tom Cat and Pumpkin Maker have also been named as co-defendants in the lawsuit.[223
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