iPhone sales book confirms minute details
updated 10:50 am EDT, Sat June 9, 2007
iPhone Sales Book
New details of the iPhone's exact features have been revealed, courtesy of a leaked workbook posted online. While the book is primarily intended to help sales agents promote the most common Internet, media, and phone calling features of the device, the text also contains information about commonly asked questions for everyday use of the phone. The handset will be able to multitask in the right conditions, AT&T says: when in the presence of a Wi-Fi network, the phone can browse the web or check e-mail while handliing a call, taking advantage of multiple connections. The device will also sync contacts directly from Outlook or Outlook Express on Windows PCs as well as Address Book on Mac OS X systems.
Other minor features confirmed include a vibrate mode for silent notification, an audio alert option for SMS text messages, and sync support for bookmarks from both Mac and Windows PCs.
But a number of features of other AT&T devices won't be in the phone, the text warns. Many of AT&T's cellular-only services (including direct cellular Internet media download and streaming) won't be an option for the device, the book says. Instant messaging is also absent from the device in its current form. Notably, the text's authors are already aware of objections over the lack of GPS in the initial device and asks AT&T agents to reassure that they will "let Apple know this is of interest" to customers -- pointing to a possible inclusion in a future device.
The leak is not a complete one and only touches on highlights of the iPhone's manual, but whether or not there are more features beyond those revealed in the sales documentation is unknown.
wha?
06/09, 11:52am reply
no IM? Wha?
ccrider
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2001
re: wha?
06/09, 04:15pm reply
It has the standard text messaging (SMS) that is made to look like iChat (see apple.com). It seems to not have things like AIM, which is fine with me as I never did get into chat on the phone through AIM or similar. SMS is bad enough.
chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
IM still possible
06/09, 11:29pm reply
If the Safari browser on the phone supports Flash, IM is no problem, as there are many online messengers that can be used with a web browser, i.e. webmessenger, ebuddy, etc.
tonton
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2001
They probably meant
06/10, 01:22am reply
no IM over the regular network, but it would still work over WiFi. My guess on the reasoning hear would be to support iChat features like voice and other higher-bandwidth needs. Any thoughts?
danviento
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2005
wooooah
06/10, 04:35am reply
"an audio alert option for SMS text messages"
You mean, like, it makes a sound when a text message comes in?
KILLER FEATURE! :-)
(but... why as an "option"??)
Jeronimo2000
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Hmm...
06/10, 10:30am reply
iPhone has a forward-thinking design, as Steve mentioned during the MacWorld Keynote. I'm sure the apps iPhone ships with won't be the be-all/end-all. Like the iPod, iPhone will have plenty of software/feature updates. That's why Apple changed the way it accounts for the sales of iPhone (and AppleTV, for that matter): so they could continue to add features without charging its users like they did with the wireless 'N' enabler.
Patience.
gambit-7
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2001
Re: hmm, wooah
06/10, 05:40pm reply
So you're advice is what? Buy the phone now with the hope that upgrades will come to your phone? That always works out, don't it!
And Apple has rarely updated the software of the ipod. Except for the new models, the updates that end up on previous models tend to be those that are required to handle new content on the store.
And jeronimo, the sound on receiving a txt message is an option because some people may want to turn it off. You know, you go to the movies, so you disable the sound on your phone like everyone else and....oh, wait, what am I thinking, that would require all the movie goers to be polite and respectful of others.
LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2000
All i know...
06/11, 07:52am reply
All i know, is that by the end of the year i will know every open wifi network between philly and nyc. Also, i'd like to know why MMS has been disabled on a camera phone. It makes no real sense at all. Perhaps part of the deal that yahoo provide push email is that they made iPhone (for now?) very e-mail centric. not that i have any problem with that, but i'd prefer to send my home made ring tones through MMS, not some freaky email. In any case i am still getting my iPhone, and since i all ready have yahoo as my primary email address, it will be neat to try a new way to keep in touch with folks.
Fast iBook
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2003