No it's not. And it's pretty clever by Apple. The FCC has to be the worlds largest leaker of new products. The reason Jobs announced it now is because he had to, cause once the FCC approved it the documents would be all over the web. And it's better for them to announce it themselves than have the FCC do that for them.

well apple is working together with a OEM manufacturer.
the technique behind that phone is not apple only knowhow but a mix of german, japanese , chinese and apple technology . (the touchscreen is coming from a german company and it is not coming from elotouch :) which is good , as elotouch displays are crap)

dp

I assume that I will able to use my best buy gift card for the purchase of iphone?

if the card allows the purchase of mobile phones, and best buy stocks the iphone..



maybe theyre still optimizing standby battery use/life..

and maybe the non US versions will have 3G..

I read something just a little while ago that said that only Cingular and Apple stores (company-owned retail stores and their online stores) will sell the phone in the US, no third-party resellers from either camp.

http://thinksecret.com/news/0701applecingular.html

Can't say that would be verified for certain, but if so, no, your Best Buy gift card will not help.

first cingular only
 

but i am sure after a hold time of some month, i am sure other providers will sell the apple phones too.

vodafone and t-online are doing often similar things, they get phones first exclusive for some month, after that the non simlocked versions get into the normal shops.

dp

remember, this is the US we're talking about.. :D

That's what Steve Jobs said in the keynote:

The phone will be available through Apple Online and retail stores and at Cingular retail stores.

He didn't say "exclusively", but he didn't mention any other outlets either.

2 years
 

I heard at macworld, they were talking a TWO year contract with cingular. This was not the two year contract a buyer is required to take, but a two year exclusive in the US at least with cingular/ATT

Sorry to report but it is exclusive
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0701applecingular.html

Well, I find it unusual, though you're right that people are now monitoring the FCC database and little seems to get through (see Zune). Also, most phones aren't released in the US first anyway. That said, it all delays the ship date (it must be quite far on if they've got permission to use it as they did in the keynote, though).

Do we know which OEM? I wonder how many partners they do have - and how much fun integrating it all is going to be...

Doesn't matter if it released in the US at all actually, if it's got a radio capable of working in the US then it needs FCC certification.

The FCC is a real PITA for many companies as it makes it impossible to keep something a real secret. There are limited safeguards companies can put in place, like requesting certain aspects of the certification be kept secret, but you can't hide the fact that you are called Apple and that you are making a phone.

There are people that monitor the FCC and patent databases every single day for Apple related patents.

From Engadget:

The all seeing, all powerful iPhone -- just like the iPod -- is powered by a Samsung processor according to an Apple spokeswoman speaking to Reuters. FBR Research believes that the remaining major components are supplied by Marvell (802.11), Infineon Technologies (baseband), Broadcom Corp. (touch screen controller), and Cambridge Silicon Radio (Bluetooth).

That sounds feasible, given Infineon and Samsung have reference platforms together (previously hyped as a next best hope for Linux on mobiles). I don't remember them having a 2G one, mind you.

I think I heard somewhere that Apple and Cingular have a 2 year exclusive contract due to Cingular having to invest in various network upgrades for the phones to work on their network.