Tech Blog

[#1]

When (competitor) announced that its new Kindle would have free 3G access for users to be able to buy ebooks wherever they could, it started to make me think that Apple could very well do the same thing with one of its iPods. After all, giving users an open door to the iTunes Store can’t be bad for business, can it?

It took far too long for Apple to finally include an FM tuner in the nano, but now that it’s there, why not take the same direction as (competitor) and offer free 3G, so that consumers can buy a song after they hear it? This already exists with some Internet and satellite radio apps on the iPhone and iPod touch. Plus, when you factor in shows and movies, a 3G nano could be a boon to Apple’s declining iPod sales.

Mind you, I can see 3G being free on a new nano, but including it in the touch could essentially create a mini-iPad, just like Brad Grier posited in his post earlier today. So long as the carriers could allow data sharing between different devices, that is something that could work. Games on the iPod touch are already abundantly available, but you’re stuck playing against others on Wi-Fi only. Adding 3G capability for that would position Apple to make the touch more of the gaming platform they keep insisting it is.

I should also mention that a cloud-based iTunes service would also make it ideal for 3G. It’s not good enough to be hooked into the iTunes Store and your entire media collection through Wi-Fi only. And rumours of FaceTime on the touch make it even more plausible that 3G could be included, even if FaceTime is purely Wi-Fi-only, as it is now on the iPhone 4.

In less than two days, we’ll find out what the brain trust at Apple will do. Whatever they decide could ultimately determine how much power the iPod has left.

[#2]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but if Apple were to include 3G on the iPods, then what would make them any different from an iPhone?  Sure they wouldn't have voice capabilities, but would people really put a data plan on something that does less than an iPhone but still costs much the same?  I suppose it could work for those with a basic cellphone, but considering the costs, etc., those individuals would be better off buying a smartphone then.

Personally I hope Apple doesn't include 3G on the iPod.  I don't think they need it and I don't believe that it will help Apple.  But that's my perspective.

[#3]

Hey Krypto, actually, 3G on an iPod Touch would make it a very small iPad. Giving near ubiquitous data access as you need it. But yeah, it wouldn't work well as a phone. Even using Skype over 3G, you'd eat your data allottment pretty quickly.

[#4]

That's exactly what I'm thinking (re: data allotment and costs).  Plus, if Apple did create a 3G iPod Touch (a.k.a. a mini iPad), they would essentially start competing with themselves.  At the end of the day, it could do more damage to their bottom line than anything.  Of course, just because it has 3G doesn't mean people will have to use it, but I don't know... I think if you want a 3G iPod Touch, you should probably get an iPhone.  With the 3G draining power, I can't imagine that battery life will be all that great.  Of course, you can turn that off I'm sure, but I wonder if the regular user would.

Again, I don't know... but something about this isn't sitting right with me.