iPhone Software 2.0 provides clues to 3G model

By Ed Oswald | Published April 9, 2008, 2:20 PM

Hackers who have diligently worked to keep the iPhone unlocked have recently discovered something buried in the code which reveals the chipset of the 3G model.

An entry used to refer to the phone's chipset is listed as "SGOLD3," which is the nomenclature used by Infineon to refer to their third-generation chips. Teardowns have revealed the current iPhone uses the SGOLD2, the predecessor to this model.

This new chip would, from Infineon documents, be able to support what is being called 3.5G -- a new specification which supports mobile data rates of up to 7.2MBps, twice as fast as what is currently available.

In addition, the chip would support cameras of up to 5 megapixels in resolution, as well as video telephony and streaming. This does not keep the iPhone fully up-to-date however. The device will still be one step behind AT&T later this year.

The carrier is currently planning a rollout of HSUPA for this year. That technology is said to promise faster uplink speeds of up to 5.76MBps, which are necessary for bandwidth intensive applications like video telephony.

While such services will still be able to run on the slower HSDPA network, the newer network takes this further. It is not known when Infineon plans to build the technology into its chips.

AT&T says the rollout should be complete across its HSDPA network by mid-year.

Comments

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The hackers have IPhone and will soon have IPhone 2 so much for the security of Apple products. Maybe Apple should run ads with Hackers and they will gradually lose market share and, more importantly, a significant revenue stream from ATT.

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You use the term "Hackers" like our administration uses the term "terrorists".

No, that wasn't a compliment. :)

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One difference. Hackers do represent a threat to our information just as our government does. As for our government overusing the word terrorists, I agree but if using the word Hackers is to much, I'll refer to them as aliens. :) and I don't mind Critiques- that's the only way we learn so thank you. I didn't support the war in Irag and will be happy to see Bush go and I am sure their are some, maybe many that would like to see me go.

And since I am leaving in a few days for a vacation in Ireland, you get a breather. Have a great day PC and thanks for putting things in perspective.

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make sure you bring a tinfoil hat.

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I am not an iPhone owner and have never purchased a single Apple product in my life yet, but find myself seriously considering buying the second release of the iPhone when it ships as a replacement for my current Sprint cell phone from 2003 that I am still using.

I do find it very interesting that now that the iPhone has been out on the market for a considerable amount of time, not one single competitor our there, with all their creativity and resources, have really been about to out iPhone the iPhone. Many have tried, but all of essentially falled short. Does that surprise anyone else but me?

Now that Apple has kicked the door wide open with the first true "next generation" smart phone, why is it that no one has yet been about to really match them or outdo them?

Will Apple really be the first to out do the iPhone with their release of the second iPhone? When the first iPhone was released I was certain that someone else would have them leapfrogged in no time...certainly by now. But it appears that no one has.

I find this both very surprising and very dissapointing.

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Actually there are many good alternatives coming inot the market that can do more than IPhone.

But buy your new IPhone and let the hackers have some fun with you:)

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who are these mysterious "hackers" you keep referring to?

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The hackers aren't really a community but individuals around the world that have realized for some time that there is a lot of money to be made and not just bragging rights in hacking into systems, cell, phones or anything electronic. The information obtain is then sold. For all the talk about other countries the good old U.S.A. leads in the number of hacks and hackers caught.

Also, you need to not only follow the head in the clouds tech news but also the financial news and general news. The world is changing and not necessarily for the better.

Finally, when you add in the organize crime element, you have the perfect storm for unsuspecting people who think they are safe behind their screen when they are not and I'm not talking about those silly emails scams- that's small potatoes.

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I find Win Mobile devices do the same and more for many years and don't understand all the excitement. Except for the multi touch UI (granted - very cool) I've heard nothing but old news.

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You have made it abundantly clear that you have no idea what the hell you're talking about. Do you know ANYTHING about the Toolchain? Do you understand what iPhone hacking even is? There is no organized iPhone hacking unit. All iPhone hacking is public and available to all.

Some time ago, someone actually hacked into Paris Hilton's T-Mobile Sidekick. The iPhone has NO such issue. The only way to "hack" your phone - currently - is intentionally with physical possession of the device.

Stop spreading lies.

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thanks for expanding on what i was getting at.

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Well, consider that to out do the iPhone, you first have something like OS X.

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The irony here is that it has been reported that Hackers already have the code for this version so they are all set to go to hack the new IPhone.

Good for the hackers. I suggest the IPhone be set to vibrate and stuck up a certain cavity of jobs.

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