Apple

CrunchGear's Seth Porges muses on Apple's strategy of planned obsolescence in product development. iPhone falls into this category, much like its musical cousin - iPod. This is the primary reason why you won't see user replaceable batteries in either product. Apple doesn't want you upgrading your device, they want you to upgrade to a NEW device. This strategy was widely used by auto makers in the 1950's and 60's. Each year the big three would roll out new models designed to make last years model look obsolete, fueling consumer buying. It may have worked with iPod, but I doubt this will work for iPhone due to the inherent entanglements of wireless carrier red tape.

Stop the presses! The Wall Street Journal is claiming that it heard from a source, who heard from a friend, who knows a guy that has a brother who was told by a street corner hooker, that Apple will require iPhone users to register an iTunes account in order to use the phone. Oh the humanity.

Ok, this isn't as extreme as it might sound. Registration is free, and since I already have an iTunes account I won't be screaming bloody murder.

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C|Net UK chats up the coming apocalypse sparked by iPhone shortages.

Sales representatives also said they are expecting big crowds for the launch, many of whom are likely to camp out overnight in front of stores to make sure they are one of the first to get the new phone. "If I were you, I'd probably try going to some little store in New Jersey that nobody knows about," the Times Square representative said. Even Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, suggested to technology pundit Arianna Huffington that she go to an AT&T store where lines might be shorter than at Apple's stores.

I'm scared. Someone hold my hand.

Apple and AT&T have worked closely together on iPhone throughout its development and looming rollout. That much is certain. But the two companies may be working on some rather interesting service integration with iTunes and a special dashboard widget for OSX users. According to a source I spoke with from AT&T, the two companies are working to enable iPhone users to view and administer their AT&T account from within iTunes itself.

In this arragement iTunes would allow you to view your bill, minutes used, add-on features like ringtone downloads, etc., all right within iTunes. The company may also offer a simple dashboard widget which displays minutes used as monthly bill status. Interesting.