iPhone's missing iChat, MMS, etc. coming via software updates?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jun 27th 2007 8:57AM
posted Jun 27th 2007 8:57AM
In parallel to his iPhone review, Uncle Walt also published an email conversation he had with Steve Jobs. While most of Jobsie's "we don't talk about future products" responses could have been foretold, one response is worth noting. When asked about the lack of instant messaging, video recording, and real-time GPS navigation, Steve responded with the following: "I will say that the iPhone is the most sophisticated software platform ever created for a mobile device, and that we think software features are where the action will be in the coming years. Stay tuned." Right, software. Remember Apple's promise of free software updates that will "surprise and delight" both Apple TV and iPhone customers? Well, they've already delivered a v1.1 YouTube update for Apple TV and certainly the most notable of missing features -- MMS, iChat, A2DP, text copy and paste, video recording, MP3 (or AAC in the case of Apple) ringtones -- are all software related. Sure, you can't download a 3G or GPS radio, but there's certainly hope of filling the gaps on the software side.Update: Page 31 of the AT&T iPhone Launch Training Participant Guide says that "MMS and IM messages are included in the iPhone Data Plan." So go ahead Apple, flip the switch, what are you waiting for?
It would be great f they also added a way to activate and or use the device without using itunes.
why?
I know this is a little far-fetched, but the iPhone could get GPS-like features via a software update. Though it doesn't have a GPS/aGPS chip, it could use cell tower triangulation to find its location. After all, that's how AT&T's e911 locater system works. Still need to get on that downloadable 3G radio though.... :)
Actually, the sim card in the iphone has a 3g label on it. That may actually turn out to be a software update-able feature unless i'm completely lost in the logistics of that 3g. As far as iChat goes, you can already carry on conversations with AIM members with unlimited messaging, so why not just add a buddy list feature into the SMS app?