Only someone in denial can say this phone isn't going to happen, and soon. The building blocks are being pushed into place. They don't seem to be doing it that secretly either. Steve Jobs saying he's really excited abou his new phone, all the references in itunes, the telco deal rumours and now this in very very respected publications who would make sure there facts are sure before publishing.
If this tangent is a redundant conversation from other threads, my apologies...
I want a cell phone from Apple. I'm a long time Mac and iPod user. I'm the easy person to sell to. Now, for all of those non-Mac people out there, Apple wrote iTunes for the PC world to be able to sell to them - makes complete sense.
Enter the iPhone. I realize that not everyone out there is savvy enough to sync with their computers for address book, calendar, etc. But, what is Apple going to do for the MS fans out there. I see two possibilities:
1) iTunes
iTunes will expand into the iPod and cell phone sync device. I wonder if on the PC side of things, Apple will tap into Microsofts API's to sync with Outlook. I was noticing this morning in iTunes how "devices and media" all mount on the left pane of the application simultaneously. I had my iPod connected and a CD in the drive and the UI simply expanded to show them. Have the layed the foundation for the phone and the iTV already?
2) .Mac
Make .Mac the sync hub which will sync through any browser. And, you will have the option to sync directly from the phone to the internet via it's wireless network.
Cheers!