Here are your Apple rumors and news items for Thursday:
iPhone 5 4G After All?: A Thursday report at Macotakara (via 9 to 5 Mac) said that a China Unicom (NYSE:CHU) presentation suggested that the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 5 will support the HSPA+ standard. HSPA+ technology is used in the United States for so-called 4G networks, particularly T-Mobile USA’s existing network and AT&T‘s (NYSE:T) more limited network. AT&T and Verizon‘s (NYSE:VZ) marketed 4G networks use the LTE standard — the same standard China Mobile (NYSE:CHL) suggested on Sept. 15 that Apple would use in an upcoming iPhone model. However, until Apple itself suggests that its phones will use 4G technology, investors would do well to take every 4G rumor with sizable grain of salt.
How Badly Do Consumers Want iPhone 5? Count the Ways: A new study from advertising network InMobi reprinted at Apple Insider on Wednesday placed lofty expectations on Apple’s new smartphone in terms of sales performance. More than 40% of mobile phone users in North America want to buy the iPhone 5, and 50% of those individuals plan on purchasing it within six months of its release. Apple already was likely to enjoy a strong fourth quarter, but InMobi’s study still should come as reassurance. InMobi’s research bore less positive news for the rumored iPhone 4S — a smaller, cheaper version of the existing iPhone 4 that’s expected to appear alongside the iPhone 5. Just 15% of mobile users are interested in a new “soft upgrade” model of iPhone.
Steve Jobs Tried to Make Peace With Samsung in 2010: Apple has spent almost as much time blocking Samsung (PINK:SSNLF) from selling smartphones and tablets in 2011 as it has selling its own competing goods. However, a Thursday Bloomberg report (via Mac Rumors) said Apple previously tried to avoid its patent infringement lawsuit tide against Samsung. Former CEO Steve Jobs reached out to Samsung in July 2010 to, as Apple’s patent lawyer Richard Lutton put it, “give them a chance to do the right thing.” The “right thing” in this case would have been to pay Apple licensing fees for the technology used in Galaxy smartphones and tablets or make new devices altogether. Considering that Apple has now moved to block Galaxy devices in Australia, Europe, North America and Asia, Samsung probably could have saved itself some trouble.
As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at @ajohnagnello and become a fan of InvestorPlace on Facebook.
