Wal-Mart is cutting iPhone prices right now. The retailer cut the price of the Wal-Mart iPhone by $ 100 to $ 97 with a two-year AT and T contract. Analysts say the Wal-Mart iPhone sale means that Apple is trying to clear out old merchandise ahead of next month's expected launch of a new 4G iPhone model at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference. Other industry developments leading up to Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference have industry sources very curious about what's in store for the iPhone.

Article Source: Wal-Mart iPhone 3GS sale clears shelves for Apple 4G iPhone

The 4G iPhone triangle of intrigue

The Wal-Mart iPhone sale started Tuesday for Apple's entry level 16-gigabyte 3GS phone. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that AT and T will charge smartphone customers fees the size of short term installment loans for breaking their AT and T iPhone contract early — nearly doubling fees from $ 175 to $ 325 beginning June 1. The third point in the iPhone 4G triangle of intrigue is that Steve Jobs is the keynote speaker at the Worldwide Developer Conference. Jobs usually has a grand announcement when he makes an appearance at a high profile technology event.

Apple and the bet on 4G iPhone’s future

The Wal-Mart iPhone sale confirms that Apple is ready to release its 4G iPhone, according to the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, which reports that such a move signals Apple is confident that the 4G system, not available yet in most U.S. cities, will be rapidly adopted. Analysts think this adoption will be two or three years away. The article also reports that AT and T's iPhone contract decision to hike the cost of terminating service is being seen as a defensive move to keep iPhone customers from jumping to other carriers.

Verizon iPhone threatens AT and T

The Verizon iPhone will be announced at the Worldwide Developer Conference rather than the iPhone 4G. When, not if, the Verizon iPhone happens, AT and T could lose 40 percent of its iPhone customers, about 6 million accounts according to the SV/SJ Business Journal. The blog techcrunch.com reports that by raising termination fees, AT and T plans on keeping customers chained to AT and T for another two years after the Verizon iPhone is launched.

Will 4G charge games?

The 4G iPhone is generating a buzz because 4G offers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. The exponential boost in data transfer is anticipated to put an end to buffering when content loads for video, music streaming and large format images on smartphones. In the business world, 4G will let companies to expand mobile workforces without network gridlock and make video-conferencing routine. Media smartphone users will be able to send high quality live video reports.

More information on this topic

Wall Street Journal reports

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100521-709542.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesEurope

Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal

http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/05/24/daily29.html?jst=pn_pn_lk

techcrunch.com reports

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/att-hikes-smartphone-early-termination-fees-claims-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-iphone-right/