Apple iPhone - more secret than a covert CIA operation

January 10, 2007
Apple iPhone BlackSteve Jobs has outdone himself with the successful launch of the Apple iPhone at CES yesterday that continues to cause reverberations and major buzz today. What I would like to know is how Steve Jobs kept the iPhone so secret. In today's day and age where information leaks out faster than the NY Times reveals top secret anti-terrorism government programs -- how was Steve Jobs able to keep the iPhone under wraps?

Apple has been known to sue bloggers that have divulged past Apple secrets, so how did we not see this coming? Sure there were rumors about the iPhone coming out at CES, but there were just as many rumors saying it wasn't going to happen. One site predicted an iPhone device made by Motorola back in 2005. Of course, that became the relatively failed Motorola MotoROKR iTunes phone.

As part of this launch, Apple is partnering with Cingular for the phone service, as well as Google and Yahoo. That means three other companies were aware of the iPhone pre-launch and none of them divulged anything. What did Steve Jobs do to keep them quiet? The mainstream media - NY Times, FOX News, CNN, etc. all missed this juicy scoop. CNN/Time agreed to an NDA and did check it out before the launch. Of course, the mainstream media I can excuse for missing this big story, but the bloggers I cannot.

The Apple Blog and the Unofficial Apple Blog didn't get any "leaked" photos pre-launch (nor Engadget), nor did any bloggers access the FCC's online site to find any Apple FCC filings. Nor did any blogger slueths find any info on the online U.S. patent website. What happened? Are the bloggers slipping or is Steve Jobs just smarter and craftier than the rest of us?

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Comments to Apple iPhone - more secret than a covert CIA operation


  1. Tim McGrath :
    January 10, 2007 11:57 AM

    Steve Jobs probably bribed everyone. He promised Cisco/Linksys a percentage of iPhone sales to keep them "quiet" and not fight over the "iPhone" patent. Similarly, Steve bribed Google and Cingular not to say anything. Of course, the bribe to Google wasn't money. Steve just had to mention how the iPhone was going to kill Windows Media Mobile devices and Google, MS's arch-rival decided to play along.

    Or perhaps Steve Jobs has stolen the title of Satan from Bill Gates and used his supranatural abilities to block people's minds from divulging the iPhone secret.

    Impressive indeed Mr. Jobs.


  1. Aswath :
    January 10, 2007 11:57 AM

    I am not so sure. Sometime back there was a buzz about an open, Linux based phone (Gizmodo). Take a look at the pictures and also finger gestures. But a recent visit to the company's site (http://www.fic.com.tw/) did not turn up any reference to this device.


  1. Tom Keating[TypeKey Profile Page] :
    January 10, 2007 12:16 PM

    Interesting Aswath. I do recall this article. It uses a similar technology to what Steve Jobs claims he has patented. Though the technology seems similar - two different products. This Gizmodo article points to an open source Linux phone. The iPhone is running Mac OS X. And unconfirmed rumors on Engadget today are stating that it isn't as "open" as some would like it to be to third-party applications.

    So I don't think the Gizmodo article was hinting at an the Apple iPhone before the news was announced.


  1. Randy Savicky :
    January 10, 2007 2:24 PM

    Like the Job/Gates analogy ...


  1. Roger Smith :
    January 18, 2007 5:08 AM

    iPhone is available with Cingular ONLY!? And what if I am stuck under contract with a carrier OTHER than Cingular but still want a iPhone?
    Well, the only solution I could fine was http://www.Cellswapper.com - they get you out of any cell phone contract!


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