We are edging ever closer to the release of the next generation iPhone device. It is predicted that this phone will be named the iPhone 5S and it is set to be launched towards the end of the summer this year. The iPhone range of devices has proved globally popular ever since they were first introduced back in 2007. This week it has been revealed that Apple will no longer officially support the very first generation of these devices to ever be sold.
This latest news comes courtesy of technology internet site 9to5Mac who say they have been sent internal Apple documents which state that the original iPhone handset will become obsolete. This means that Apple will cease to support this phone in terms of documentation, repair and spare parts. The news may alarm a few consumers but in all fairness it has been a long time coming. Having been released in 2007 the handset is now 6 years old, a period much longer than many phone users choose to run their devices for. This revelation means that the oldest handset that APple will still officially support will be the iPhone 3G. In terms of the current portfolio of handsets this dates back to the iPhone 4 which was released in 2010. The company’s range of devices is set to increase later this year with the introduction of the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 6 next year.
According to the documents that have been discovered support for the original iPhone will cease on June the 11th this year. After this date the phone will be officially classified as “Vintage”. According to Apple’s own website any device that was withdrawn from sale between 5 and 7 years ago falls into the Vintage category and support is withdrawn. Taking a glance at what the original phone had to offer in terms of specification you get an idea of how different it is from the rumoured iPhone 5S set to arrive this year. The model did not support 3G networks and hit shelves prior to the App Store even existing. The handset came complete with 16GB of storage, the level that we expect to see the basic model 5S sport when it is released.
At 6 years of age it looks as though the time has come for the original iPhone to be laid to rest. This day has been coming for some time with several newer and higher specified Apple phones currently available and this number will increase further when the iPhone 5S is released later this year.