Industry Intel

World of Warcraft is coming to the iPhone, well, sort of - here's video proof of this interesting development, though sure, it's a re-run - but read on...

The video shows World of Warcraft running on an iPhone using a Google-developed technology called Telekinesis to stream it from a nearby laptop. Oh, and if you want to take a look at 19 more videos showing a variety of games running on the iPhone, take a click across to Pocket Gamer...

 Yet more news as O2's UK iPhone 3G launch unravels - the 16GB iPhone isn't available yet, there's no white model, and we won't see a pay-as-you-go option until Christmas.

The UK carrier alerted iPhone customers this morning with a text message promising them the chance to upgrade their iPhone to the new iPhone 3G now, in exchange for which they will receive the new model on 11 July, when it ships.

"To thank you for being an iPhone fan, we're offering you an early upgrade to iPhone 3G. You don't have to wait until the end of your existing contract, all you'll need to do is agree to a new 18-month minimum term contract," the company said. With this deal only available until 11 October, its no surprise consumers flocked to get hold of the must-have next-gen 'Phone.

 Apple's iTunes service may face a double-pronged competitor in the UK market by the end of summer, as more major labels reportedly prepare to offer their music DRM-free here.

The UK's second-largest online music service 7 Digital today announced that sales through its online store had climbed 300 per cent since the introduction of DRM-free downloads from Warner Music through its UK service.

"It is now clear that MP3 downloads represent the future for digital music.  With two of the four major labels now supporting MP3 in the UK, we expect to see the whole market supporting MP3 in the not-too-distant future," said 7digital CEO Ben Drury.

 Apple's iPhone 3G will take a huge chunk out of the enterprise, UK carrier O2 said today. 

The network has revealed its business tariffs for the iPhone, but more interesting to most Apple-watchers is the company's positive observations on the impact of the device on corporate users during beta testing of the product.

O2 UK's head of business sales, Ben Dowd, told Silicon.com that O2 beta-tested the iPhone 3G with 15 corporate customers, including Citigroup, Logica and McDonald's. Describing the feedback as "very positive," he explained the testers found it usable, liked it, and wanted to find out more about the device

 Take a look at these - pictures take both inside and outside of the still under construction Apple Store in Beijing, China.

The store is situated in a mall just near other western brands including Nike, Adidas and Zara.

These images were taken on behalf of French language Mac news website, MacPlus, by one Thibault Metzinger, who notes (according to Google Translate) that Apple is 'Pingo' in Chinese....

 Ubisoft and TransGaming have confirmed plans to release multiple Ubisoft titles for the Mac, using the Cider engine.

Games Industry reports Catz, Dogz, and CSI: Hard Evidence will be the first titles released under the partnership. TransGaming has signed a multi-title agreement with Ubisoft that will bring titles immediately to the Mac community via gametreeonline.com, TransGaming's digital distribution portal. 

"Ubisoft is extremely excited about the partnership with TransGaming to bring our titles to the Mac," said Jay Cohen, senior vice president of publishing at Ubisoft. 

"To expand our business position and serve the growing Mac gaming community, additional key titles will follow later this year, including several day-and-date releases this Fall," he added.

 Apple has placed huge orders for flash memory, forcing Samsung to inform less important customers it plans to reduce the quantity of flash it will ship to them from July.

We already know Apple and its manufacturing partners are already building new model iPhones, and its conceivable the flash memory order is for future manufacturing of the product.

"Samsung recently informed them it has secured orders for 50 million 8GB-equivalent flash chips mainly for use in Apple's iPhone," DigitTimes reports. "Amid the new orders, Samsung said it would sharply cut supply to other customers in July."

Well, maybe not, but there could be thousands of applications immediately for sale on the App Store, which launches 11 July - though this does depend on just how quickly Apple can process and vet apps recently submitted for the first tranche.

Business Week suggests (hints, intimates) as many as 4,000 apps could be in the cut, making the claim in a report which takes a birds-eye view of what's to come, including applications for productivity, health, remote working, customer relationship management and more.

Salesforce VP, Chuck Dietrich says: “The iPhone and its applications will have huge ramifications for how people conduct business. The ability to run sophisticated applications on a handheld will change how people conduct life and business.”

It has been a busy day here in iPhone land.  The latest bit of rumor news comes fron the Boy Genius report.  According to their "reliable source" the iPhone will be available later this year from Best Buy and Radio Shack.   The deals are already secured and the iPhones are en route. 

This isn't as big a stretch as we originally thought because both Best Buy and Radio Shack already sell AT&T phones and activation plans in the store.  Best Buy even sells Apple Computers and iPods while Radio Shack is an authorized iPod dealer. 

They sell iPods, they sell AT&T plans.  Why not?  This makes perfect sense. 

Apple's senior vice president of Industrial Design, Jonathan Ive, has won yet another award, this time in recognition of the disruptive effect of the iPhone. 

Announced today, the 2008 Mobile Data Association Awards aim to recognise companies and individuals who have contributed to the UK mobile data industry.

The MDA Personal Achievement Award went to Jonathan Ive of Apple (News - Alert), in recognition of his contribution to the design of the Apple iPhone and its groundbreaking user interface. 

The judges remarked: "This year the MDA personal achievement award winner is Jonathan Ive for his design of the Apple IPhone and its user interface. The physical design of the IPhone and its intuitive user interface has completely redefined the mobile phone as we know it. "The iPhone is arguably the most talked about consumer-electronics device that has hit the market in the last 5 years. Ive has designed the best implementation of a touch UI, this with the Safari eb browser has definitely pushed mobile content into the forefront of the consumer consciousness. It sets the bar very high for all present and future competitors and as such, is shaking the mobile phone industry. We look forward to seeing Ive's design innovation continuing to challenge the mobile world."

The 2008 judging Panel consisted of: