iPhone 3G

AppleInsider has posted a photo of some of the cardboard displays that have been popping up in Walmarts across the country all week. Sources from inside Walmart have revealed that the company will begin selling the iPhone 3G in some stores as early as tomorrow. Walmart will become the second retail company outside of Apple and AT&T who sell the iPhone 3G.

Image courtesy of AppleInsider

In a press release today, Imagination Technologies Group plc revealed Apple's relationship with the company that is responsible for the PowerVR 3D chipset in the iPhone and iPod Touch.

"Apple Inc. is subscribing for 8,200,000 new shares of Imagination Technologies Group plc. Following the share placement, Apple will have an ownership interest of 3.6%. Apple is a licensee of Imagination’s technology."

Apple recently acquired P.A. Semi and became a licensee for ARM. This latest news from Imagination Technologies comes as speculation increases that the Cupertino based company may be looking to build it's own custom mobile devices in the future. 

Today, AT&T began offering refurbished iPhone 3Gs online with a $50.00 discount. You can get the 8 GB version for $149.99 and the 16 GB for $249.99. Note that the purchases still require a two year contract, but at least it shaves off a hefty sum from the regular price. Apple still has not begun offering the iPhone 3G for sale online nor are they offering refurbished units. Last week AT&T began allowing online purchases of the iPhone 3G but limited purchases to one per household. Grab a refurbished iPhone 3G while supplies last!

AT&T is now advertising that the iPhone 3G is now available for purchase from their website as a part of their Holiday shopping promotion. When the iPhone 3G debuted earlier this year, Apple only allowed in store purchases which required immediate activation. However, both Apple and AT&T are working hard at making the iPhone as accessible as possible this holiday. Earlier this month, Apple introduced iPhone 3G gift cards and Walmart announced that they would be selling the iPhone 3G in retail stores. 

[Note]: The Apple Store still does not accept online purchases for the iPhone but simply redirect to retail store locations.

According to The Hill, the House members in the next Congress could get Apple’s iPhone as their newest communication gadget.

"The Chief Administrative Office (CAO), which oversees the communications systems for the House, has begun testing a small number of iPhones within its ranks to see if they are compatible with the working needs of lawmakers and staff."

Currently, RIM's Blackberry is the official communication device with nearly 8,200 currently in use. However, the CAO hopes to give members the option to use an iPhone by next January. If lawmakers opt for the iPhone over the BlackBerry, they will be required to pay for it out of the Member’s Representational Allowance.

"The House’s e-mail is set up in a way that all the messages are delivered via a BlackBerry Enterprise server. That server is not compatible with the iPhone, so the only way people could get their e-mail would be to plug the iPhone into their computer. Because the iPhones would require a new server, the CAO is testing it before making the investment, according to the CAO officials."

Yesterday, in their quarterly conference call, Steve Jobs revealed that Apple had out-performed RIM last quarter with 6.9 million units sold. Apple is now the third largest phone manufacturer in the world.