All signs point to a worldwide rollout of the next iteration of the iPhone sometime soon, unlike the previous spotty and country-specific launches since the product was introduced last year.

For instance, the latest releases of iPhone Software 2.0 have included handwriting recognition for Traditional and Simplified Chinese, where drawing a character on the screen with your finger will get you prompts for four possible characters on the side of the screen.

Plans have also emerged for the release of the new iPhone in Japan, Russia, Mexico and Latin America, while Vodafone has confirmed it has won rights to distribute the iPhone in India, Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey. T-Mobile will also release it in Austria and Italy.

No word on the Philippines yet, but hope springs eternal.

(Pic care of Ubergizmo)

Talk about low-profile.

As of today Apple’s now apparently selling movies on the iTunes Store, whereas previously you could only rent them (at that atrociously time-limited way everyone’s ticked off over). Seems like a significant change, but for some reason Apple is downplaying it; not even a whiff, when they normally would trumpet to the high heavens anything new. Regular resolutions so far, no HD yet; average cost seems to hover around $15/movie.

Another notable change is the simultaneous release of new movies on iTunes in sync with brick-and-mortar DVD releases. Not quite as downplayed as the movies-for-sale thing, this move is a glove-slap-in-the-face for traditional outlets. Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!

Jesse Derris, an Account Manager at Sunshine Sachs & Associates, the PR group for Product(Red), got in touch with the Doodler to give the real story behind the previous post we wrote about the campaign. So as not to make any mistakes, we reproduce Mr. Derris’ reply here verbatim:

Hi Adel—

Realizing it might be difficult for us to speak on the phone, I wanted to write to you to correct some of the facts in your story regarding (RED). We’re so glad that you like the products!

First, (RED) products generate funds for the Global Fund to fight AIDS across Africa, not just in Rwanda. (RED) money is currently at work in Rwanda, Swaziland, and Ghana. While you’re right that a portion of sales of (RED) items goes the Global Fund, that portion is at least 40 percent of gross profits – a very large amount.

Up until this point, (RED) has generated more than $60 million for the Global Fund, $22 million of which is being used in Rwanda.

The Advertising Age story you quote in your post is from March 2007, almost a year ago. That story accused (RED) partners of spending upwards of $100 million on advertising and generating only $18 million for the Global Fund. However, both numbers are false. Advertising Age has never revealed the source of the numbers they used, nor how they were calculated. In short, we have no idea where they came from.

Now, back in March 2007, the actual figures were an estimated $50 million spent on advertising, generating $25 million for the Global Fund. This is a very successful figure. Why?

The amount of money that went to the Global Fund at that point – $25 million – represents 40 percent of the profits. Remember, the companies get to keep the other 60 percent of their profits. The reason we do this is because (RED) is a business model that is meant to help companies give to the Global Fund and make a profit at the same time. By ensuring that companies profit on their (RED) partnership, we can make it sustainable in the long run. Unfortunately, when Advertising Age calculated their figures, they left out the other 60 percent of profits.

It is important to point out that (RED) itself doesn’t spend anything on advertising. Our partners each divert a portion of their existing advertising budget towards ads for their (RED) products. It is money that will be spent on advertising whether or not (RED) exists. It’s not money that would be earmarked for charity. We’re so grateful to our partners for advertising on our behalf.

I hope this is helpful in explaining what (RED) is and how we are doing.”

That’s that. Straight out of the horse’s mouth. Now to get that red nano.

I love Product(RED) items. Particularly the ones from Apple - the red iPod nano has always been something I’ve wanted. I even got the matching V-Moda Vibe earphones ready and waiting. As Wayne Campbell said, she will be mine. Oh yes, she will be mine.

The specially-made items are, if you don’t know, editions meant to generate charity funds to fight AIDS and HIV in Rwanda. A portion of the sales from the (RED) items like watches, cellphones, laptops, t-shirts, colognes, credit cards - and iPods - go to this fund. For example, Motorola contributes US$8.50 for each sale of the (RED) Razr, Gap gives 50% of their net profit from (RED) clothing items, and Amex gives 1% of all transactions from their (RED) card. A couple editions of the iPod nano have been made for this campaign, started a year ago by Bono.

After the first year, consumers have generated US$22M for Rwanda, but controversy is heating about the figures, which detractors claim is grossly misrepresented.

Advertising Age magazine reports that the entire campaign has raised only US$18M, but has spent US$100M in advertising collectively. People organizing the campaign claim that they’ve raised US$22M, and have only spent US$50M in advertising. Huh? Ex-squeeze me? Baking powder?

Whatever the case, it’s apparent that they spent more than they raised - and people say that the cause would have been better served if the money spent advertising was given straight to the cause in the first place. Of course, no one really knew this coming in a year ago, but maybe a bit of research and planning might have made the project a bit more worthwhile.

At least they made nice iPods, huh?

More on the issue from The New York Times.

The Financial Times reports that a deal has been struck between Apple and 20th Century Fox that will let iTunes users rent the latest Fox DVD releases for a limited time, ready for viewing on an iPod or iPhone, or their computers, and likely on Apple TV.

This marks the first time FairPlay, which is Apple’s version of Digital Rights Management currently used on iTunes-bought tracks, to be used on non-Apple products. Apple is also currently in talks with Sony, Paramount and Warner Bros for a similar deal.

The agreement between Apple and 20th Century Fox is expected to be announced at Macworld on January 14, but it isn’t yet known if the deals with Sony, Paramount and Warner will be closed in time to be announced on the same date.