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Apple Planning Smaller iPhone Priced at $200 Without Contract

Be a nice seller imo. Many of us don't want expensive iphones with expensive data plans. That becomes more apparent when you have a family of 4 and need 4 phones.

Personally I just want a phone that makes calls, texts and takes nice pics. Apple could make it a joy to use and easy to sync with the computer.

Music/video would be a bonus as would email.

I believe Apple will do another phone. They have multiple versions of Macs. Multiple versions of iPods.

I do not see a reason why they would not do another phone model.
 
*IF* a smaller iPhone is in the pipeline, this is the only think that makes sense to me. Basically it would be an iPod (the size of the old Nano) + phone. Kiss apps goodbye.

Maybe Apple would rescale some of their own apps…ones that wouldn’t require a keyboard that would not work with that minimal screen real estate…Compass, Weather, Alarm Clock, a read only Calendar, Voice Memos, Maps?????
 
The iPhone nano won't be an iPhone

I think Apple will try to expand its hold of the mobile market, but it won't do this by sullying the iPhone brand. I think it will introduce new product families with connected features, like an iPod nano with phone features. Lower end devices which command relatively high prices but which don't compete with iPhone in features or price or share.
 
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If the BOM for a CDMA iPhone 4 (using a potentially multi-carier chip) is in the $171 range, size isn't really so much of a factor is cheaper parts.

Lower the cost of the phone for :apple: and can you say, "Free multi-carrier, contract-free iPhone with every MBP and iPad!" in June... just in time for back to school! Get an iPhone in the hand of as many students as possible.
 
Apple has never cared about competing with "dumb phones", nor will they care in the future. Apple has no need to dilute their brand doing that, nor would they make enough money from them.

The danger now is Apple losing the smart phone war, Android was installed on nearly twice as many sold smart phones in Q4 2010 as iOS, and with Google not having a problem with their OS being installed on sub $100 phones their share of the smart phone market will increase even faster.

Apple won't win this by selling a phone that only can "make calls and take photos", what would Apple's revenue be from that? Apple needs a cheaper smart phone with some features removed, but not those that will make Apple make money, and the most important of those is the app store.

Those that want the mid 90's Apple back should just ignore what's happening.
 
Everyone that said "not going to happen" on the Verzion iphone hasn't learned the lesson apparently. Anything is possible.
 
I hope this rumour turns out to be true. Since I got the iPad, I've used my iPhone less as a smartphone, and more as a....phone. About the only non-phone activity I use it for, is listening to music. I'm intrigued to see what the Veer is like when it gets released.
 
Elvin77 said:
The 3Gs is now $50 on contract. Why not make this the $200 version with no contract and be done with it. it supports ios 4.0 and most current gen apps. Why make a 3rd form factor. seems silly
Click to expand...

I don't think they will make a smaller iPhone, but you have to remember the 3GS form factor is already 3 years old. Apple doesn't like "old" things and they don't like going backward either. If they did come out with a new smaller version, it would fit into the design type of the current products.
 
I know this rumour pops up every so often,but his time I think it has a bit more legs. Apple's main competition now is coming from Android - handsets can be had without contract here in the UK for just over £100 (Orange San Francisco/HTC Wildfire).

I am a teacher in a high school and although most of the students love the looks of the iPhone, very few have parents willing to put their hand in their pocket to that extent - the phone of choice is generally the Blackberry 8520, which can be had, again, for just over £100 without contract. The teenagers then wear their fingers down to bloody stumps BBM-ing the people they've been at school with all day.

If you want to get 'em young, you need an entry level product - iPod Nano and Shuffle came along eventually.
 
Boy do you not get it at all

Warbrain said:
Not happening.

Apple doesn't feel threatened and there's no reason to feel that way. Everyone wants their device, every carrier wants their device. The reason why Android handsets get discounted down to free isn't because the carrier is providing more of a subsidy but because the carrier is eating the customer price because they can't move them .
Click to expand...

The reason they get subsidised to "free" is because of the competition between android phone manufacturers. I can't begin to imagine how many different android handsets are launched in the time between iPhone refreshes, and the retailers (airtime suppliers) want you tied into a multi-month or year contract to make their money.

That competition means I can get a phone that's more functional (for my purposes) and better specced than the current iPhone for absolutely nothing - how is that a bad thing?

Oh, and you might want to check out the numbers for new android connections - android is on a curve to overtake iOS pretty soon.
 
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stupid stupid stupid

Just sell the damn phone UNLOCKED like it should be so I can put my tmobile sim card in it!!! Oh, looks like I'm already doing that with my 2g. Apple is so late to catch on.

Oh, and I would NEVER get it if it's smaller than the current model. Why would I want a smaller iPhone when compared to other smartphones, it's already pretty small?
 
not to be negative on this one but i highly doubt this will happen but let the rumors role!
 
Not sure it will happen, but here's how I see it:

- 320*480, smaller than 3.5" (Maybe 3"?), making it look better than 3GS and previous screens thanks to the greater pixel density.
- iPod touch 4 camera.
- No GPS.
- Runs full iOS.
- Thicker than an iPod touch, which allows it to have a slightly smaller footprint.

Anyways, we'll see. I think it's unlikely that they end up selling an "iPhone nano". However, it would suit my needs perfectly, especially if they are priced at 20$ with 2 year contract :)
 
I go back to my point of AT&T and Verizon paying for iPhone exlcusivity.

I don't see Apple releasing a "dumbed down" iPhone for all carriers.

I still use my original 4 Gig iPhone on T-Mobile - I would rather use that than some newer phone with more features on AT&T or Verizon.

I'm sure many others who like their carrier (that doesn't have the iPhone) would agree.

It would only benefit Apple as they would be able to sell more phones on all carriers, but they would probably face a lawsuit from AT&T and Verizon.

If it does happen - I'm in line at T-Mobile. Free iPhone Nano and cheaper rate per month.
 
gkarris said:
I go back to my point of AT&T and Verizon paying for iPhone exlcusivity.

I don't see Apple releasing a "dumbed down" iPhone for all carriers.

I still use my original 4 Gig iPhone on T-Mobile - I would rather use that than some newer phone with more features on AT&T or Verizon.

I'm sure many others who like their carrier (that doesn't have the iPhone) would agree.

It would only benefit Apple as they would be able to sell more phones on all carriers, but they would probably face a lawsuit from AT&T and Verizon.

If it does happen - I'm in line at T-Mobile. Free iPhone Nano and cheaper rate per month.
Click to expand...

Couple of questions:

- Why would it be dumbed down? The Veer doesn't appear dumbed down....
- Is the VeriPhone an exclusive?

I'd love to see a Veer-size iPhone.....
 
IscariotJ said:
Couple of questions:

- Why would it be dumbed down? The Veer doesn't appear dumbed down....
- Is the VeriPhone an exclusive?

I'd love to see a Veer-size iPhone.....
Click to expand...

Well, not "dumb-down" more like less features (like my iPhone - no GPS).

Maybe an iPhone 4 formfactor with no Retina Display, 8 Gig only.

Yes, Verizon and AT&T paid Apple to keep it off other carriers...

If they come out with a $199 "unsubsidized" iPhone - it would work only on AT&T and Verizon.
 
Bigger, not smaller

Here's my analysis:

1. Apple likes a nice tidy product lineup, but they are not against having multiple versions of something, after a while. It's been long enough for the iphone; they will expand the product line fairly soon.

2. Differentiation will be less by price and more by size and other features, because as many have said, the cost of an iphone is the contract, not the phone. It may be that most people don't understand just how much that is the case, but people have some idea; you aren't going to increase sales much by dropping the price of the device unless you change the price of the contract, too.

3. Smaller may happen, but bigger is a very logical direction too.

a. For those of us who carry our phones in our pockets, it's about perfect. Small enough to be unobtrusive, large enough to offer ample screen and finger real estate. Thinner and with less bezel is always an improvement, but the overall shape fits users like me just right.

b. For those who carry phones in purses, though, bigger isn't much of a problem, and extra space on the screen, more battery life, and whatever other extra they come up with, could make an enticing list.

c. Smaller becomes cramped, particularly for typing, and you would have to get quite a bit smaller to get the phone out of the purse and into the pocket. I'm not betting on it.
 
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