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Apple Planning Smaller iPhone Priced at $200 Without Contract
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I swap between my iPhone 4, Galaxy S and SE W910i frequently. GSM standards give me that freedom; I don't need Steve putting up his ivory fence around that.
Because as El-Jobso has said repeatedly they don't know how to make a cheap computer that isn't a POS. On the other hand, they do know how to make a $200 iPhone -- after all they made a $200 iPod Touch.
An unlocked, no contract $200 iPhone would be a killer product among young people in Europe, and lower income consumers world-wide.
I heard they are also working on a white iphone and that Verizon will get the iphone.
What will they think of next?
What will they think of next?
What seems problematic to me is scaling of apps at different screen sizes (same with the rumored iPad 3 'retina'). I guess you could have different size screens at the same resolution, or have a small iPhone and normal iPhone resolutions at a ratio of 2:1 for easy scaling, but the whole thing seems a little less-than-elegant, which means there's probably a solution I'm not thinking of. What is it?
Very interesting. I find it hard to see this happening, but I'll be interested to see if anything develops in this area.
The $50 3GS requires a 2 year contract, which at an absolute minimum is $700. More with text messages, tax, etc.
There is a HUGE difference between a $750 iPhone and a $200 iPhone. Yes, some consumers will be too dumb to understand that, but in many countries, unsubsidized, unlocked phones plus pre-paid phone service are the norm.
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I'd snap one up. Sounds interesting.
I'd snap one up. Sounds interesting.
Hello 'iPhone 5' this summer.
This June is too soon for a full release of a brand new iPhone -- this makes perfect sense. The leaps from iPhone to iPhone 3G to iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4 were big.
iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 won't be a big leap until they add LTE which won't happen until 2012.
This June is too soon for a full release of a brand new iPhone -- this makes perfect sense. The leaps from iPhone to iPhone 3G to iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4 were big.
iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 won't be a big leap until they add LTE which won't happen until 2012.
I really just don't think that it'll happen. $200 is 1/3 the price of iPhone 4, and the rumor says they'll have similar internals. No one would buy the $699 iPhone 4 if they could get 3 iPhone nanos for that price.
A smaller iPod touch for $200 would be a great product and a definite possibility.
A smaller iPod touch for $200 would be a great product and a definite possibility.
So now what happens to fragmentation and inefficiency of the apps running on the smaller iPhone?
I don't think this is to crazy of an idea . One I know plenty of people that want smaller phones, but also this would be subsidized by the app store. The make enough on everything they sell that its not hard to believe that they take the video game company approach and not worry about the hardware costs and care more about the install and the software they are selling.
+1
current iPhone = $400 w/o contract or free w/ contract
a bigger iPhone = $600 w/o contract or $200 w/ contract
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. Apple isn't going to race to the bottom on price.
There's also no good reason to develop a new model when the 3GS is already $49. All you do is keep the 3GS around at free, iPhone 4 at $99, iPhone 5 at $199 when June rolls around. Done. The 3GS will still be a capable device then.
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. Apple isn't going to race to the bottom on price.
There's also no good reason to develop a new model when the 3GS is already $49. All you do is keep the 3GS around at free, iPhone 4 at $99, iPhone 5 at $199 when June rolls around. Done. The 3GS will still be a capable device then.
Not in Apple's eyes. It's the same concept as buying 'Fruit Loops' or buying the 'General Value Fruity Loops.'
They figure they may was well try to make money off of those who can't afford Fruit Loops by selling General Value Fruity Loops. Same concept -- People that can't afford an iPhone with data would likely want to buy an iPhone for cheaper without data -- thus Apple makes money.
For all of you who think Apple is truly in it for the consumer and not the money, you are truly mislead.
Not at all - there a huge number of people who buy phones who would like an iPhone for use on WiFi and will not pay for the data plan.
Look at all of the kids in high school who pay $200-$300 for an iPod touch. Why not get an iPhone w/o data for the same price, and combine the phone with your iPod?
This seems so obvious to me. Can't figure out why they won't do this, unless the carriers just won't sell one with out the data plans...