Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
You get a refurb when you replace a broken phone tho, don't you? Not a huge issue (refurb > broken), but worth noting.

Refurb = new when you get it from Apple. I've had refurb products last longer than new products.

then why are so many people buying new phones at no contract pricing or paying big bucks to have their screens replaced?

Because they're foolish.
 
1/3 the size? Are you serious? So the screen will be what an inch, inch and a half?

I cant believe people actually find these rumors possible, much less credible.

They are laughable.... talk about how apple is going to buy Nokia or blockbuster or something even remotely possible. This is just idiotic!
 
Apple will be on more US carriers in the fall

Apple will announce during the WWDC that it will be on more U.S. carriers starting in October.
 
This would be perfect for people like my wife who like iPhones, but keep their smaller dumb phones because they are more pocketable (especially in small girl jeans) and somewhat more rugged. My wife is also cheap and always gets whatever is free when she upgrades. This would be something she would get, provided a cheaper data plan.
 
Actually.....I kinda like the idea of an iphone nano.....

The only apps I ever find myself using 95% of the time on the go are:

-Ipod
-Soundhound or Shazam
-Camera
-Google maps

Everything else I prefer to use on the ipad because of the screen size.
 
1/3 the size? Are you serious? So the screen will be what an inch, inch and a half?

I cant believe people actually find these rumors possible, much less credible.

They are laughable.... talk about how apple is going to buy Nokia or blockbuster or something even remotely possible. This is just idiotic!

1/3 smaller. 66% of the current size.
 
I just think if Apple did target that $300-600 market we would see so many more Mac users.. which would mean more people would also start developing for OSX

What in god's name makes you think Apple has some magical knowledge that would allow them to build a high-quality computer for $300-600? If they did that the thing would look like all the other crap on the market.

No way... keep them priced high and durable. Apple's lure isn't only about OSX.
 
Ridiculous rumor.

The Touch is already more than $229. Figure at least $100 to add cellphone capability(It is >$120 just to add 3g data to the iPad). So the minimum of cheaper iPhone would still be about $350.

$200 is pure nonsense.
 
Remember Apple makes a Macbook and a Macbook Pro.. and in computers, they've got the Mac Mini, the iMac and a Mac Pro.. so it's not completely against their standard operating policy to offer an 'entry level' device, and then the premier device.

I'd expect something equivalent to an iPhone 3GS refresh, and available on all the major carriers.

With Android devices available on ALL the networks, it does make sense for Apple to offer a general purpose iOS device that's multi network capable that carriers can offer for free or at $199 without a contract.

This would also give Apple entry into the highly lucrative pre-paid segment.. StraightTalk.. Virgin Mobile.. Net10.. TracFone.. etc.

They just have to be careful that whatever they put in that 'entry' level position doesn't cannibalize their higher end stuff.
 
A diet iPhone would position Apple to do well in South America, Africa and Asian where income isn't as disposable. Emerging markets seem to gobble up less expensive and cheap phones more quickly than more mature markets. I can find $200 a year to update to a new a diet iPhone. $600-700 is a sizeable chunk of change for me. Give that Apple had the Intel mac under wraps in the Area51 lab, it wouldn't surprise me if Apple had a diet iphone proto ready for production. Cool as it would be to see, I don't expect Apple sell the diet iPhone.
 
If Apple made an iPhone model which wasn't tied to a contract and was immediately usable as a pay-as-you-go iPhone, I'd gladly upgrade from my current 1st gen. pay-as-you-go iPhone to a newer model. I've been waiting for just this event. :)
 
i put my 2 cents with the "this wont happen" crowd why would apple make the same product with a different form factor ?

makes no sense...
 
Ridiculous rumor.

The Touch is already more than $229. Figure at least $100 to add cellphone capability(It is >$120 just to add 3g data to the iPad). So the minimum of cheaper iPhone would still be about $350.

$200 is pure nonsense.

Where do you get $100 to add cellphone capability?
Probably $10 would be closer.

You can buy a whole PAYG cheap phone which has all the "cellphone capability" and a screen, case, keyboard, battery etc etc for next to nothing.

The Cellphone "bits" cost next to nothing.
 
It might work that small, my HTC Wildfire is fairly small and still usable.

Seems logical that Apple will do this at some point, only makes sense to diversify a product range - for example the iPod range expanding off one model.
 
If Apple made an iPhone model which wasn't tied to a contract and was immediately usable as a pay-as-you-go iPhone, I'd gladly upgrade from my current 1st gen. pay-as-you-go iPhone to a newer model. I've been waiting for just this event. :)

Not sure why you cant do this in the US, but in the UK you can buy an iPhone directly from Apple or any UK network without a contract. You can even get them in the supermarkets. Everyone and his/her dog has an iPhone around here :)
 
I'm surprised by the number of dumb people who care about how much a smartphone costs, when that amount is just a small fraction of what you pay over a period of 3 years (or however long your contract is). I don't care if it's $200 or $50 or free, but I do care if data is $40 per month or $20 per month.
 
My wife is the only one in our family who doesn't have an iPhone. My 3GS is too large for her to be comfortable with it. Maybe something better will appear this summer (when I get the iPhone5) and she'll go for the smaller size.

Overall I can see Apple doing very well with a smaller, less expensive iPhone.
 
I'm surprised by the number of dumb people who care about how much a smartphone costs, when that amount is just a small fraction of what you pay over a period of 3 years (or however long your contract is). I don't care if it's $200 or $50 or free, but I do care if data is $40 per month or $20 per month.

People don't see extrapolated costs.They only care about the upfront cost. Why do you think so many people use credit cards and not pay attention to interest?
 
no it is not... whats interesting is how this made it to page 1.

Whats is really interesting is that people complain about certain articles being on the 1 page but yet they still read it and comment as well....mind boggling :rolleyes:
 
"...the introduction may be delayed or scrapped, the person said. Few Apple employees know the details of the project, the person said..."

so a project that no-one knows about that will probably never see happen.

i know this is mac rumors, but this just sounds like someone talking complete bull, .. and then having it printed!

.... If Bloomberg are that desperate for news why don't they come and talk to me after I've had a few drinks, I'll have Apple's product cycle for the next five years worked out!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.