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Apple Requiring an 'Innovative, Category-Killer Experience' for Potential Low-End iPhone

AppleScruff1 said:
Will the carriers come out with better data plans to go along with the cheaper iPhone, or will they stay the same? The data plan is what really makes any smartphone expensive to own.
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That's why my nearly 6 year old flip phone stays on my belt.

Certainly there are times when I wish I could grab some info online, but it's not worth $60/mo to me.
 
Well, carriers are already overcharging us for some features. I'm sure there will be cheaper plans in the future that eventually all companies will adopt slowly.
 
Wolfpup said:
If you're talking about the U.S., that's not the case. All smartphones need data plans here-every single android activation has data, at least a small amount.

More to the point-I don't know what that has to do with anything. A device running an OS is a device running an OS. You can have no data plan and pay tons for programs, or vice versa. Every single iPod sold has no data plan, and millions of them are running tons of programs.
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Oops, sorry. For some reason I thought they didn't require data plans. What I was trying to say was that the typical person who gets a phone for free with a contract might not be the kind of person willing to pay for apps. The potential is obviously there, with or without a data plan as you pointed out. I could be totally wrong though because such a user would likely not opt for a smart phone.

Wolfpup said:
Now this is a great point, if true. Though still, Android is clearly a huge threat to Apple-they MUST compete, and not just do what they did against Windows. They must adapt, or become irrelevant.


There's probably more Android stuff, but not THAT much more. You've got the same basic generations and what not. Android's kind of a mess, but that's not reason for Apple to ignore this either.
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If what I read was true, there are about 60 million touches and 30 million iPads out there. But you're absolutely right that Apple must compete and Windows is a perfect example. Apple does seem to learn from the past mistakes much of the time unlike Microsoft. Google is taking steps (multiple installers for different hardware, handset approval, minimum requirements) to curb fragmentation and eventually they'll probably get there. Still a huge mess at the moment
 
unwinded said:
This is what a lot of people don't understand. Going by total Android activations is misleading because most of those phones are being given away for free with contract. They don't require a data plan. These users will in all likelihood never buy a single app.

The Android "explosion" numbers also selectively leave out the 90 million iPod Touches and iPads. Android is also not a brand of phone, it is an OS used by several smartphone manufacturers. This is why it cannot be directly compared with iOS which is only for Apple devices. There are only a handful of generations and each is backwards compatible making it easier to scale app support. Android comes in different hardware flavors with different resolutions and screen sizes. Fragmentation even exists at the app store level. The safest apps are low-res 2D ones.

Because of this, iOS and iPhone have a better brand identity and a stronger app store at this point in 2011. So if Apple was giving away free iPhones after contract right now, I do think these users would use the app store. My mother-in-law has a dumb phone and asked me about which apps I had. The awareness it out there.
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I agree with what you are saying. I think iOS users are more likely to get into using apps and such providing they have a data plan (something apparently not required for all Android devices). I think the iOS user is more likely because of the ease-of-use and Apple's marketing of "There's an App For That".

Android's range of hardware choice is a two-edged sword. Opens them up to more users for purchasing but leads to more fragmentation.
 
I just want an iPhone 4 like device without a data plan - my iPod touch is my portable gaming device and I would like to carry one device instead of an iPod touch and a phone.

A local verizon guy said even if I paid for any smartphone outright, they wouldn't activate it without a data plan. I don't need it. I get wifi everywhere I go. I might take my $$$ elsewhere.

Apple has always made a profit on hardware. They can do this. Drop the iPod touch. Give us an iPhone that doesn't need a data plan and you have a MASSIVE market.
 
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PeterQVenkman said:
I just want an iPhone 4 like device without a data plan - my iPod touch is my portable gaming device and I would like to carry one device instead of an iPod touch and a phone.

A local verizon guy said even if I paid for any smartphone outright, they wouldn't activate it without a data plan. I don't need it. I get wifi everywhere I go. I might take my $$$ elsewhere.

Apple has always made a profit on hardware. They can do this. Drop the iPod touch. Give us an iPhone that doesn't need a data plan and you have a MASSIVE market.
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The problem exists more with the carrier in your case. Find a carrier that won't charge you a base data plan, maybe like Tmobile and then pick up a used iPhone on eBay and you're home free.

If Apple would put a basic phone in the iPod Touch, that would work too.
 
Bregalad said:
That's why my nearly 6 year old flip phone stays on my belt.

Certainly there are times when I wish I could grab some info online, but it's not worth $60/mo to me.
Click to expand...

I think there are a lot of people who feel the same as you do. There are a lot of people who use the iPhone as a toy along with those who actually need data, etc. I see lots of 12 year olds playing with their smartphones everywhere I go.

And in the construction field, you won't find many iPhones or smartphones being carried by the working men. In this area, Nextel still owns the construction industry.
 
I want a modern smart phone on a reasonably priced prepaid plan...

Not paying the ridiculous charges of current smart phone plans.

Its not so much the one time cost of the phone thats the problem, but the constant recurring inflated monthly cost every month for the rest of my life associated with those type phones...

I just want a real (CDMA) smart phone on a $30/month Straight Talk prepay.

For the price Im paying Verizon for a contracted dumb phone with low minutes, low text message allowance and no data I could get unlimited everything and still save $8/month on Straight Talk.
 
22Hertz said:
I want a modern smart phone on a reasonably priced prepaid plan...

Not paying the ridiculous charges of current smart phone plans.

Its not so much the one time cost of the phone thats the problem, but the constant recurring inflated monthly cost every month for the rest of my life associated with those type phones...

I just want a real (CDMA) smart phone on a $30/month Straight Talk prepay.

For the price Im paying Verizon for a contracted dumb phone with low minutes, low text message allowance and no data I could get unlimited everything and still save $8/month on Straight Talk.
Click to expand...

I have Virgin Mobile and their smartphone plan was $25 for unlimited web and text and 300 minutes. They've upped the rate to $35 a month so I'm hoping that that means they're going to get the iPhone.

I have the LG phone and it's ok but I like my iPod Touch more.

This issue is really a matter of whether Apple is interested in market share.
 
unwinded said:
This is what a lot of people don't understand. Going by total Android activations is misleading because most of those phones are being given away for free with contract. They don't require a data plan. These users will in all likelihood never buy a single app.

The Android "explosion" numbers also selectively leave out the 90 million iPod Touches and iPads. Android is also not a brand of phone, it is an OS used by several smartphone manufacturers. This is why it cannot be directly compared with iOS which is only for Apple devices. There are only a handful of generations and each is backwards compatible making it easier to scale app support. Android comes in different hardware flavors with different resolutions and screen sizes. Fragmentation even exists at the app store level. The safest apps are low-res 2D ones.

Because of this, iOS and iPhone have a better brand identity and a stronger app store at this point in 2011. So if Apple was giving away free iPhones after contract right now, I do think these users would use the app store. My mother-in-law has a dumb phone and asked me about which apps I had. The awareness it out there.
Click to expand...
It OS vs OS no different than Mac vs PC. Macs can sell better than certain Windows OEM's, but most think Microsoft has the desktop OS industry locked up. Macs only are at 10% of the desktop industry. Nobody talks about the #1 Windows PC OEM, do they?

I do think it isn't fair to Apple that their iPad and iPod touches don't get included.
 
AppleScruff1 said:
I think there are a lot of people who feel the same as you do. There are a lot of people who use the iPhone as a toy along with those who actually need data, etc. I see lots of 12 year olds playing with their smartphones everywhere I go.

And in the construction field, you won't find many iPhones or smartphones being carried by the working men. In this area, Nextel still owns the construction industry.
Click to expand...

I work in construction and there are tons of iPhones.
 
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