Apple to Launch Next-Generation iPhone in Late August, Offer Unsubsidized 3GS for $350?

[Michael Scrip]

15 months to put a new CPU in an iphone. Not impressed.

And don't forget... last year Steve said they spent 18 months designing the iPhone 4

So that would be a development time of 33 months or almost 3 years for the current iPhone 4

But hell... the iPhone 3G and 3GS have had the same plastic case that launched in 2008... with development even earlier than that.

None of that sounds very Apple-ly... Apple is usually on the cutting edge with design.

 

[MacNewsFix]

Apple really seems to be missing an opportunity by not getting into the prepaid phone market. Hard to imagine a $350, 2 year-old model phone will suffice in the developing world if that is their solution.

 

[bigp9998]

There are a lot of potential customers like myself who don't mind paying $300-$400 for a phone if it means avoiding the giant scam that is Verizon/AT&T. For the most basic voice package + unlimited texting + 2GB data they are charging nearly $100 per month. That's borderline criminal when Virgin Mobile offers the same thing (with unlimited data!) for $25 for an Android phone on Sprint's network. V.M. is raising prices to $35, which I think is reasonable given the increased data usage, but even that is a steal compared to Verizon and AT&T. Oh, and with the big boys you are locked in for two years which means $2400 once it is all said and done. Absolutely outrageous.

 

[manu chao]

I predict-

3GS will be free on contract.

4 will be middle of the road phone.

5 will be new/high end phone.

And I predict that if three different phones are offered,
one will be the entry model,
the second the middle of the road model,
and the third the high-end model.

 

[Blobs21]

iPhone 4 with bigger screen!

You really think that Apple is going to increase the size of the screen so developers will have to adjust their applications once again. No way! Apple cannot risk losing developers. That is how they distinguish themselves from other smart phone options.

 

[pmz]

You're out of your mind if you pay $350 for a 3GS in 2011. How stupid.

There's no market for that whatsoever.

 

[lilo777]

You really think that Apple is going to increase the size of the screen so developers will have to adjust their applications once again. No way! Apple cannot risk losing developers. That is how they distinguish themselves from other smart phone options.

They'll keep the developers but lose the customers.

 

[Blobs21]

Larger Screen.

They'll keep the developers but lose the customers.

I wouldn't take the risk of it potentially happening though. I also believe that the iPhone 4's screen size and width is nearly perfect. the dimensions shouldn't be bigger nor smaller.

 

[Shanpdx]

You really think that Apple is going to increase the size of the screen so developers will have to adjust their applications once again. No way! Apple cannot risk losing developers. That is how they distinguish themselves from other smart phone options.

you mean iPhone 5 include bigger screen.

the resolution will be same except the screen size will go 3.8" or 4" or 4.5"? whatever works for apple.

 

[lilo777]

I wouldn't take the risk of it potentially happening though. I also believe that the iPhone 4's screen size and width is nearly perfect. the dimensions shouldn't be bigger nor smaller.

When you say that screen size is perfect which customer do you have in mind? There is no such thing as a universally perfect size. People carry phones differently, have different hand size and use the phones for different purposes. The choice is important. That's one of the reasons Android phones started killing iPhone.

 

[pyro008]

There are a lot of potential customers like myself who don't mind paying $300-$400 for a phone if it means avoiding the giant scam that is Verizon/AT&T. For the most basic voice package + unlimited texting + 2GB data they are charging nearly $100 per month. That's borderline criminal when Virgin Mobile offers the same thing (with unlimited data!) for $25 for an Android phone on Sprint's network. V.M. is raising prices to $35, which I think is reasonable given the increased data usage, but even that is a steal compared to Verizon and AT&T. Oh, and with the big boys you are locked in for two years which means $2400 once it is all said and done. Absolutely outrageous.

The problem is, AFAIK Virgin will only activate phones you buy from them. So aside from the coming Triumph, there isn't really a good smartphone with them. If you could use any CDMA phone with them, they'd put Sprint contract plans and Verizon out of business. $85 (~$70 for Sprint) vs. $35? Its a no brainer. I'd even buy a $600 or $700 phone outright since you'd still save money and not be bound by a contract.

 

[korndawg]

When you say that screen size is perfect which customer do you have in mind? There is no such thing as a universally perfect size. People carry phones differently, have different hand size and use the phones for different purposes. The choice is important. That's one of the reasons Android phones started killing iPhone.

Exactly. The current 3.5" display is far from perfect for me. Typing on the screen still leads to many errors. A 4" display would do wonders for the iphone.

 

[bigp9998]

The problem is, AFAIK Virgin will only activate phones you buy from them. So aside from the coming Triumph, there isn't really a good smartphone with them. If you could use any CDMA phone with them, they'd put Sprint contract plans and Verizon out of business. $85 (~$70 for Sprint) vs. $35? Its a no brainer. I'd even buy a $600 or $700 phone outright since you'd still save money and not be bound by a contract.

Exactly. My point is that I think an iPhone, even a 2-year old iPhone like the 3GS, could be successful on Virgin Mobile. I plan to get the Triumph on Virgin Mobile when it comes out, even though it's far from the best phone out there, but I'd happily pay a few hundred dollars more if it meant I could get an iPhone.

 

[Michael Scrip]

You really think that Apple is going to increase the size of the screen so developers will have to adjust their applications once again. No way! Apple cannot risk losing developers. That is how they distinguish themselves from other smart phone options.

I think developers would do it.

If the next iPhone came out with a 4" screen... and they were slated to sell 20 million of them the first year... developers would be crazy not to support it.

Right now there are 2 resolutions for the iPhone screen... but they have the same physical dimensions so everything is laid out the same. Developers already have to make 2 sets of bitmapped graphics for retina and non-retina displays... and they haven't complained about that.

All Apple would have to do is make another screen profile for a larger screen... to make sure your buttons are the right size.

Apple has one hell of an SDK... they would make it easy for your apps to look correct on a larger screen. Remember... Apple still has tight control over their platform... even if there is a 3rd screen option.

Would it be a little more work for the developers to support a larger screen? Sure... but it would be worth it.

If I was an iOS developer for the last 3 years... and Apple came out with a 4" phone... I'd be all over it from day one.

If Apple added a larger screen iPhone to their lineup and support for it in their SDK... I don't think that would cause developers to flee...

I think a 4" iPhone and new support for apps would only help the iPhone.

 

[ShiningShiny]

I guess it's good if they're giving customers more "choices", but I think from the buyers' point of view, buying a 3GS, no matter how more "affordable" it is, is a very misguided choice.

If there was such thing as a "wifi" model an iPhone, then perhaps, maybe yes, that might be a good idea, but as far as I know, even the 3GS requires monthly data plans. AT&T offers the cheapest one, which is $15 / month. If you use your phone for a year, that is already enough to completely dwarf the money you paid for the phone, so I'd really advise people to just make a good investment for a new phone and get a 2-year contract.

That's the thing about smart phones. It's not like in the pre-smart phone era where the price of the phone actually determined whether or not you're going to be able to afford one. Nowadays, when you opt to purchase one, you're basically promising yearly spendings of over $100 (or much more) just for using your phone (and of course, that plus the actual phone minute plans and whatnot).

So, sorry to digress, but I just don't see the merit in buying a 3GS, no matter how affordable it is. If you can't afford $200 for a phone, then you should probably really look into how much the data plans will cost you in the long run.

(I know some people want iPhones very badly on non-iPhone companies like T-Mobile, but honestly, I'd say no matter how good the iOS is, it's better to either switch carriers to one that has an iPhone 4, or just get a new Android phone, than to buy a 3GS).

 

[spazzcat]

Iphone 4S? Epic fail on Apple's part (and yes, I know they will sell millions). 15 months to put a new CPU in an iphone. Not impressed.

I willing to bet all this time was spent on the antenna...

 

[Michael Scrip]

I guess it's good if they're giving customers more "choices", but I think from the buyers' point of view, buying a 3GS, no matter how more "affordable" it is, is a very misguided choice.

If there was such thing as a "wifi" model an iPhone, then perhaps, maybe yes, that might be a good idea, but as far as I know, even the 3GS requires monthly data plans. AT&T offers the cheapest one, which is $15 / month. If you use your phone for a year, that is already enough to completely dwarf the money you paid for the phone, so I'd really advise people to just make a good investment for a new phone and get a 2-year contract.

That's the thing about smart phones. It's not like in the pre-smart phone era where the price of the phone actually determined whether or not you're going to be able to afford one. Nowadays, when you opt to purchase one, you're basically promising yearly spendings of over $100 (or much more) just for using your phone (and of course, that plus the actual phone minute plans and whatnot).

So, sorry to digress, but I just don't see the merit in buying a 3GS, no matter how affordable it is. If you can't afford $200 for a phone, then you should probably really look into how much the data plans will cost you in the long run.

(I know some people want iPhones very badly on non-iPhone companies like T-Mobile, but honestly, I'd say no matter how good the iOS is, it's better to either switch carriers that has an iPhone 4 or just get an Android phone than to buy a 3GS).

That's true. I personally wouldn't buy an iPhone 3GS today... even if it was "free"

But... people are still buying the 3GS even today... that $50 price tag lures them in.

You and I both know that the initial purchase price of the phone is nothing compared to the overall cost over time. But... it's a big deal to a lot of people.

Maybe Apple's plan is to get people hooked on iOS with a cheaper phone... and convert them to a more expensive iPhone later on down the road.

 

[Macopotamus]

Doubt it, this would be the most boring iPhone update ever! After 1.5 years people are hungry for more, not the same.

 

[bjones521]

Bgr is right!

Its unfortunate but I think they are right with the incremental update of the 4S. The next iphone wont have lte 4g so wouldnt it be smart for apple to market the iphone 6 the iphone 4g??

Iphone
Iphone 3g
iphone 3gs
iphone 4
iphone 4s
iphone 4g or 4gs.

Makes sense! All you guys saying BGR is wrong really arent sure just like me but I actually think BGR makes a ton of sense. I really really hope Apple doesnt decide to just do an incremental update because Android will gain market share. Its not a coincidence Apple will probably put phones on sprint and tmobile. They will be another year behind on having a 4g phone and a phone with a larger screen.

 

[aasmund]

I find it extremely unlikely, but not impossible, that they will keep on the 3GS, mainly because of a flawed design, but also because I don't think they would want to keep on such an old phone.

Problems with 3GS:

1.) Poor battery life
2.) Breaks easily
3.) Back plastic cracks
4.) Home button wears out
5.) Difficult to replace battery, front glass and home button - all of which commonly fail

Finally from an OS viewpoint I don't think they would want to have multiple resolutions around too long.

The iphone 4 fixed a lot of those problems, but may be to expensive to bump to a low-cost phone. With the likes of ZTE Blade around, apple really needs a fighter in the sub $300 no contract market, which does sound a lot like an ipod 3g w/phone.

 

[boss.king]

Iphone
Iphone 3g
iphone 3gs
iphone 4
iphone 4s
iphone 4g or 4gs.

No.

 

[RickyB]

My wife got a Verizon iphone last week. There was a part on the Verizon instructions in bold: 'Due to the software on this phone, it can NEVER be unlocked for use on another carrier." Um...if it's software, it can be changed you lying sacks of excrement. This "we're not going to unlock at the end of your term" is almost childish

Out of interest, can CDMA phones be unlocked? If so, how are they transferred to another network given there's no SIM card? I live in the UK so don't know about CDMA.

 

[RickyB]

Pretty sure iOS 6 will dump low-res hardware and support, freeing up space.

I think each device has its own version of IOS, and only the appropriate version is loaded.

 

[Ravich]

Duh, for the same reason they sell the iPhone 4 alongside the 3GS right now?

If they continue selling the 3GS, what need is there for a phone that is the same as the new one but with a faulty antenna?

 

[kiljoy616]

also sounds good to me, seems like apple is going for a larger portion of the marketshare. The iphone4 can only go so far against 50 different kinds of android phones

You really don't know Apple or the quality of their product. Apple could care less what the others are doing when it comes to quantity vs quality. That why I will continue to pay for quality over anything else.