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Apple Working on Cheaper, Smaller iPhone and MobileMe Overhaul

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If Mobile me would become free it would not have the iDisk feature. There is no way apple can have the resources for 20GB for each idevice sale.
 
I have Virgin Mobile and was almost ready to buy an LG Optimus V. Since I'm only a casual user, Virgin's monthly rate of $25 simply can't be beat. I'd gladly wait for the Nano but it will need to have GPS and be available with a plan under $40.
 
Samsung plans to release low-end smartphone

Well I guess Samsung think Apple are going for a cheaper iPhone model, why else would they opt to do the same:rolleyes:

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's No. 2 cell phone supplier, plans to release a cheaper smartphone in an effort to sharply boost its smartphone sales by meeting rising demand for lower-end phones, its mobile chief said Monday.

Where Apple leads Samsung follows, and maybe they have an inside tip off. After all they make screens for Apple don't they.:D



Full story here

HTTP://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/02/14/21/0200000000AEN20110214001700320F.HTML
 
Mapmonkey said:
Well I guess Samsung think Apple are going for a cheaper iPhone model, why else would they opt to do the same:rolleyes:

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's No. 2 cell phone supplier, plans to release a cheaper smartphone in an effort to sharply boost its smartphone sales by meeting rising demand for lower-end phones, its mobile chief said Monday.

Where Apple leads Samsung follows, and maybe they have an inside tip off. After all they make screens for Apple don't they.:D



Full story here

HTTP://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/02/14/21/0200000000AEN20110214001700320F.HTML
Click to expand...

There have been stories about cheap smart phones for a while now.

I don't think Samsung is basing their strategies on Apple rumors.
 
AaronEdwards said:
A not necessarily smaller, but cheaper iPhone makes sense if Apple doesn't want Android to totally dominate the cheaper segment of smart phones and thus also app sales.

A phone/iPod for kids without internet capability doesn't make any sense at all. Apple makes money from smart phones in two ways:
1. profit from selling the smart phone
2. a percentage on the app sales

Apple releasing a dumb phone is... just dumb. They won't make any money from it.
Click to expand...

The rumour is all about a smaller iPhone, isn't it?

To suggest they couldn't make money on a so-called dumb phone is akin to saying they couldn't make money on an iPod. And to suggest that said dumb phone couldn't run apps is, well, I have frankly have no idea what you're talking about. And I suspect that's because you don't either.
 
Mr. Savage said:
The rumour is all about a smaller iPhone, isn't it?

To suggest they couldn't make money on a so-called dumb phone is akin to saying they couldn't make money on an iPod. And to say that said dumb phone couldn't run apps is, well, I have frankly have no idea what you're talking about. And I suspect that's because you don't either.
Click to expand...

Your words:

The only way a smaller iPhone makes sense is if it is just a phone/iPod but no internet capability and hence no big monthly bill. A phone for the kids in other words.
Click to expand...

That would be a dumb phone. And without any internet connection you would lose a major source for revenue. A phone for kids won't be a winner for Apple. The market for a cheaper smart phone isn't just kids in the US, it's a lot of people outside the US.

Sure, you could still run apps on a dumb phone without an internet connection. Either just the ones that are per-installed, but Apple wants you to buy apps through the appstore so that they can get their 30%. Or you could install them through other means, but that would be a major hassle and you would lose customers.

About making money by selling dumb phones. With sub $100 (no contract) smart phones with Android coming, how many, do you think will buy a more expensive iOS dumb phone? That would be easily distinguishable from the more expensive iPhone? (Apple can't dilute their brand...)
 
nano iphone sounds cool and fun - and most importantly - profitable
ok - so watch the other companies copying aapl once again
aapl is the r and d department for other companies
 
I'm just trying to figure out the rationale for a full-featured smaller iPhone. I mean, I don't think anyone ever looked at their iPhone and said, "Man, I like this phone but if only the screen wasn't so damn big..."

That leaves the price and monthly bill, which is prohibitively high for large segments of the population (especially in the current economy). And since browsing the internet can already be a tad trying on the current size, it would be plain painful on anything smaller so I just don't see the point (of touch-based internet capability). Maybe it'll only have wi-fi to escape the costly data plans and attendant hardware. Who knows?
 
Last edited:
Saladinos said:
Why won't an iPhone nano happen? Keyboard.

If it had a sliding physical kb, then game on.
Click to expand...

Then it would be game no-thanks for someone like me. My fingertips are large enough to cover two keys on my Nokia C3-00. Physical keys on most mobiles are horrid. Using a stylus or pencil nub is a bother. That's why I bought a iPhone 3G. No keys, no headaches from keys.
 
hayesk said:
You've failed to state why it should be free. Gmail is not free - gmail costs your data and contacts being used to advertise to you. Apple does not do this. But if you're ok with that, then use GMail and stop caring about Mobile Me.

Sure, we'd all like free stuff from Apple, but come on - why would a business give you value-added service for free?
Click to expand...

The idea would be to increase iPhone sales, thus making more money for Apple. MobileMe also ties you further into the ecosystem, thus promoting the Apple brand. Makes sense to me.
 
So an iPhone will pretty much be a worthless POS when you are on airplane mode or have no signal. Or if you are 3% of Americans not covered by AT&T a lot of the time... which was me until last week. :)
 
I just dont get it....

Why would apple go smaller and cheaper. Most consumers want an iPhone with a larger screen. Apple has always gone with a more of an expensive product line, going small and cheap isnt what apple does.
 
Making mobile me free?! What after taking this years $100+ AU fee from me for a service that is very Un Mobile me (ie only works on certain browers)?!
 
SpennyLaC said:
Why would apple go smaller and cheaper. Most consumers want a ... with a larger screen. Apple has always gone with a more of an expensive product line, going small and cheap isnt what apple does.
Click to expand...

MacBook Air 11. Smaller and cheaper than a Pro. Selling like hotcakes. Apple learns.
 
This has been a long running rumor. The last time it was mentioned about 3 years ago it was called the Nano. And the one thing that I remembered is, you could get it without a data package, but it did have WiFi.

Now if that is true, there is an untapped market with children. I would buy my kids an iPhone, but will not because I do not want to pay for the data packages. Now if they offer it w/o the data package but has WiFi, then I'm all over it.
 
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