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iPhone 5c Pre-Orders to Begin at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on Friday, September 13
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I certainly don't get it as a pre-order device. I do see it selling like a monster to folks who just walk into a carrier store. The iPhone section of the store will probably now be twice or three times as large to show all the different colors. And the tech-illiterate will be explained that this "new" iPhone that came out just a little while ago is only $100. And it looks fantastic. I can't see folks buying a Lumia over this device, for example.
This will sell. But I agree I don't know who is pre-ordering this thing since any techy person who has been waiting for a new iPhone is going to pony up the extra $100 and get the 5S.
The h is cut off so it looks like "NON" -- a negative word you wouldn't want to see on your product but perhaps this was a Freudian slip.. this phone will be a nonstarter for sure!!
I think we should refer to this phone from now on as the "Non Iphone"
I really don't get the uproar over the 5c. As an iPhone 5 owner with an available upgrade, I plan on selling my 32 GB iPhone 5 to get the 32GB 5c. Typically Apple only offers higher-capacity phones on the latest model, so a 32 GB phone wouldn't be in the mix for their 2nd tier phone. Thats not the case with the 5c. And give the fact that 99% of the time I'm looking at my phones screen and not the sides or back, I really don't care what it looks like. Not to mention most people put their well-crafted iPhones in cases, so its hard to look at the beauty of it anyways. Since I can get a 32GB iPhone 5c for $100 less than the 32GB 5s, I'll have a brand new phone and pocket over $150 after trading it in. That makes me happy.
Short version: Color/plastic is really not that big a deal and the $100 difference from the 5c to 5s is significant.
Long version:
In all seriousness, does the plastic shell make any true difference to the majority of people (not the majority of people on this site, but the majority of people that are not reading a tech-centric chat board)? I did a couple of quick searches, nothing scientific. I found several reports that estimate that ~75% of smartphone users have their phones in cases. My again unscientific eyeball test tells me that as well.
Once an phone is in a case, the color and material of the backing is or can be virtually irrelevant. Yes, I understand that some cases have holes to show through the underlying color and even the printing and find that those holes, more precisely the lower few rows of holes, make absolutely no sense. But there is a humongous industry in aftermarket accessories that has been fueled by phones/tablets. And with the new colored backs, you'll see many more creative cases that exploit the coloring, along with cases that cover the entire phone back that hide the color. Ultimately, the color can be as exploited or negated depending on preference.
I have a black iPhone 5. It has been in a case since the day it was purchased. The back could be purple plastic, and I would not know the difference. I actually think that the black face is what should be the bigger put-off to people as many prefer the white face, and once in a case that's what mostly remains visible anyhow.
Onto the pricing. I see many posts indicating that the 5c makes no sense, spend the extra $100 and get the 5s. That is very very likely what I would do (again, coming from someone on a tech-centric chat board). I would want the flagship product.
But step back, don't think about a singular phone for a single individual. Think about the incredible cost of phones and plans, a cost that simply didn't exist in the past for families. Based on my age and position in life, I have many many family members, friends, and neighbors with 2 and 3 teenage kids. When shopping/upgrading phones/plans for a family of 5 with 3 kids, wow it can add up, to the tune of several hundred dollars for the phones and $300ish a month for the plan. 5-10 years ago, that same family was spending $70/mo on their basic plan, and getting new phones for $0. Now, we're looking at monthly costs that rival a car payment. A $100 difference in phones is not insignificant and will drive sales.
So why did Apple not just make the iPhone 5c a freebie? Value perception. I am in sales, selling enterprise-level contracts to large corporations that can exceed $500,000 in total contract value. The worst thing I can ever do is provide something for free. It completely undermines the value of my product and service, and the client or prospect never will look at me the same.
Long version:
In all seriousness, does the plastic shell make any true difference to the majority of people (not the majority of people on this site, but the majority of people that are not reading a tech-centric chat board)? I did a couple of quick searches, nothing scientific. I found several reports that estimate that ~75% of smartphone users have their phones in cases. My again unscientific eyeball test tells me that as well.
Once an phone is in a case, the color and material of the backing is or can be virtually irrelevant. Yes, I understand that some cases have holes to show through the underlying color and even the printing and find that those holes, more precisely the lower few rows of holes, make absolutely no sense. But there is a humongous industry in aftermarket accessories that has been fueled by phones/tablets. And with the new colored backs, you'll see many more creative cases that exploit the coloring, along with cases that cover the entire phone back that hide the color. Ultimately, the color can be as exploited or negated depending on preference.
I have a black iPhone 5. It has been in a case since the day it was purchased. The back could be purple plastic, and I would not know the difference. I actually think that the black face is what should be the bigger put-off to people as many prefer the white face, and once in a case that's what mostly remains visible anyhow.
Onto the pricing. I see many posts indicating that the 5c makes no sense, spend the extra $100 and get the 5s. That is very very likely what I would do (again, coming from someone on a tech-centric chat board). I would want the flagship product.
But step back, don't think about a singular phone for a single individual. Think about the incredible cost of phones and plans, a cost that simply didn't exist in the past for families. Based on my age and position in life, I have many many family members, friends, and neighbors with 2 and 3 teenage kids. When shopping/upgrading phones/plans for a family of 5 with 3 kids, wow it can add up, to the tune of several hundred dollars for the phones and $300ish a month for the plan. 5-10 years ago, that same family was spending $70/mo on their basic plan, and getting new phones for $0. Now, we're looking at monthly costs that rival a car payment. A $100 difference in phones is not insignificant and will drive sales.
So why did Apple not just make the iPhone 5c a freebie? Value perception. I am in sales, selling enterprise-level contracts to large corporations that can exceed $500,000 in total contract value. The worst thing I can ever do is provide something for free. It completely undermines the value of my product and service, and the client or prospect never will look at me the same.
UK Pricing
The iPhone 5S in the UK is £709 (64gb)... using a REAL calculator $849 is £536 then add 20% VAT and you get £644 but Apple want us to pay £709! So it costs about £65 more to do business in the UK!
Guess what? ****** Off is the same in the UK and North America!
The iPhone 5S in the UK is £709 (64gb)... using a REAL calculator $849 is £536 then add 20% VAT and you get £644 but Apple want us to pay £709! So it costs about £65 more to do business in the UK!
Guess what? ****** Off is the same in the UK and North America!
I'm a little torn on weather I agree with you or not. Let's think about the way things have been. The previous gen phone sells for $100 while 2 gens ago is free on contract. That's pretty much what's happening with the c's pricing. The difference is you get a plastic shell rather than the aluminum of the 5. Until I have it in my hand to investigate the build quality (which is supposedly quite nice) it's hard to get angry at the pricing, outside of the media setting our expectations for a cheap iPhone (which by the way is ft the market Apple ever has cared to address). Now you and I would never buy this, but I was Ina bestbuy last year getting my parents the theen new iPhone 5 and many people in the line wanted an iPhone but didn't want to spend $200 so they opted for either the 4gs or even the 4. A lot of people just don't care as much as we gadget bloggers about having bleeding edge tech.
But you'll also have essentially traded in one phone in exchange for the same phone, and pushed yourself two years back on your contract cycle, which is where the true cost of the phone is hidden. You'll then need to either wait two years for full discount, contract pricing or be stuck with 3 year old tech until your next upgrade.
Someone posted a link yesterday to the thread about the first iPod Keynote. It was complaint after complaint, and a lot about it's pricing. Not to mention a lot of "Another MP3 player? How about some innovation like the old days Apple!?!"
I guess the more things change the more they stay the same.
Which is why they've always let us know when the line has exceeded stock count.
And "wiseass"? Really? Sorry, but you need to be looking more at your desire to demonize Apple and Cook and less at trying to put this on me. All this is is what always goes on in every single consumer forum on the internet. With a lack of information, the mob mentality kicks in and everyone starts assuming that "the man" is trying to find a way to screw them; when reality is much more benign. It's more likely that much bigger things are going on behind the scenes that made Apple make some hard logistics decisions.
The 4 and 4s did not only have the price going for them. They had the old form factor that -as Steve Jobs told people for years - was the best for any Smartphone. So people who wanted to stick with the form factor they were used to had to go and buy the 4 or the 4s. With the 5c not having this differantiation from the 5s the plastic back brings in another problem. Apple taught people for years that the competition made cheap plastic phones and that only glass & Aluminium were truly beautiful. Now they are telling the same customers that not only plastic is beautiful again but also that it is worth paying a premium price. This is not gonna work on most people and a serious mistake in judgement by Apple. They needed to at least make it cheaper - considering the fact the device already has an uphill battle to fight.
Posts like this crack me up from the absolute absurdity. What are your reasons for this? Price point? Same as previous "older" models in the past. Colors? There's been cases for every phone ever made.
Quit being in denial and read reports that project Apple to LOSE 5% market share now in the next two years. Your claim is an absolute joke.
Price of ipod touch $230
Price of cellular module (from ipad) $130
Total cost $360
It's understandable to have some engineering costs for a new case and I guess the camera is better? So say $400. But $550 is clearly at least $100 overpriced.
... but ... but... the fanboys!
I thought that whatever Apple put out would be eaten up by their sheep!
This here will test the Android fan theories. And if it DOESN'T sell, then maybe all along it WASN'T sheep that bought Apple products, but instead smart consumers.
I guess Android fanboys need the 5c to succeed to support their claims from the past few years?
Seems the redmond pie opinion poll suggests there is not much demand for the 5C too.....a pretty dismal showing!!!
http://www.redmondpie.com/are-you-buying-the-new-iphone-5s-or-iphone-5c-poll/
http://www.redmondpie.com/are-you-buying-the-new-iphone-5s-or-iphone-5c-poll/
You must not keep track of Apple stock closely enough... Apple's stock has historically dropped after every announcement. It has become common enough that people short the stock during the announcement and make money as it gradually goes up again.