Likely that the 4S will still be sold when the 5S is released?

[2298754]

4S will become free

 

[Merkie]

on contract technically the phone is free. The carrier isn't making you pay money up front.

On contract the phone is subsidized, but Apple isn't giving anything away for free.

 

[lunaoso]

If we look at past history, I would say yes, but I'm thinking about it, it would make sense to get rid of the 4S out of their lineup next year, because of lightning, LTE, 4 inch screen, etc. just to make their technologies become more universal throughout their lineup. This would quicken the pace of 4 inch apps that are going into the App Store. And then the Lightning connector would move away from the 30 pin in pretty much all of their devices.

 

[Fattytail]

If we look at past history, I would say yes, but I'm thinking about it, it would make sense to get rid of the 4S out of their lineup next year, because of lightning, LTE, 4 inch screen, etc. just to make their technologies become more universal throughout their lineup. This would quicken the pace of 4 inch apps that are going into the App Store. And then the Lightning connector would move away from the 30 pin in pretty much all of their devices.

They could just modify the 4S for the lightning connector. Wouldn't be difficult since you're replacing a bigger part for a smaller part. That's pretty much what they did with the iPad 4, which is in terms of outer casing an iPad 3 with a lightning connector.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Only way I could see them possibly doing this is if they revised the 30-pin to a lightning port.

 

[Spectrum Abuser]

On contract the phone is subsidized, but Apple isn't giving anything away for free.

To the end consumer the phone is absolutely free minus the $0.01 initial charge. The contract is the commitment to the service plan.

 

[Wicked1]

by then the 4 will be nearly 3 years old so out of the line up and then 4S goes to Free, and I see the 5 going for $99 AND THEN THE NEW 5S or 6 will be the newer model priced as it sits now $199 299 399.

I do not see Apple doing something much different then what they have.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

To the end consumer the phone is absolutely free minus the $0.01 initial charge. The contract is the commitment to the service plan.

We can argue semantics all day long, but at the end of the day the customer pays something whether it's in the form of a phone or contract.

 

[thelookingglass]

We can argue semantics all day long, but at the end of the day the customer pays something whether it's in the form of a phone or contract.

Yes. Which is why providers with "value plans" and no subsidized phones are able to offer much cheaper monthly plans. We're getting gouged by AT&T and Verizon on their current plans.

 

[lunaoso]

They could just modify the 4S for the lightning connector. Wouldn't be difficult since you're replacing a bigger part for a smaller part. That's pretty much what they did with the iPad 4, which is in terms of outer casing an iPad 3 with a lightning connector.

Yeah I could see that too.

 

[Merkie]

To the end consumer the phone is absolutely free minus the $0.01 initial charge. The contract is the commitment to the service plan.

I know, but the carrier is giving the phone away for free, not Apple!