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Low-Cost iPhone to Use Plastic or Hybrid Plastic/Metal Design, Due in Late 2013
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I'd like to see a ~£100 iPhone 'mini' which is basically a 3GS with slightly updated internals and a front facing camera. No retina, A4/5 processor etc, in a plastic shell.
That with the £12 Three/giffgaff pay as you go options in the UK, Apple could be on to a winner.
That with the £12 Three/giffgaff pay as you go options in the UK, Apple could be on to a winner.
For all of those saying Steve would never do this and whatnot... This is exactly what Steve would do. Just read this: http://www.forbes.com/sites/richkarlgaard/2012/12/10/steve-jobs-warns-apple-dont-be-greedy/
If Apple just squeezes as much profit out of the iPhone as they can and don't try to get it out there to more people, then you can say they're going against what Steve would've done. Remember that this is the guy who considered putting ads into OS X to get it into more people's hands. Steve was all about experience, not price. That experience is what defines Apple products, not the price. That's the reason for the price, in a lot of cases. And if the price creates prestige, that's just a bonus...
Just because this 'cheap' iPhone isn't as expensive as the others doesn't even mean its going to be 'cheap.' Tim Cook is a smart guy, and I'm willing to bet that it will blow away the similar priced competition if and when it does appear with amazing software and great industrial design.
If Apple just squeezes as much profit out of the iPhone as they can and don't try to get it out there to more people, then you can say they're going against what Steve would've done. Remember that this is the guy who considered putting ads into OS X to get it into more people's hands. Steve was all about experience, not price. That experience is what defines Apple products, not the price. That's the reason for the price, in a lot of cases. And if the price creates prestige, that's just a bonus...
Just because this 'cheap' iPhone isn't as expensive as the others doesn't even mean its going to be 'cheap.' Tim Cook is a smart guy, and I'm willing to bet that it will blow away the similar priced competition if and when it does appear with amazing software and great industrial design.
Don't loose focus Apple!
Apple should drop the iph4, it does not give a good enough experience to wear the apple name. Selling two year old phones for premium prices will hurt Apples brand. An 8GB 4s with a plastic back could be designed quickly and not distract from building the best phone/phones of any given year.
Focusing to much on market share has never been a winning strategy for Apple.
Apple should drop the iph4, it does not give a good enough experience to wear the apple name. Selling two year old phones for premium prices will hurt Apples brand. An 8GB 4s with a plastic back could be designed quickly and not distract from building the best phone/phones of any given year.
Focusing to much on market share has never been a winning strategy for Apple.
Not disagreeing, but the fact of the matter is the cell phone market is always a moving target. Even customers missed today will be back in 2-3 years for something new. So customers missed today will be back in a couple years for Apple or whoever.
I guess we may see someday.
I agree totally, that's the case with any market, but as we all know on these forums alone, customers tend to stick with what they are comfortable with.
In what world is a 4 or 4S free or that cheap? You do know that you pay the full $500+ price in the subscription right? If you went by your logic almost all phones in Sweden are free, since we can get them all for $0 with a subscription.
Oh and cars are free too, since you just pay the loan. Same thing.
Yup and then you will feel foolish when the stock increases rapidly because folks are goobling them up in record numbers..Keep emotion out of it, numbers and dollar signs does not have feelings.
I'd rather have a "cheap" plastic iPhone that doesn't break when dropped or get all scratched up like the other models. The iPhone 3G/S were very durable.
But I didn't buy the mini because of its price, I (and many others here) bought it for one reason and one reason only: form factor. The price had nothing to do with the decision, it was all about size. If it had been the same price as the full sized iPad (perhaps 2 not 3/4) I'd still have paid it without complaint.
If Apple comes out with a new phone, they won't build a cheaper/less expensive phone to sell, they'll create a phone with fewer/limited/different features and that will be the purpose of the device, which they will then attach a price to after deciding what it is they want to build, rather than the other way around, which most companies do, i.e. "how much phone can we do for this price, how much for this price, how much for this price?" Would a new phone be cheaper, and will it appeal to people who buy cheaper? Yes. But the differentiating factor will not be price (because they'll lose that battle), it'll be something else entirely, and if they do it as well as they did the mini, they'll win that battle instead. I sure hope they come out with something.
One could hope for such a brilliant strategy, no doubt part of that 'doubling down' effort, but not likely to succeed.
Diversify
Apple does not have only one desktop, nor one laptop, nor tablet. Why one phone?
The iMac and Mac Mini users are happy they do not only have a Mac Pro as the only choice. Same can be said for the laptops.
You can have high quality products for different market segments.
Even though the point of placing the Operating System in as many devices as possible that you can buy. The Operating System is what will keep Apple ahead or sink the boat.
Apple does not have only one desktop, nor one laptop, nor tablet. Why one phone?
The iMac and Mac Mini users are happy they do not only have a Mac Pro as the only choice. Same can be said for the laptops.
You can have high quality products for different market segments.
Even though the point of placing the Operating System in as many devices as possible that you can buy. The Operating System is what will keep Apple ahead or sink the boat.
Yes mini has a smaller form factor, but you do realize that it has internals from two years ago, and the screen resolution of the original iPad, right? This was done of course for battery life, engineering, etc... but also to keep the price down.
I don't know why people are scared of a mid-tier version of the iPhone. I said it before and I say it again, if Apple wants to remain relevant in the smartphone market, they need to diversify their line. and NO, a two year old phone for $450 does not count.
iPhone 4S might be outdated (it is not), but it uses very expensive technology and materials like special glass. On the other hand, 3Gs is actually outdated (I have both), but durable and strong because of plastic materials.
Now put updated 4S CPU and GPU into a 3GS form (actually even latest Galaxy resembles it) and maybe increase size to 4.1 inch and you've got very durable, fast and modern phone which also costs less.
As for iPhone 5, I never understood its attraction. Its strange long shape doesn't strike me as beautiful. However, if it can be made wider and bigger, say to 4.5 inch and you can have premium phone.
Are you sure? During IP5 launch folks in China and India paid $2500 per IP5 64GB. There were rumors where migrant workers in middle east purchased two devices made the trip back home, the profit was more than enough to cover the trip cost.
HTC always been selling phones close to $1000 in Asia. Even Blackberry has a Porsche themed device for $2500.
AFAIK subsidized phones are popular here. Most subscribers in Asia are pre-paid so they have to buy full priced devices.
when the hell has Apple ever released a "cheaper, low cost" version of something next to a brand new product?
they sell 3 generations of iPhones at a time for a reason people....
the only way they would release this "cheaper" iPhone is if it releases alongside the iPhone 5S and Apple only sells those two phones.
the iPhone 4 IS the cheaper iPhone....
they sell 3 generations of iPhones at a time for a reason people....
the only way they would release this "cheaper" iPhone is if it releases alongside the iPhone 5S and Apple only sells those two phones.
the iPhone 4 IS the cheaper iPhone....
never said it was cheap. just that it's the cheap-er iPhone.
Apple is never shy on price. I just can't see them doing that. I highly doubt we'll ever see a $200 prepaid iPhone that gives up quality..
Maybe it has already been noted before - don't know. But how about this - the iPod Nano was recently updated to look more like the iPod Touch - same general design and shape, only smaller. Many people were curious as to why Apple would make the Nano look like this and keeps its functionality limited. Maybe this new iPhone is going to look like the new iPod Nano. There won't be any apps for it, or maybe they'll release the kit to the developers for future innovation - maybe, maybe not. Limited apps, like maybe iMessage for texting and some other built-in features. But what this does get you is a phone, that doesn't need a data plan and can be put in the hands of kids and adults that don't want to purchase a data plan. This would be something I would explore for sure - a nice, well-built phone that can play music and video, and I don't need a data plan. There have been rumors before of an iPhone Nano - why not now?
The rumor has not debunked at all. And I am relaxed, just annoyed that after correcting posters twice myself, you still post about "0$ iPhone on 3 year contract".
I don't freak out over 3 year terms, I have a 3 year term for my iPhone 5. We're talking emerging markets and markets where pre-paid phones are more popular than subsidized phones on long terms with big monthly fees.
And what the hell do you think Apple stands for ? The iPod Shuffle, the iPod Nano, the Mac Mini are all the same kind of products we're discussing here. Low cost entries into the ecosystem for people who can't afford the higher end devices.
Apple absolutely stands for this and their continue revenue growth depends on them exploring new markets/segments at this point with the high end smartphone segment reaching maturity.
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What was their rate of growth YtoY ? What have they been sustaining as a growth rate YtoY for the last 5 years ?
What you said doesn't at all debunk what you are replying to. BMW is a niche luxury car company (in the US at least). Apple is a mass market consumer electronics company that has been growing at exponential rates in the last few years.
The way the investment market works these days is you have to keep your growth going, or you're not healthy.
Oh well does it fair in contrast to the iPod Touch ?
Who said a new low cost iPhone even has to be a iOS type device to begin with ? An iPhone Nano could very much run an OS that does basic music/phone/messaging/browsing without support for the App Store or other functionality of an iPhone.
Hey, just like an iPod Nano vs an iPod Touch! Again, look at what Apple does in other line-ups and you'll have your answer.