The Wall Street Journal’s recent report on Apple‘s plans for a low-cost iPhone has got support from a new Bloomberg article that claims the cheap smartphone from Apple will cost $100 to $150. Bloomberg also states that the new iPhone would not be ready for release until the end of the year. Both the WSJ and the recent story have pointed at developing markets as Apple’s motivation for creating a device that is easy on peoples wallets.
In many emerging markets like China an India, the iPhone is not subsidized by wireless providers like AT&T does in the US. Consumers have to buy the Apple device outright which can end up costing over $700. The reported price of the low-end iPhone would be significantly reduced from the current smartphones cost but Bloomberg has not mentioned whether the price in its report is including subsidies from carriers.
Bloomberg also claims that the cheap iPhone will hit markets at the end of 2013 “at the earliest.” However, the WSJ report was frank about the future of the rumored device and stated that it may never see the light of day.
There are always numerous rumors surrounding new products from Apple but this one has been around for a while. It seems that the California based firm has been playing with the idea for the last two years but has not committed. That has not hurt the company at all as the last two iPhone launches broke all sales record set by previous devices.
The iPhone seemed like the king of the hill a year back but Samsung’s Galaxy SIII proved that other competitors could compete at the high end of the smartphone market successfully while cheap Android devices have been fighting over the lower end of the market. The low end iPhone may help Apple solidify its position as the top smartphone maker but it will also take it away from its rule of only producing a few high end items that are the best in their category.
Source: Gizmodo
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