There’s a report on Bloomberg which claims that Apple is about to come out with a cheaper iPhone later this year:
Executives at Apple have been particularly interested in building a lower-cost model with less-expensive components as a way to appeal to customers in emerging markets, another person has said. More affordable iPhones would help Apple play catch-up with smartphone makers such as Samsung Electronics Co. using Google Inc.’s Android mobile software system. Android made up 75 percent of smartphone shipments in the third quarter, compared with 15 percent for Apple, according to IDC.
Here’s the kicker: The price point would be BELOW $200. The story figures $99 to $149. If that’s true I’m pretty sure that Apple would pretty much destroy anyone else who plays at that price point. I’m sure that the main target would be Samsung, but Apple would be just fine if others fell by the wayside as well. Now of course Apple won’t comment on this, but you have to think that this makes enough sense to warrant a story in Bloomberg.