iPhone variants on the way?
No s**t, Sherlock...
With the offical US launch of Apple's iPhone now just days away, the rumour mill has begun grinding out news that variants on the device are also on the horizon.
The source of these unconfirmed rumours? American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu, who has been quoted as saying: "Apple needs to round out its iPhone product line at lower price points, if it expects to replicate the success of its iPod with sales of 100 million units."
Wu also claims that his sources have told him "lower cost iPhone prototypes [are due] for release at unspecified future dates".
Wu has a fairly good track record for predicting Apple's movements. In June last year he successfully predicted that the iPhone's development would be delayed by FCC approval. Then, in the following month, Wu predicted that Apple would revise the look of the iPod Nano, which he got partially correct.
iPhone: smaller, cheaper ones coming. You'd never guess...
The latest speculation certainly rings true with Apple's existing market strategy. It followed up the iPod with the iPod Mini and later the Shuffle and the iPod in a drive to attract customers looking for a lower price device.
It's inconceivable Apple wouldn't do the same with the iPhone - eventually. What matters is when, and here Wu has no specifics.
Earlier this week Apple upped the iPhone's forecast battery talk time to eight hours and said it will now sell the device with a glass front, seemingly in an attempt to overcome the scratches commonplace with the early iPod Nano.
It is also thought that Apple is secretly working on a GPS unit, but Wu is yet to comment on this…
COMMENTS
Re: iPhone Battery Not a Worry for Me
I'd check the warranty first..
iPhone Battery Not a Worry for Me
everyone is always bashing the iPhone cause of its irreplaceable battery but i know that www.ipodjuice.com is working on an iphone battery that lasts longer than the stock battery apple gives you. They already have kits for the ipods and now iphones so it's juice for me all the way!
Please, spare us from Wu
Shaw Wu is an analyst for pete's sake. He claws together rumors for investors. None of his "predictions" were prophetic in any way. He merely states the obvious / summarizes the latest rumors, that's all. I am amazed he gets so much attention. Any fanboy can do what he does and get to the same level of "being right". Plus it is not that Wu was "right" on much, or anything spectacular anyhow.
*snicker*
He successfully predicted... that a CELL PHONE... would be delayed by the FCC's regulatory apparatus?
Somewhat akin to successfully predicting that the iPhone would be able to make telephone calls. Because if it is able to make telephone calls, it will be delayed by the FCC approval process.
-fred
Of course!
Of course there will be cheaper models. Just like there will be a 3G model. The question is when. Apple can't afford to piss off early adopters, so the cheaper models will have to have some features cut. But it's those features that make the iPhone what it is.
About a month ago, Cingular/AT&T sent me an email saying that they had iPhones reserved for my wife and I and all we had to do was come in and tell them we want one. OTOH, our contract ran out in December, so they probably want us on a new one, which now requires the purchase of a media package. But I don't think I'll pay $500 for a phone when I can get all I need for $50. Or a WM phone for $100.
