“Apple Inc. plans to launch a cheaper version of the iPhone in the fourth quarter that could be based on the ultra-slim iPod nano music player, according to a JP Morgan report,” Reuters reports.
“Kevin Chang, a JP Morgan analyst based in Taiwan, cited people in the supply channel that he did not name and an application with the U.S Patent and Trademark office for his report dated July 8,” Reuters reports.
“Apple filed a patent application document dated July 5 that refers to a multifunctional handheld device with a circular touch pad control, similar to the Nano’s scroll wheel,” Reuters reports. “‘We believe that iPod nano will be converted into a phone because it’s probably the only way for Apple to launch a lower end phone without severely cannibalizing iPod nano,’ he said noting that the new phone could have ‘rather limited functionality.'”
Full article here.
Kevin Chang, Conclusion Jumper.
The stock is up most likely on this rumor. (AAPL 133.87 +3.54 2.72% @ 10:10AM EDT)
Time to exit your aapl stock positions before the crash.
Seems to me Mr Chang is (maybe inadvertently) spreading some FUD here. MSNBC, which is part-owned by Microsoft, did not hesitate to trumpet the story with a headline stating quite unconditionally “Apple to make cheaper iPhone Nano” or something along those lines
The FUD point: Don’t buy this phone – a cheaper one is on the way.
At any rate, it seems kind of weird that Apple would already be planning to “cheapen” the iPhone when it has barely been launched in the U.S. and not yet launched anywhere else. Why would they kill the market for what seems to be shaping up to be a mega seller?