“Apple Inc. this fall plans to accelerate its assault on the 1 billion unit worldwide cell phone market with a second incarnation of its iPhone handset that will likely appeal to an even larger audience,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“The move is believed to be part of a broader, all-out blitz on the consumer electronics sector this holiday shopping season, in which a staggering array of gadgets from the Cupertino-based firm is expected to leave would-be rivals confused and unable to react,” Jade reports.
“Extremely reputable sources have told AppleInsider in recent weeks that the company’s iPhone roadmap for the 2007 calendar year includes not one but two distinct models, the second of which is set to turn up just months after the first,” Jade reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MacVicta” for the heads up.]
WTF? It would make no sense for Apple to make another one. If anything, they should make it cheaper. What could they improve?
I think the iPhone is amazing……..
I doubt this. Bring out a new model soon soon would just confuse consumers and dilute marketing efforts. Why bring out a second model when the first is selling so well?
If true, this would be monumental. An iPhone for every occasion.
And again, Apple will NOT drop the price of the iPhone anytime soon. Price conveys value and Apple wants to be seen as the elite smartphone. They do not need marketshare – they want “wallet” share.
Lowering the price would reduce the prestige of the iPhone and it’s unnecessary since they are selling so well already.
If anything, they may come out with an iPhone in a different color (maybe a Product(RED) iPhone?), but I don’t think we’ll see a new model this soon…
More fantasy from AppleOutsider.
The calls for Apple to drop the price are largely from the part of the audience who cannot afford one. The value of the product is way above where the market has set for devices with lesser features.
If there’s a cheaper iPhone it will be one with less features.
Falkirk is right, it’s about branding and reducing price dilutes that.
It’s not going to happen.
Ummm…wouldn’t a new phone have to go through the FCC checks? Soooo..isn’t that why the current iPhone was pre-announced – since the FCC check made it public knowledge?
Everyone is talking about how well the iPhone is selling, but do we really KNOW? Are there any actual numbers out there yet? I know the first weekend was a blitzkrieg, but how about since then?
justified: More fantasy from AppleOutsider.
hah, good one.
seriously though, are there any mac rumour sites which can still claim reliable sources? The ThinkSecret Asteroid debacle seems to put an end to inside news. It is now basically just conjecture based on inventory and OEM contracts.
Not an Apple-esque move. They’d confuse buyers. No way.
I think you are all looking at this the wrong way. How about a tuned down iPhone? Not a smartphone. Just a phone/iPod combo. No Internet, email, etc. iPhone Nano or iPhone Mini or something along those lines.
We won’t have any actual numbers or KNOW anything for a while, so obviously everyone is making educated guesses.
Apple Stores appear to be selling a very high number of iPhones still (also, there seems to have been no noticeable cannibalization by iPhone – Mac and iPod numbers are still going up).
It shouldn’t surprise anyone when they post jaw-dropping figures.
the article clearly describes an iPhone nano. how this would confuse people, im not sure. it would just be an ipod that also can make and take calls. as for calling AppleInsider an AppleOutsider, i dont really agree.
Are you guys freakin’ morons? Apple insider has been pretty spot on for years now. You guys must really be fucking morons. They nailed like almost every Mac and iPod release for some time now with more detail than I’ve seen anywhere else.
Justified, you sound like an uneducated moron, no offense.
J
“It shouldn’t surprise anyone when they post jaw-dropping figures.”
My jaw hasn’t been the same since the MacWorld presentation.
There are a lot of idiots on this board.
Of course Apple is going to sell a less expensive, less feature rich iPhone, and as soon as possible to gain as much advantage off its design differentiation as possible before competition can react.
They will offer models through a lot of price ranges, just as they did with iPod. Completely believable that they would launch a second lower priced model in time for the holiday season. But even if it did not come then, expect it very soon afterward.
The big mobile phone makers have no idea whatsoever the kind of danger they are in. Apple is going to attack them at lower price points and take their candy away from them.
Nokia, I hope they bury your ass.
Maybe these models are for the Asian market.
I think it’s a really good idea. They’ve got people excited about the iPhone. However many MANY people think the price is too high. Now, release an iPhone Nano, iPhone Lite or whatever you want to call it and even more people will flock to AT&T to get one.
Smart move by Apple.
From an investment point of view, this would be fantastic.
I would like to see some enhancements to the current model. Things that would make it more appealing to the corporate market. I’m looking for a good push mail with the enterprise mail, a secure lock on the iPhone, Secure mail (encrypted) etc.
I’d also like to see the product rolled out to more countries. I hope they are right, but I’m not holding my breath.
what about an iphone shuffle…for $79, you can make calls but they’ll be shuffled around randomly. You never know who you’ll talk to next!
I’m inclined to agree with Jon despite his fowl language. AppleInsider covers a lot of analyst crap that isn’t true, but most of their own research turns out to be remarkably accurate. And it was also the AppleInsider site that reported on Asteroid, not ThinkSecret. And I don’t think Asteroid stopped anything. Apple lost that case. So if anything, it emboldened the rumor sites.
Jon: Thanks for saving me the trouble…
By the way, I am a moron, too.
Remember the beginning of the year?
“Welcome to 2007”?
Well, I think we are just getting started.
MW: Take note of this post so you can tell me I was right later.