RUMOR: Apple to extend iPhone lineup to 3 distinct models

Apple’s future plans for iPhone have been revealed by Eye On Apple’s David Sieger.

Sieger’s “Apple informant” told him yesterday:

• Apple has set itself an internal goal of shipping 50 million units ending in ‘09

• Apple plans to extend the iPhone lineup to 3 models

• Low-end iPhone will not be touch based

Full rumor-mongering here.

[Attribution: Digg. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MacGenius” for the heads up.]

32 Comments

  1. myPhone fell from 2-feet, broken glass, maybe they’re planning on something a bit more durable. Painfully clear this is more of an electronic (mini-computer) with a telephone included than a basic smart-phone. If you purchase one (or have one) I would recommend getting some kind of protective case.

  2. The top of the line model will support 3rd party apps.

    The middle of the line model will not, but will be touch based, and will have more functionality than current models.

    The entry level model will be an iPhone nano type of device you give to your kids.

    You heard it here first.

  3. My iPone fell in the toilet. Boy, they ought to think of making it more waterproof. I mean, it’s a computer, for goodness sake! What were they thinking.

    I would also recommend not dropping it in front of a lawnmower or leaving it in your pants pocket when you do the wash.

  4. “myPhone fell from 2-feet, broken glass, maybe they’re planning on something a bit more durable.”

    Sometimes crap just happens. If you are too afraid of it dropping and breaking then either dont use one, or put it in a giant ugly-ass rubberized case.

  5. “What a waist….”

    That’s what happens when you meet with your “informat” late at night at Dunkin’ Donuts.

    Oh yea, my informat told me that Apple was coming out with some new products next year too. Didn’t give a lot of details though. Phones and iPods and computers and stuff. Some new software too. There are some things that are so new, I can’t say anything else about them.

    (However, 50 million iPhones by 2009, now that would be something! That would truely rain on the Microsoft Mobile parade.)

  6. iPhone nano. I could see it being a very simple and easy to use phone, with only basic features. It would be very affordable and the easiest to use cell phone ever. This would be great for all those old people, technology illiterate people, or anyone who’s wanted a cell phone that’s ‘just a phone,’ and iPod owners who want to keep their cell phone separate. There is a huge untapped market of people, who think ther phone’s are just unnecessarily complicated, and don’t care about surfing the internet or coverflow or anything besides making phone calls.

  7. This is ridiculous. I don’t want to piss on everyone’s fun but jeez…

    Wow! Really? Apple is going to offer other versions of the iPhone. I just decided I am a professional Apple rumor guy, too! Let’s see. Hmm….

    I predict…Apple will sell things!
    I predict…Steve Jobs will say some things!
    I predict…Apple will continue to be a company and be based in Cupertino!

    Seriously, the “rumor” bar has gotten very, very low.

  8. I use a razr from att now.. if someone would make a logically simple phone to not require me to need reading glasses to proceed intuitively to the function i want i would be so pleased. All the phones out there, not including the iPhone, sport serious stupidity in their interface design… unnecessarily complicated and decision tree retarded. Apple would clean-up with a “thought out” basic phone to offer to the just-want-the-fkn-phone-to-work market. Devices are for making our lives better, not causing us old timers to wish unrequitedly, to be 23 again…

  9. I’m quite prepared to believe that an iPod with something other than a touch interface could be offered.

    Apple primarily distinguishes itself by offering ease of use. If you look at existing cellphones, they are seldom accused of being perfect in the ‘ease of use’ department. I think that Apple could re-invent the cellphone and offer a low-end iPhone that would still have most of the functionality of the iPhone, but with an interface that’s a worthwhile improvement over existing phones.

    If they offered it at a suitably low price, it could really disrupt the cellphone industry and would introduce millions of new people to Apple’s way of doing things.

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