“Apple has been exploring ways to broaden the appeal of the iPhone by making the popular device less expensive and allowing users to control it with voice commands,” Miguel Helft and Nick Bilton report for The New York Times. “But contrary to published reports, Apple is not currently developing a smaller iPhone, according to people briefed on Apple’s plans who requested anonymity because the plans are confidential.”
“Apple’s engineers are currently focused on finishing the next version of the iPhone, which is likely to be similar in size to the current iPhone 4, said one of the people,” Helft and Bilton report. “The person said Apple was not planning to introduce a smaller iPhone any time soon. Analysts expect the new iPhone to be ready this summer.”
Helft and Bilton report, “Another person who is in direct contact with Apple also said that the company would not make a smaller iPhone at this time, in part because a smaller device would not necessarily be much cheaper to manufacture and because it would be more difficult to operate. More important, a phone with a smaller screen would force many developers to rewrite their apps, which Apple wants to avoid, the person said.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fargo Man” for the heads up.]
i tried to tell people before, the 3GS will be rebranded and sold without a contract
Yes, it was obvious that these rumours are nonsense.
I agree, it goes against Apple’s iPhone philosophy…
Or spec down the iPhone 4 and keep the same enclosure.
So no retina + no back glass + less storage, etc… = $49
File that under Duh! The stuff that passes for journalism these days, it’s just sad. All that talk about a smaller iPhone came from those who simply do not know Apple.
Yea just saw a commercial for the 3gs for $49. I think that’s what they’ll keep doing is offering last years model for $49 while keeping the latest and greatest at the higher price point. Makes sense to me.
Apple is all about the consumer and the developers. Anybody drinking from the Google “openness” Kool-Aid needs to know that Google is about one thing – the openness of your private info. That’s all they want so they can pinpoint their advertising. But they must realize they’re targeting the wrong people. It’s the iOS people with money, not the Android people. They must also realize that their tablet strategy is also going to backfire because fandroids can’t afford an $800 tablet and that Android manufacturers can’t compete with Apple on price.
I have always said adding a cell radio to an IPod Touch couldn’t be that expensive
I’m waiting for the nano iPhone that is the size of the iPod nano so it can be worn on the wrist. I grew up with Dick Tracy – I think it’s time! It might not be all that useful and functional, but it would certainly make my jaw feel all pointy!
Pointy jaw! How old are you?
Yes, of course Apple is bringing out a cheaper phone. No doubt about it. The phone will be a candy bar design with actual keys you can press laid out in a grid pattern with the 2 key doubling up as the ‘ABC’ key.
Then Apple will license Symbian from Nokia and run some incomprehensible OS on the phone. Since the watchword is cheap Apple will load a cheap ass OS like Meego which is free on the phone.
In fact it’s a done deal. Apple won’t even put its branding on the phone. The back of the phone will say “Designed by Nokia in Finland. Made in China.’
Yes, that’s the shape of things to come in cheap Apple land. And one more thing, the cheap Apple phone won’t be found in Apple stores but will be exclusively sold in Walmart & Radio Shack.
I want one, now!
You forgot to mention how much you like your strategy, how much you like it a lot!
Current iPhone (the cheapest model) retails for about $680. The subsidy that carriers pay makes up for the difference in the up-front price. Meanwhile, manufacturing and delivery cost to Apple is around $200. Apple should be able to easily knock off about $150, selling the phone for a little over $500 retail and still make it profitable enough. Meanwhile, consumers in America would drool at the $50 up-front price. They are doing it for 3G today; they can do it for the 4 tomorrow.
Gosh, I want a smaller phone without apps and just an iPod in it…
I am hoping it does not stay the same size. We need at least a 4In screen. Come on 3.5 is small and old. everyone is going 4 or 4.3 or 4.5. Lets get on this and build a bigger screen. It would be so much nicer to use.
Surprise! This rumor turned out to be yet another piece of BS:
Apple Not Planning to Launch a Smaller iPhone
The rumor mill is 0 for 4 so far this year. (0_o)
– No iPhone Nano
– No 7″ iPad
– No Steve Jobs funeral
– No dropping of Optical drives from Macs
(Repost: Originally posted at 10:28 AM today before being censored by MDN):
(^_^)/
“[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fargo Man” for the heads up.]”
MDN despise giving me credit.
…Probably because I stick to the facts amidst my sarcasm.
I also despise the Neo-Con-Job.
(And like Neo-Con-Jobs, of course MDN don’t like my speaking fact to fiction. Therefore they censor me, as I expect they are about to do right now. I wish MDN weren’t suckers for the Neo-Con-Job and their psychopathic way of hurting others. But “so be it”!)
😉
Thank you! My point backed up.
@Wings2Sky
Is your user name from “Sky King”?
On another note talk to the wrist dude. Dick Tracy’s jaw was square, not pointy.
But I digress!
When Apple introduces a $249.00 contract free iPhone, it will blow everyone else out of the water! I think they can do it based upon volume buying and clever engineering; an ipod touch with a universal cell chip.
@Al Hobe Sound,Fl
I agree with your conclusion about a chip in the iPod Touch.
Of course, even as it exists today, people are using iPod Touch 4G to make phone calls!