Apple working on smaller, $200 contract-free iPhone to combat Android - report

**merged duplicate thread**

I'd be interested in seeing a lower cost, less functional option. I may be a bit off the norm in that my list of phone needs is fairly short:

1) Phone - most important; expendable antenna if possible (form follows function)
2) Address Book - simpler the better; no photos, just name, address and contact info
3) Calendar - alarm, Exchange support
4) Email - push notifications, Exchange support
5) Internet/Weather/News - a browser is fine, weather and RSS reader would be plenty

Apps, games, social networking, ring tones, music, video, camera, office suite, TV remote, etc... are so far down, it would take me a month before I realized they were not on the phone. I think the only way an on screen keyboard would likely work would be in landscape mode. That's fine, as this sounds more like a data access device than a content creation device. Anyhow, who knows. Apple always has some new spin on things and the iPhone (while a trend setter) is losing a bit of it's WOW factor. Competitors have diluted it's uniqueness, and while it's best in class, that class is getting crowded and stale IMHO.

schweb said:

They've been a mainstream player since the iPod.

The iPod, iPhone, iPad have all been mainstream hits. Their computers are quickly catching up, and I believe they are the largest (or near there last time I saw some numbers) portable computer maker.

So "niche player" hasn't really fit Apple since around the turn of the millennium. Just saying.

Click to expand...

I agree if you go by your definition. I meant niche in the sense of the more expensive segment. Than again niche is a bit of an understatement.

I think this is much ado about nothing. Right now, the 3GS is available on AT&T for $49, fully subsidized. My guess is that they're just looking to replace the 3GS with a stripped down version of the 4 that can be sold subsidized at the $49 mark, or perhaps even free.

cwa107 said:

I think this is much ado about nothing. Right now, the 3GS is available on AT&T for $49, fully subsidized. My guess is that they're just looking to replace the 3GS with a stripped down version of the 4 that can be sold subsidized at the $49 mark, or perhaps even free.

Click to expand...

I see you can get a 3GS for $49,00. What will be the minimum montly cost in the US?
In my country they are selling it at €140,00 and montly 32,50 for a 2 year contract

I understand in the US the 3GS is a good alternative, but here it is still too expensive. That why a lower priced smaller iPhone would make sense to me.

I think Apple is realising they are a popular phone company. But there is a lot of phone users (myself included) who do not need a smart phone. Just email, sms with onscreen keyboard and maybe address book/calendar is all they need. And these people don't want to pay a premium for services they will rarely if ever use.

And if it's successful this is very possible, it'll be a major kick in the pants to all those phone companies who make their living from masses of dumb phones.

And there is 2 articles.

Smaller iPhone to Eliminate Storage, Rely on Cloud-Based Content?
Smaller iPhone to Eliminate Storage, Rely on Cloud-Based Content?

Small iPhone to Have Edge to Edge Screen, Voice Navigation?
Small iPhone to Have Edge to Edge Screen, Voice Navigation?

cwa107 said:

I think this is much ado about nothing. Right now, the 3GS is available on AT&T for $49, fully subsidized. My guess is that they're just looking to replace the 3GS with a stripped down version of the 4 that can be sold subsidized at the $49 mark, or perhaps even free.

Click to expand...

But for people like me who don't want or need a contract, this would be great. I run the GoPhone $2/day plan and rarely go over $10 a month. A 3GS with a minimum $40 a month plus $15 data. Yeah, I have data on my iPad, and I'd rather have it there.

I was thinking just the opposite direction the other day. The current iPhone 4 is as small as it should get (IMHO). I'd like to see a slightly larger iPhone 5. Smaller would just be clumsy to use and silly-looking. I guess it might be ok for your kid's first phone if you want them to have a semi-affordable feature-rich semi-smartphone. I dunno...

Borix said:

I see you can get a 3GS for $49,00. What will be the minimum montly cost in the US?

Click to expand...

It varies depending on features, number of minutes, etc. But generally, you can expect to pay roughly $50 for voice, $15-30 for data, for a total of about $80/month.

the8thark said:

I think Apple is realising they are a popular phone company. But there is a lot of phone users (myself included) who do not need a smart phone. Just email, sms with onscreen keyboard and maybe address book/calendar is all they need. And these people don't want to pay a premium for services they will rarely if ever use.

And if it's successful this is very possible, it'll be a major kick in the pants to all those phone companies who make their living from masses of dumb phones.

And there is 2 articles.

Smaller iPhone to Eliminate Storage, Rely on Cloud-Based Content?
Smaller iPhone to Eliminate Storage, Rely on Cloud-Based Content?

Small iPhone to Have Edge to Edge Screen, Voice Navigation?
Small iPhone to Have Edge to Edge Screen, Voice Navigation?

Click to expand...

I do believe there is a market for low-end devices like that. I just don't buy that Apple would want to dip their toes into it. It's just not in their DNA.

I do think that Apple's iPhone name should become a lineup of phones...like the iPhone, then the iPhone nano, and Mini(similar to what people call a "dumb phone"). And, as for it being contract free, it also means that you don't have to have a data plan to use it. I do believe it will work out in Apple's favor, if they do it right, but they have to nail this perfectly, or everything will be ruined.

cwa107 said:

It varies depending on features, number of minutes, etc. But generally, you can expect to pay roughly $50 for voice, $15-30 for data, for a total of about $80/month.

Click to expand...

Wow $80 and I thought the monthly charge was high over here, thats very pricey. Is €80 every month something a normal family guy can afford in the states?

Borix said:

Wow $80 and I thought the monthly charge was high over here, thats very pricey. Is €80 every month something a normal family guy can afford in the states?

Click to expand...

You can also get it in a family plan, which bring the price down to a minimum of $39.98(before tax) a month...but you also need to have another phone plan on the same plan.

Borix said:

Wow $80 and I thought the monthly charge was high over here, thats very pricey. Is €80 every month something a normal family guy can afford in the states?

Click to expand...

Keep in mind that $80 is roughly $60 Euros. Hard to make a generalization as to what a "normal" family can afford. It depends on your priorities, I suppose.