Apple working on smaller, cheaper iPhone model to compete with Android

By on Feb 10, 2011 at 5:13 PM
mobile February 10, 2011

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple, Inc. is working on a smaller, cheaper iPhone model to compete with the army of affordable handsets currently utilizing Google’s Android operating system. The report cites several anonymous sources “briefed on the matter” and claims that the company is looking to sell this new device for around $200 unsubsidized. The article also notes that Apple could be working on “technology that makes it easier to use the iPhone on multiple wireless networks”; we presume this is the SIM-less iPhone that was rumored months ago. A $200, carrier agnostic iPhone? It doesn’t sound all that much like Apple, but then again… if the iMaker wants to thwart the mighty Android, they’re going to have to think different.

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  • Alexander530

    This would be great, although I strongly doubt this would happen.

  • Idiots

    so….apple making a cheaper phone is a good idea…but RIM making a wide range of phones targeted at every market segment imaginable (with super phones on the way) is doing something wrong?

    Pretty soon you’ll all realize that RIM has the best business model.

    • Anonymous

      It’s not that RIM is doing something wrong. It’s that their OS isn’t as consumer-friendly as iOS, Android, or WinPho7. So they keep throwing this OS (that can’t decide whether it wants you to be a totally cool, hip DJ with nothing but your phone, or a dashing businessperson sending 400 emails an hour) on everything.

      It’s trying to be a jack of all trades, but without the customization options of Android.
      It’s trying to look sexy, without the impressive layer of gloss on top of iOS.
      It’s trying to look like it’s something brand new, without actually being a ground-up rebuild like WinPho7.

      That, in my opinion, is what people are talking about when they say RIM seems lost.

      • http://www.facebook.com/wmcdaniel1 Wes McDaniel

        I know that it’s relatively less-known, but I feel like webOS deserves the recognition for being sexy more than does iOS ;-)

      • Anonymous

        Yeah, that’s true. WebOS is very sexy and handles notifications and multitasking way better than iOS does IMO.

  • Anonymous

    I think this rumor is a load of crap. No way would Apple do that.

  • Sonya

    I don’t think this is going to happen, not a good idea.

  • Fragmentation

    OMG Frangmentation!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG Fragmentation!

  • http://www.section303.com codeyh

    Bloomberg’s reporting it? Then it is wrong.

  • Tazstazs

    maybe they should make a high end phone to compete with Android, and call their Iphone 4 their low end phone.

  • Petey

    technology that makes it easier to use the iPhone on multiple wireless networks”;

    I don’t think sim-less but to work on GSM/Cdma… well it could’ve be simless… but I prefer using a phone with som card.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah here we go with the iPhone nano stuff from 2 years ago.

  • Randyghand

    Sounds like t-mobile will finally get the iphone.

  • http://twitter.com/aegisdesign Shaun Murray

    Just look at the timing of this piece. It’s the same day Nokia and Microsoft announce their agreement. Smells like a deliberate Apple leak to get everyone talking about the iPhone on the day Microsoft announce a hardware partner that can actually make decent hardware.

  • Anonymous

    Apple has a reputation to uphold, quality and huge price tags, i dont think Making a cheap seperate model fits into the apple image. I mean come on even the cheapest mac is far more expensive than their equel hardware counterpart.
    The way i see it is they offer iphone 3gs(8gb) for $200unsub’d iphone 4(8gb) $200sub’d and iphone 5(16~32gb) $$$sub’d

  • YMBz

    iPhone has been always the winner ,plus if these romers becomes true then there will be a great chance for all of the shitty android cheap phones users who just decided to love android because google has been trying to sell it everyyyyyy whereeeee by having it installed in most of the devices ( that’s why android selling has been improving lately ) and unstable ( oh i mean open source ) ,, to all android fanboy, seriously guys since I’ve used the shitty android before getting my iphone let me tell you something , you’re missing the meaning of what does smart phone means

  • Ymbz

    iPhone has been always the winner ,plus if these romers becomes true then there will be a great chance for all of the shitty android cheap phones users who just decided to love android because google has been trying to sell it everyyyyyy whereeeee by having it installed in most of the devices ( that’s why android selling has been improving lately ) and unstable ( oh i mean open source ) ,, to all android fanboy, seriously guys since I’ve used the shitty android before getting my iphone let me tell you something , you’re missing the meaning of what does smart phone means

  • Anonymous

    What a stupid idea.

  • Jsantana0793

    there is a phone out there to compete with Android.. its called the 3GS… i don’t get it Apple.. I don’t get it..

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Omega-Man/100000590156587 Omega Man

      Neither do they! They were not ready for Android based phones to take off the way that they did. It would seem like the folks at apple thought that they had 2+ years to worry about it, not 1.5.

  • http://bit.ly/samirsshah समीर शाह

    yes. This is the first time a real credible competitor to Android has happened in emerging markets. While Apple may not hit rock bottom Android price of Rs. 2,500, it breaking Rs.10,000 barrier in India may snag away a lot of urban customers looking for simplicity and safety of walled-garden and huge app library.

    The only wild card is Android and iOS support of Indian Languages. There WILL be many urban customers not entirely comfortable with only English.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Omega-Man/100000590156587 Omega Man

      “This is the first time a real credible competitor to Android has happened in emerging markets.”

      A) So Nokia, and RIMM were not there long before Android came along?
      B) This is only a Rumor at this point, right?

      “There WILL be many urban customers not entirely comfortable with only English.”

      C) Why not? There seem to be PLENTY of Indians getting quite comfortable with English (and everything else American) here in the U.S. and for most of the U.S. based corporate business call centers in Bangalore and Chennai! And if I recall correctly, wasn’t India a British colony at one point in it’s history, with British English being taught in the urban schools?

  • Pbenag01

    If Apple is opposed to making the iPad mini, then why would they make the iPhone mini? It does not really make any sense given the number of models they already have, and the expectation to get “bigger” and “better” screens…

  • http://www.facebook.com/simranjit1 Simranjit Singh Dhaliwal

    3.2″ hvga and 3gs processor / 512ram bingo works to be ~300$ unlocked!!!

  • Anonymous

    Wait, Android is already overtaking iOS and Apple’s way of competing is to strip the phone down? If they want to compete they’ll need to do much more than that and taking a smaller cut for each device sold is a really goo way to lower the price.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Omega-Man/100000590156587 Omega Man

      Now that idea would put Mr. Jobs immediately back in his office, before he has fully recovered, and it could kill him! I’m picturing investor jumping from roof tops! What a scary thought!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Omega-Man/100000590156587 Omega Man

    Dear apple iproduct fans, Your Welcome!

    From all of us Android fans. ;)

  • http://twitter.com/Syk0Matik420 Beefy McBigDick

    sounds like Apple is getting a little intimidated by Android. And why make a smaller iphone? its already too small for real men hands. I’ve only seen girly men, wanna be hipster, Clark Duke look alikes wearing nerd clothes and homo shoes using iphones. I guess if they want EVEN MORE tweenie girls buying iphones to bring to Jonas Bros concerts then it makes sense to make a nano version. But here’s a WILD idea: How about if Apple does something that is ACTUALLY revolutionary like design a new OS or a new type of mobile device rather spitting out the same, slightly revamped garbage over and over again. i guess that is asking too much from morons.

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