Online reports on Tuesday
fuelled speculation that Apple is tailoring a low-price version of the iPhone
for China and other emerging markets.
DigiTimes.com, which specializes in news about the
supply side of the technology industry, cited unnamed sources as saying an
iPhone model made with less expensive parts would be rolled out in the second
half of this year.
The rumour was later endorsed by the Wall Street
Journal, which based its report on people briefed on the matter.
The low-priced iPhone will have a big screen along
the lines of those popular with consumers today, according to DigiTimes.
Such a move would be a dramatic shift from Apple's
unabashed style of crafting premium products that sell in the high-end of the
market instead of getting caught up in price wars with rivals.
Apple sees a huge potential in China, and coming
out with a more affordable iPhone may be a necessary move to ward off
competition from bargain-priced smartphones powered by Google-backed Android
software.
Expanding the ranks of iPhone users would also
increase the potential for the California-based company to sell people
mini-applications, music and other digital content popular on smartphones.
- AFP/al
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