Reuters: Cheaper iPhone story withdrawn after 'substantial changes' to China report
Rumors of a more affordable iPhone for emerging markets took an interesting turn Friday, as the major news organization Reuters opted to rescind a story originally filed, based on comments allegedly made by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller.
Reuters issued an update Friday morning informing readers that it had withdrawn the story, which featured the headline "Apple exec dismisses cheaper iPhone as a market share grab ??report." It was based on a report from the Shanghai Evening News, but that original story was later updated with "substantial changes to its content," which prompted the significant retraction.
AppleInsider also cited the same story on Thursday, noting that Schiller allegedly told the newspaper that Apple is not interested in making a "cheap," low-profit iPhone. The Next Web had reported that it confirmed with Apple that Schiller's comments came from an "official interview," as did the report from Reuters, which is now rescinded.
It's unclear exactly what the "substantial changes" made to the story are. As of Friday morning, the original story remains hosted at jfdaily.com, claiming that Schiller said Apple will not develop "cheap smartphones."
The original Chinese report gained considerable attention due to recent rumors claiming Apple plans to build a more affordable iPhone this year. The Wall Street Journal said that the device would be geared toward emerging markets such as China, where cheaper smartphones that can be bought without a service contract dominate the market.
Currently, Apple's cheapest iPhone model is the iPhone 4, which can be had for free with a new two-year service contract. But when bought contract-free, the iPhone 4 costs $450 in the U.S., and taxes increase that price to $490 in Chin and $750 in Brazil.
Reuters issued an update Friday morning informing readers that it had withdrawn the story, which featured the headline "Apple exec dismisses cheaper iPhone as a market share grab ??report." It was based on a report from the Shanghai Evening News, but that original story was later updated with "substantial changes to its content," which prompted the significant retraction.
AppleInsider also cited the same story on Thursday, noting that Schiller allegedly told the newspaper that Apple is not interested in making a "cheap," low-profit iPhone. The Next Web had reported that it confirmed with Apple that Schiller's comments came from an "official interview," as did the report from Reuters, which is now rescinded.
It's unclear exactly what the "substantial changes" made to the story are. As of Friday morning, the original story remains hosted at jfdaily.com, claiming that Schiller said Apple will not develop "cheap smartphones."
The original Chinese report gained considerable attention due to recent rumors claiming Apple plans to build a more affordable iPhone this year. The Wall Street Journal said that the device would be geared toward emerging markets such as China, where cheaper smartphones that can be bought without a service contract dominate the market.
Currently, Apple's cheapest iPhone model is the iPhone 4, which can be had for free with a new two-year service contract. But when bought contract-free, the iPhone 4 costs $450 in the U.S., and taxes increase that price to $490 in Chin and $750 in Brazil.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by monstrosity
I don't many people suckered for that story anyway! Sure not I.
Read it a little more closely. It seems that they are trying to re-stoke the rumors. They are withdrawing the story where they reported that Schiller said they wouldn't release a cheaper iPhone.
My guess is that we won't see it any time soon, though. Apple isn't like McDonalds, which tailors its menu for each country. Apple is a consistent take-it-or-leave-it company, for better or for worse.
Apple already has a cheaper iPhone or iPhones. It is the iPhone 4 and 4S. They still compete pretty well with most of the smartphones out there and to be honest, if I am on a budget I really won't complain that my phone does not have the latest and best.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
So is Reuters claiming Schiller didn't make those comments?
It may be that they weren't accurately translated. The specifics from the interview were not originally written in English.
Everyone knew the story was bs anyway. Stop trying to make a 'cheap' iPhone work! The 4S and 4 (and later this year, the 5) fill that niche perfectly.
Well, not quite. Even the 4 requires a commitment to spend many hundreds of dollars. It does not fit the 'cheap phone' niche at all.
Apple is not going to make a phone for the 'cheap phone' niche, but saying that their existing phones fit there is not correct, either.
Journalistic integrity died with Walter Cronkite (actually, more like his retirement).
Quote:
Originally Posted by propaganda
What is amazing is that this story was picked up by all the major media outlets that include the New York Times, WSJ, Reuters, etc. Its a major embarrassment that discredits their journalism integrity. I am extremely surprised that they all got it wrong on such a high profile organization like Apple.
News seems to be driven by sensationalism and web hits these days. The New York Times already showed they had no scruples with that China labor story last year. Now they have to compete with Drudge and the Huffington Post that will put anything on their website.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordy
Everyone knew the story was bs anyway. Stop trying to make a 'cheap' iPhone work! The 4S and 4 (and later this year, the 5) fill that niche perfectly.
As someone pointed out above...
They're not withdrawing the story that Apple will make a cheaper phone.
They're withdrawing the story that Schiller said they were not interested in doing so.
Huge difference.
Cult of Mac is reporting though that they're not seeing any change to that Shanghai Daily piece. The Nex Web, which was one of the first to report this says they got confirmation from Apple that this was an official interview. Why wouldn't Reuters just contact Apple PR to confirm if this was legit or not? I'm assuming if it wasn't true someone from Apple would have denied it. I mean its one thing to not comment on rumors from unnamed sources, but these were actual quotes attributes to Schiller. If something got lost in translation or was just plain inaccurate you'd think Apple would want to set the record straight.
Funny everyone misinterpreted this statement as Apple not making a cheaper iPhone. Actually it's about Phil Schiller's comment so Apple will make a less expensive iphone for certain markets worldwide(as in developing countries). I wonder how many Wall Street analysts will mis read it as well?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
Cult of Mac is reporting ...
A quick side question: I don't know that I've spent any time reading CultofMac stories till you pointed me to one. Are they usually so blunt and to-the-point about Apple, for example their opinion piece "Why Apple should stop making iOS apps" story? A quick perusal kinda leaves that impression.