This phone must be a stripped down version. Its hard to believe that at a price of $200 .How can Apple possibly put out a regular Iphone at $200 without any subsidy from a carrier ????
It's called a dividend. A company doesn't have to just throw their money down a hole if they can't manage to lose it through normal operations. It's the shareholders' money.
I understand that but I, like many, am not anxious for a dividend if Apple can put that money to good use with a better return.
I think initially Apple just wanted to make sure they were debt-free and cash-rich. But after they passed the $25-30B mark, I have felt they are planning for something big. I've struggled to imagine what those plans might entail and had come up short but with some of the recent patent announcements and stories like this, I think there is a real possibility that Apple might pursue a move into wireless business (as an MVNO). I don't think this would be too far afield and don't consider it a blackhole. There could be a solid recurring income stream from such a move.
Yeah, the rumors of a smaller/cheaper/crappier iPhones have persisted since 2008. Until it ships, it's a worthless rumor. But that day may come. Apple doesn't race to the bottom, but they have in the past gone after broader market segments like they did with the iPod, which started as one expensive model and now has models from $50 to $400. The same may happen with the iPhone. Great, but I'll keep the top-end model in my pocket.
You don't think Apple is interested in becoming an MVNO? I think it may make more sense that they use their money to build their own wireless service than any large acquisition they could make. They can't just keep accumulating cash.
As far as what Verizon thinks, it's the same dilemma they (or any carrier) has now. Someone approaches you about buying a few million minutes in bulk at a discounted price that is prepaid. You don't want the business, someone else will. And I think this may explain why Apple is optiong to use the MDM6600 which supports both CDMA and GSM/UMTS - they have even more potential carriers to shop.
No, I think apple has zero interest in becoming an MVNO and it's the last thing they want to sink their cash into. There are many things they have likely slotted money for and new things will come down the pike that can't be foreseen. And having cash is a great hedge for any company, especially a company like apple that often makes moves that don't fit the conventional business logic.
As for verizon selling the minutes or someone else will, it's not about minutes, it's about data. There is simply not enough bandwidth to unleash cheap iPhones with cheap, no cap, no contract plans by the millions. It will overwhelm the network. It will also cannibalize their contract plans. I am pretty familiar with the straight talk model and the phones and I can't see any way verizon would allow a phone like the iphone on that brand. It's all based on having virtually unusable data and browsers on crippled phones at edge speeds. Most straight talk users don't care about data and the ones that do (like me) just move on to a contract plan.
it's hard for my wife and i to justify two iphones. if/when she wants to do something iphoneish, she grabs my phone. she is also pretty unwilling to spend such a chunk on data, doesn't want email on her phone, etc. but, because of that, like many people, she is basically stuck with the crappiest phones, with the crappiest software and buttons they stick in places so you'll accidentally jump online or something. the ease of use of the iphone software for basic functions like talk, photo, text, etc. would be awesome.
besides that, at this point apple has done a lot of the heavy lifting and legwork with the iphone. i can't see how other phone manufacturers could compete. talk about market-share!
No, I think apple has zero interest in becoming an MVNO and it's the last thing they want to sink their cash into. There are many things they have likely slotted money for and new things will come down the pike that can't be foreseen. And having cash is a great hedge for any company, especially a company like apple that often makes moves that don't fit the conventional business logic.
As for verizon selling the minutes or someone else will, it's not about minutes, it's about data. There is simply not enough bandwidth to unleash cheap iPhones with cheap, no cap, no contract plans by the millions. It will overwhelm the network. It will also cannibalize their contract plans. I am pretty familiar with the straight talk model and the phones and I can't see any way verizon would allow a phone like the iphone on that brand. It's all based on having virtually unusable data and browsers on crippled phones at edge speeds. Most straight talk users don't care about data and the ones that do (like me) just move on to a contract plan.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
Verizon would most likely not allow an iPhone on a Straight Talk plan. But I think that is not what Apple intends. I think an MVNO play may be exactly the opportunity that Apple is looking for. And MVNOs also buy bandwidth in bulk just as they do minutes. In fact, there are more providers willing to sell raw bandwidth than there are MNOs selling minutes.
As to their using there money to a better end, please point me in the right direction. They spent $3.9B on prepaid components but that is less than two months current profits. Any small, innovative company they might want to be is pocket change. The cash keeps growing - likely to be near or at $70B by the end of this quarter unless sales suddenly tank.
You are correct that the phone companies don't want (and will resist any efforts) to be turned into "dumb pipes". But, I think that will be the inevitable outcome for them, so the winners will be the ones who figure out how to play that game to their advantage.
The "rumor" is probably once again coming from Apple turning tech community into a giant focus group.
I think small cheap iPhone could add a few billions while taking out of business other phone manufacturers.
I also see a need for 4.5" iPhone and 7" iPad. I love my 4.3" EVO 4g: screen is so much more usable, besides Android browser running in full-screen mode taking advantage of full 4.3" real estate (iPhone browser has bars on top and on bottom making its browser usable screen size only about 3.2".
Apple needs an iPhone you can purchase without a VOICE plan, for the number of people who don't need voice and want to access the internet anywhere.
You mean the US needs a carrier that sells a data-only plan. Apple does not sell plans, the carriers do. In most countries you can already get data-only plans.
And what actually happens when you put the SIM card from a 3G modem or iPad into an iPhone? I'll tell you, it normally just works fine.
Verizon would most likely not allow an iPhone on a Straight Talk plan. But I think that is not what Apple intends. I think an MVNO play may be exactly the opportunity that Apple is looking for. And MVNOs also buy bandwidth in bulk just as they do minutes. In fact, there are more providers willing to sell raw bandwidth than there are MNOs selling minutes.
As to their using there money to a better end, please point me in the right direction. They spent $3.9B on prepaid components but that is less than two months current profits. Any small, innovative company they might want to be is pocket change. The cash keeps growing - likely to be near or at $70B by the end of this quarter unless sales suddenly tank.
You are correct that the phone companies don't want (and will resist any efforts) to be turned into "dumb pipes". But, I think that will be the inevitable outcome for them, so the winners will be the ones who figure out how to play that game to their advantage.
Yes, we'll have to agree to disagree. While I have no idea what apple plans with their many billions, I'm sure they do, and I can't see them sinking it into telecom services. Likely, they are planning things (such media content deals like they did with beattles catalog, more data center investment, shoring up the supply chain, and perhaps even buying some component manufacturers, etc). Hard to guess. If this lower priced iphone with no contract does get out there, I'll be sure to check it out to see if it suits my needs. It's not as if I like having a contract phone.
all they need to do is lower the price point of the iPhone 4 significantly when number 5 arrives.. how can an iPhone justifiably cost more than twice as much as an iPod touch when they're such similar devices?
please bring me an iPhone 4ish device with a qwerty keyboard too. They're selling enough of these things to give us two or three options at least!
Great, except none of those things benefit Apple to the tune of the $300 that was lost. The first benefits Apple mildly, since they may sell more Apps. But it will clearly push their manufacturing partners very hard to sell a ZERO PROFIT phone, meanwhile eliminating Apple's stream of upgraders. The second only benefits the carriers. The third, again, benefits Apple not at all.
Thank god actual businesspeople run Apple.
Business people who sell the cheapest iPod touch at $220. Apparently at a profit and not much threat to margins. Which are quite high across the entire iPod line.
As has been pointed out in this thread - iOS is also a platform. Were they a car manufacturer with a huge brand then taking 50% of profits from 4% of all cars sold would be great. However the iOS platform needs developers, and to get developers it needs to be on a certain percentage of devices. In particular iOS is now in the position to be developers first choice ( see Angry Birds) and that makes a difference to people buying phones. If iOS apps are 6 month later than Android apps then you lose custom.
Since Apple have already worked out how to sell a device to undercut the competition in the one market they dominate, it makes sense that they would do it here. Create a device for people who would otherwise go to Android's cheaper phones, but make it somewhat undesirable - not enough RAM or storage so people get lured in but buy the next higher model ( a known economic fact) . I dont care if this is the nano or the 3GS continued after June.
And, when their supply increases as more factories go online in china with this $4B development, they can keep margins high even on lower end machines. Two of the major component costs - screens and processor - will be cheaper to Apple than other competitors ( except Samsung for obvious reasons with processor).
Assuming that the displays are $N cheaper for Apple even in the older devices, then margins stay the same with a $N reduction in price, but margins can - frankly - drop. Make it $N+ cheaper.
Smart phones are becoming commodities -it makes sense for Apple to protect its cheaper end.
You mean the US needs a carrier that sells a data-only plan. Apple does not sell plans, the carriers do. In most countries you can already get data-only plans.
And what actually happens when you put the SIM card from a 3G modem or iPad into an iPhone? I'll tell you, it normally just works fine.
Yes that's true. I meant to say that one should be able to buy an iPhone without a voice plan.
We don't have data only plans in Canada either.
I was tempted to try my iPad sim in the iPhone, but the results I read about seemed to be hit or miss. I think I'll try again when I reactivate my iPad data plan.
Yes that's true. I meant to say that one should be able to buy an iPhone without a voice plan.
We don't have data only plans in Canada either.
I was tempted to try my iPad sim in the iPhone, but the results I read about seemed to be hit or miss. I think I'll try again when I reactivate my iPad data plan.
But you can buy an unlocked iPhone from Apple without a voice plan in Canada (as by now in a lot of countries)
I just did a quick check, you can get an unlocked iPhone without any contract from Apple in these countries:
UK, DE, FR, AT, CH, IT, ES, IE, DK, NO, CA
You can only get with from carriers:
NL, BE, PT, LU, SE, FI, US (however in BE it is unlocked nevertheless)
The cheapest data plan is $15 per month, the cheapest voice plan is $40. Actually, they do have cheaper voice plans, but not for iPhone users. It's hard to see the data plan as the problem when voice is almost three times as expensive.
That's because the subsidy on the phone is so high that users have to pay a huge amount every month to cover it. When the phone costs carriers $600 they can't let you buy a $20/mo voice plan or they'd never get back the cost of the phone.
A $200 iPhone would change everything. People could buy it outright and use $10 pre-paid cards for minutes and $20 pre-paid data for those times when they're away from WiFi. It would allow Apple to take on Samsung, LG, Nokia and even cheap Chinese phones like Huawei.
Economically it would make sense for me to get such a phone instead of a real iPhone, but it would likely be slow and the small screen would be endlessly frustrating. It's even cheaper to just stick with my old flip phone and iPod touch so I'll do that until there's a super-sized iPod touch with more of a Kindle or Nook sized screen and the option of buying no-contract data like the iPad.
But you can buy an unlocked iPhone from Apple without a voice plan in Canada (as by now in a lot of countries)
I
You can buy an unlocked phone, however the carriers don't offer a data only plan. That was something I asked before I bought.
Although they also told me that the iPad sim wouldn't work in an iPhone.
The SIM you may be using in your current, phone, smartphone or iPhone is not compatible with your iPhone 4.
An iPad micro-SIM is not compatible with your iPhone 4. The micro-SIM for iPhone 4 looks like the image below. Note it is different from an iPad micro-SIM in that an iPad micro-SIM states "Pre-activated" on the card, whereas an iPhone 4 does not state "Pre-activated".
I went the shitty dumb phone (plus iTouch) route for a couple of years. Then I got an iPhone and I realized I was blowing smoke up my own ass. You can't compare so just save yourself the aggravation. First of all, shitty phones are an aggravation onto themselves. The gift that gives on giving.
And think about it. $15/month for 3G everywhere you go is not bad. You don't have wifi in your car, or on a bus, or most places on the street. Even when you do find it, more and more want to charge you than they used to. Also, when you are somewhere without wifi, or your cable internet is down, you have a back up. Comcast has been working in our neighborhood for the last 2 months and our wired internet has been down for hours at a time on quite a few days. It's nice to still be able to get email, check the web, etc. (my wife and I work from home so it's more than a luxury). $15 doesn't buy much nowadays so it works for me. YMMV
No argument other than "shitty phones". After a year of using my 3G I went back to my Razr plus a Touch. If I need a phone, I need a good one. With the Razr I get way more signal drawing power than the iPhone. ATT both ways. Stronger no matter where I go. I is very noticeable. There's a 200 mile trip I take where the iPhone is useless for at least a third of the trip. The Razr is solid the entire way.
Not saying the iPhone is shitty. But as a phone only, it leaves a bit to be desired.
It's quite snappy with capacitive touch and is very affordable. It does lack some multi-touch features but offers a decent experience nonetheless.
Those phones may not erode Apple's iPhone sales in any near-term but they have to pull down Apple's prices eventually simply because Apple can't keep making their phone better and better.
They won't add a higher resolution screen, 1080p video is pointless as it uses too much space and you probably couldn't edit it easily on the device, the storage capacity is plenty already. From here on, it's mostly about the software and the prices come down.
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Something wrong with this story
It's called a dividend. A company doesn't have to just throw their money down a hole if they can't manage to lose it through normal operations. It's the shareholders' money.
I understand that but I, like many, am not anxious for a dividend if Apple can put that money to good use with a better return.
I think initially Apple just wanted to make sure they were debt-free and cash-rich. But after they passed the $25-30B mark, I have felt they are planning for something big. I've struggled to imagine what those plans might entail and had come up short but with some of the recent patent announcements and stories like this, I think there is a real possibility that Apple might pursue a move into wireless business (as an MVNO). I don't think this would be too far afield and don't consider it a blackhole. There could be a solid recurring income stream from such a move.
You don't think Apple is interested in becoming an MVNO? I think it may make more sense that they use their money to build their own wireless service than any large acquisition they could make. They can't just keep accumulating cash.
As far as what Verizon thinks, it's the same dilemma they (or any carrier) has now. Someone approaches you about buying a few million minutes in bulk at a discounted price that is prepaid. You don't want the business, someone else will. And I think this may explain why Apple is optiong to use the MDM6600 which supports both CDMA and GSM/UMTS - they have even more potential carriers to shop.
No, I think apple has zero interest in becoming an MVNO and it's the last thing they want to sink their cash into. There are many things they have likely slotted money for and new things will come down the pike that can't be foreseen. And having cash is a great hedge for any company, especially a company like apple that often makes moves that don't fit the conventional business logic.
As for verizon selling the minutes or someone else will, it's not about minutes, it's about data. There is simply not enough bandwidth to unleash cheap iPhones with cheap, no cap, no contract plans by the millions. It will overwhelm the network. It will also cannibalize their contract plans. I am pretty familiar with the straight talk model and the phones and I can't see any way verizon would allow a phone like the iphone on that brand. It's all based on having virtually unusable data and browsers on crippled phones at edge speeds. Most straight talk users don't care about data and the ones that do (like me) just move on to a contract plan.
it's hard for my wife and i to justify two iphones. if/when she wants to do something iphoneish, she grabs my phone. she is also pretty unwilling to spend such a chunk on data, doesn't want email on her phone, etc. but, because of that, like many people, she is basically stuck with the crappiest phones, with the crappiest software and buttons they stick in places so you'll accidentally jump online or something. the ease of use of the iphone software for basic functions like talk, photo, text, etc. would be awesome.
besides that, at this point apple has done a lot of the heavy lifting and legwork with the iphone. i can't see how other phone manufacturers could compete. talk about market-share!
apple - read my post. DO IT! THIS YEAR!
No, I think apple has zero interest in becoming an MVNO and it's the last thing they want to sink their cash into. There are many things they have likely slotted money for and new things will come down the pike that can't be foreseen. And having cash is a great hedge for any company, especially a company like apple that often makes moves that don't fit the conventional business logic.
As for verizon selling the minutes or someone else will, it's not about minutes, it's about data. There is simply not enough bandwidth to unleash cheap iPhones with cheap, no cap, no contract plans by the millions. It will overwhelm the network. It will also cannibalize their contract plans. I am pretty familiar with the straight talk model and the phones and I can't see any way verizon would allow a phone like the iphone on that brand. It's all based on having virtually unusable data and browsers on crippled phones at edge speeds. Most straight talk users don't care about data and the ones that do (like me) just move on to a contract plan.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
Verizon would most likely not allow an iPhone on a Straight Talk plan. But I think that is not what Apple intends. I think an MVNO play may be exactly the opportunity that Apple is looking for. And MVNOs also buy bandwidth in bulk just as they do minutes. In fact, there are more providers willing to sell raw bandwidth than there are MNOs selling minutes.
As to their using there money to a better end, please point me in the right direction. They spent $3.9B on prepaid components but that is less than two months current profits. Any small, innovative company they might want to be is pocket change. The cash keeps growing - likely to be near or at $70B by the end of this quarter unless sales suddenly tank.
You are correct that the phone companies don't want (and will resist any efforts) to be turned into "dumb pipes". But, I think that will be the inevitable outcome for them, so the winners will be the ones who figure out how to play that game to their advantage.
http://www.9to5mac.com/51533/what-do...hone-look-like
I think small cheap iPhone could add a few billions while taking out of business other phone manufacturers.
I also see a need for 4.5" iPhone and 7" iPad. I love my 4.3" EVO 4g: screen is so much more usable, besides Android browser running in full-screen mode taking advantage of full 4.3" real estate (iPhone browser has bars on top and on bottom making its browser usable screen size only about 3.2".
Apple needs an iPhone you can purchase without a VOICE plan, for the number of people who don't need voice and want to access the internet anywhere.
You mean the US needs a carrier that sells a data-only plan. Apple does not sell plans, the carriers do. In most countries you can already get data-only plans.
And what actually happens when you put the SIM card from a 3G modem or iPad into an iPhone? I'll tell you, it normally just works fine.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
Verizon would most likely not allow an iPhone on a Straight Talk plan. But I think that is not what Apple intends. I think an MVNO play may be exactly the opportunity that Apple is looking for. And MVNOs also buy bandwidth in bulk just as they do minutes. In fact, there are more providers willing to sell raw bandwidth than there are MNOs selling minutes.
As to their using there money to a better end, please point me in the right direction. They spent $3.9B on prepaid components but that is less than two months current profits. Any small, innovative company they might want to be is pocket change. The cash keeps growing - likely to be near or at $70B by the end of this quarter unless sales suddenly tank.
You are correct that the phone companies don't want (and will resist any efforts) to be turned into "dumb pipes". But, I think that will be the inevitable outcome for them, so the winners will be the ones who figure out how to play that game to their advantage.
Yes, we'll have to agree to disagree. While I have no idea what apple plans with their many billions, I'm sure they do, and I can't see them sinking it into telecom services. Likely, they are planning things (such media content deals like they did with beattles catalog, more data center investment, shoring up the supply chain, and perhaps even buying some component manufacturers, etc). Hard to guess. If this lower priced iphone with no contract does get out there, I'll be sure to check it out to see if it suits my needs. It's not as if I like having a contract phone.
please bring me an iPhone 4ish device with a qwerty keyboard too. They're selling enough of these things to give us two or three options at least!
Great, except none of those things benefit Apple to the tune of the $300 that was lost. The first benefits Apple mildly, since they may sell more Apps. But it will clearly push their manufacturing partners very hard to sell a ZERO PROFIT phone, meanwhile eliminating Apple's stream of upgraders. The second only benefits the carriers. The third, again, benefits Apple not at all.
Thank god actual businesspeople run Apple.
Business people who sell the cheapest iPod touch at $220. Apparently at a profit and not much threat to margins. Which are quite high across the entire iPod line.
As has been pointed out in this thread - iOS is also a platform. Were they a car manufacturer with a huge brand then taking 50% of profits from 4% of all cars sold would be great. However the iOS platform needs developers, and to get developers it needs to be on a certain percentage of devices. In particular iOS is now in the position to be developers first choice ( see Angry Birds) and that makes a difference to people buying phones. If iOS apps are 6 month later than Android apps then you lose custom.
Since Apple have already worked out how to sell a device to undercut the competition in the one market they dominate, it makes sense that they would do it here. Create a device for people who would otherwise go to Android's cheaper phones, but make it somewhat undesirable - not enough RAM or storage so people get lured in but buy the next higher model ( a known economic fact) . I dont care if this is the nano or the 3GS continued after June.
And, when their supply increases as more factories go online in china with this $4B development, they can keep margins high even on lower end machines. Two of the major component costs - screens and processor - will be cheaper to Apple than other competitors ( except Samsung for obvious reasons with processor).
Assuming that the displays are $N cheaper for Apple even in the older devices, then margins stay the same with a $N reduction in price, but margins can - frankly - drop. Make it $N+ cheaper.
Smart phones are becoming commodities -it makes sense for Apple to protect its cheaper end.
You mean the US needs a carrier that sells a data-only plan. Apple does not sell plans, the carriers do. In most countries you can already get data-only plans.
And what actually happens when you put the SIM card from a 3G modem or iPad into an iPhone? I'll tell you, it normally just works fine.
Yes that's true. I meant to say that one should be able to buy an iPhone without a voice plan.
We don't have data only plans in Canada either.
I was tempted to try my iPad sim in the iPhone, but the results I read about seemed to be hit or miss. I think I'll try again when I reactivate my iPad data plan.
Yes that's true. I meant to say that one should be able to buy an iPhone without a voice plan.
We don't have data only plans in Canada either.
I was tempted to try my iPad sim in the iPhone, but the results I read about seemed to be hit or miss. I think I'll try again when I reactivate my iPad data plan.
But you can buy an unlocked iPhone from Apple without a voice plan in Canada (as by now in a lot of countries)
I just did a quick check, you can get an unlocked iPhone without any contract from Apple in these countries:
UK, DE, FR, AT, CH, IT, ES, IE, DK, NO, CA
You can only get with from carriers:
NL, BE, PT, LU, SE, FI, US (however in BE it is unlocked nevertheless)
The cheapest data plan is $15 per month, the cheapest voice plan is $40. Actually, they do have cheaper voice plans, but not for iPhone users. It's hard to see the data plan as the problem when voice is almost three times as expensive.
That's because the subsidy on the phone is so high that users have to pay a huge amount every month to cover it. When the phone costs carriers $600 they can't let you buy a $20/mo voice plan or they'd never get back the cost of the phone.
A $200 iPhone would change everything. People could buy it outright and use $10 pre-paid cards for minutes and $20 pre-paid data for those times when they're away from WiFi. It would allow Apple to take on Samsung, LG, Nokia and even cheap Chinese phones like Huawei.
Economically it would make sense for me to get such a phone instead of a real iPhone, but it would likely be slow and the small screen would be endlessly frustrating. It's even cheaper to just stick with my old flip phone and iPod touch so I'll do that until there's a super-sized iPod touch with more of a Kindle or Nook sized screen and the option of buying no-contract data like the iPad.
But you can buy an unlocked iPhone from Apple without a voice plan in Canada (as by now in a lot of countries)
I
You can buy an unlocked phone, however the carriers don't offer a data only plan. That was something I asked before I bought.
Although they also told me that the iPad sim wouldn't work in an iPhone.
The SIM you may be using in your current, phone, smartphone or iPhone is not compatible with your iPhone 4.
An iPad micro-SIM is not compatible with your iPhone 4. The micro-SIM for iPhone 4 looks like the image below. Note it is different from an iPad micro-SIM in that an iPad micro-SIM states "Pre-activated" on the card, whereas an iPhone 4 does not state "Pre-activated".
I went the shitty dumb phone (plus iTouch) route for a couple of years. Then I got an iPhone and I realized I was blowing smoke up my own ass. You can't compare so just save yourself the aggravation. First of all, shitty phones are an aggravation onto themselves. The gift that gives on giving.
And think about it. $15/month for 3G everywhere you go is not bad. You don't have wifi in your car, or on a bus, or most places on the street. Even when you do find it, more and more want to charge you than they used to. Also, when you are somewhere without wifi, or your cable internet is down, you have a back up. Comcast has been working in our neighborhood for the last 2 months and our wired internet has been down for hours at a time on quite a few days. It's nice to still be able to get email, check the web, etc. (my wife and I work from home so it's more than a luxury). $15 doesn't buy much nowadays so it works for me. YMMV
No argument other than "shitty phones". After a year of using my 3G I went back to my Razr plus a Touch. If I need a phone, I need a good one. With the Razr I get way more signal drawing power than the iPhone. ATT both ways. Stronger no matter where I go. I is very noticeable. There's a 200 mile trip I take where the iPhone is useless for at least a third of the trip. The Razr is solid the entire way.
Not saying the iPhone is shitty. But as a phone only, it leaves a bit to be desired.
And totally cannabalizing their high end sales. Bye bye profit margins
It will but some of the competition is getting very good. Look at the Sony XPeria Mini:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BhB_rhBqyE
It's quite snappy with capacitive touch and is very affordable. It does lack some multi-touch features but offers a decent experience nonetheless.
Those phones may not erode Apple's iPhone sales in any near-term but they have to pull down Apple's prices eventually simply because Apple can't keep making their phone better and better.
They won't add a higher resolution screen, 1080p video is pointless as it uses too much space and you probably couldn't edit it easily on the device, the storage capacity is plenty already. From here on, it's mostly about the software and the prices come down.
Many backup "near ready" concept phones that's smart
The mobile phone market is in flux apple tries to be as flexible
As possible therefore many styles of iPhones are out there to test
This is what I think is happening
At WALMART or bestbuy I don't see a month to month phone
That runs
Android
Webos
Google reps have said they want a cheaper smartphone
iOS android webos are all thinking the same thing
And these cheaper "smartphone " are in development
So if needed a smaller iOS device will be near ready to launch
My gosh the screen memory and innards of a 3G with a buff
Up in ram could be a start with a smaller screen
Of course SJ IS testing this and other things
I just question the rumor timing as strategic
A shot over the telecom in the USA
Apple with 50 bil in the bank can go were ever it wants
And all the teleco's know that