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9to5 Mac has an interesting article today all about why Apple should be thinking about making a cheaper version of the iPhone if it wants to make further inroads into territories where carriers do not want to pay upfront subsidies. According to 9to5 Mac, although Apple is enjoying phenomenal success in countries all over the world with the iPhone, which is now the best selling smartphone in the world, it is in danger of falling way behind to Googles Android phones in certain Southern European countries such as Greece and Portugal. This is because, in the US, for example, carriers heavily subsidise the cost of the iPhone to the customer, generally by around $400 per unit, leaving the customer to pay only $199 upfront if they sign up for a two-year contract; however, in many of these Southern European countries, the carriers are not prepared to do this, so customers are opting to buy the (relatively) cheaper phones, such as Samsungs Galaxy Mini as they simply cannot, or will not, afford to pay such a large sum of money for an unsubsidized iPhone. Apple has shown in the past with its cheaper versions of the iPod, such as the iPod Shuffle, that it is prepared to market budget versions of its high-end products, so maybe a cheaper iPhone is not out of the question, although the rumours that one might be on the way strangely appear to have died down of late. [/FONT]
[FONT=&]Source: Pressure mounts to deliver inexpensive iPhone as Apple stagnates in countries without carrier subsidies | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence[/FONT]
9to5 Mac has an interesting article today all about why Apple should be thinking about making a cheaper version of the iPhone if it wants to make further inroads into territories where carriers do not want to pay upfront subsidies. According to 9to5 Mac, although Apple is enjoying phenomenal success in countries all over the world with the iPhone, which is now the best selling smartphone in the world, it is in danger of falling way behind to Googles Android phones in certain Southern European countries such as Greece and Portugal. This is because, in the US, for example, carriers heavily subsidise the cost of the iPhone to the customer, generally by around $400 per unit, leaving the customer to pay only $199 upfront if they sign up for a two-year contract; however, in many of these Southern European countries, the carriers are not prepared to do this, so customers are opting to buy the (relatively) cheaper phones, such as Samsungs Galaxy Mini as they simply cannot, or will not, afford to pay such a large sum of money for an unsubsidized iPhone. Apple has shown in the past with its cheaper versions of the iPod, such as the iPod Shuffle, that it is prepared to market budget versions of its high-end products, so maybe a cheaper iPhone is not out of the question, although the rumours that one might be on the way strangely appear to have died down of late. [/FONT]
[FONT=&]Source: Pressure mounts to deliver inexpensive iPhone as Apple stagnates in countries without carrier subsidies | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence[/FONT]
