Neil Hughes
Ahead of Tuesday's iPhone event, analyst Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets said he expects Apple to introduce a refreshed iPhone this week, likely to be branded either "iPhone 5" or "iPhone 4S." He doesn't expect Apple to introduce a second, cheaper iPhone model, but instead reduce the prices of its existing lineup.
To that end, he sees the iPhone 4 dropping to $99 subsidized, and $499 without a service contract. But he also believes Apple will retain the iPhone 3GS in its lineup, offering it for free with a two-year carrier agreement, or $399 contract-free.
That would be a change from years past, as Apple has traditionally discontinued its two-year-old iPhone model. With the release of the iPhone 4 in 2010, the iPhone 3GS was dropped to $99 with a contract, and in January the price was further reduced to $49.
Industry-watchers have been forecasting for Apple to introduce a new entry-level iPhone for years, allowing the company address a huge global prepaid wireless market, particularly in China. That led to speculation that Apple would release two iPhone models this year — one low-end offering, and a full-fledged fifth-generation handset.
But even prior to its note issued to investors on Monday, Abramsky has expressed skepticism about a new, low-cost iPhone from Apple. Back in August, the RBC analyst said the primary requirement for Apple to launch a low-end iPhone would be to provide an "innovative, category-killer experience."
The same analyst also said in June that Apple is "expected" to offer the iPhone 3GS for free once the iPhone 5 launches. He sees the approach helping Apple with mid-market buyers, and would counter the growth of Google's Android platform.
While the continued availability of the iPhone 3GS would be a surprise, the real focus of this week's event, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, is the new fifth-generation iPhone. Aligning with most rumors, Abramsky believes the new iPhone will feature the A5 processor, an 8-megapixel camera, support for high-speed HSPA+ networks, and a new high-end capacity of 64GB.
Abramsky said Apple may choose to brand HSPA+ as "4G," as U.S. carriers T-Mobile and AT&T have opted to do, even though it is not "true" 4G long-term evolution. He also believes the new iPhone will offer voice recognition technology stemming from the company's acquisition of Siri.
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78 Comments
If people loved the 3GS wouldn't it still be a great phone? Is it so much slower that by comparison people wouldn't want it? What are the main differences between the 3GS and what will be the iP5? Is there software that works on the iP5 that won't work on the 3GS other than Facetime?
This rumour makes sense - except for the price. Still too pricey for the PAYG market, I would've thought. Possibly a $299 version. In any case keeping the 3GS will make up, a bit, for the loss of the iPhone 5 in terms of sales.
If people loved the 3GS wouldn't it still be a great phone?
It is.
No.
How could we know that?
Uh, of course?
While there was a huge demand stated for iPhone 5, I'm not sure if that demand will stay true if they only release an iPhone 4S.
With an iPhone 4S ($99 subsidized 16G) and an iPhone 5, ($199, $299 subsidized 32G/64G) I was thinking they might keep the iPhone 4 at a Free subsidized choice.
But, alas, the rumors are seemingly squashing that pipe dream. Their media event will have to be pretty phenomenal to make me want to upgrade my iPhone 4. I currently could see this device lasting me until the next iPhone event, even if that was in February 2013.
I highly doubt Apple will still sell the 3GS. It's really starting to show it's age, and Apple is too much of a perfectionist to continue selling something that makes them, frankly, look bad. There's just no point.