New, cheap NanoPhone on the way
p2pnet news | mobiles:- People who’ve flashed out between $500 and $600 for an iPhone, fully loaded with various consumer control restriction features, will be pleased to learn Apple plans to launch a cheaper version based on the iPod Nano music player.
According to a JP Morgan report quoted by PCPro, “Apple filed a patent application document dated July 5 that refers to a multifunctional handheld device with a circular touch pad control, similar to the Nano’s scroll wheel.”
The story has Kevin Chang, a JP Morgan analyst based in Taiwan, saying a NanoPhone could come in at $300, or lower.
“We believe that iPod Nano will be converted into a phone because it’s probably the only way for Apple to launch a lower end phone without severely cannibalizing iPod Nano,” he says, going on that the new phone could have “rather limited functionality.”
However, a ‘limited functionality’ can also be levelled at the existing iPhone.
Users have to sign a two-year contract at AT&T, and if they don’t like it, breaking the contract will cost them $175. They also have two open and iTunes account, like it or not.
Meanwhile, analysts forecast that a cheaper phone from Apple, which leads the digital music player market, could pose a much bigger threat to long-established phone makers such as Nokia, Motorola, Samsung Electronics and Sony Ericsson, says Reuters, adding:
“Taiwan’s Catcher Technology will be the ‘major source of metal casing’ for the new phone, according to Chang, who cited an unidentified channel source.”
Oh, and the NanoPhone will be ready for Christmas, suggests the storyl.
Also See:
PCPro – Apple ‘plans Nano iPhone’, July 10, 2007
Reuters – Apple plans cheaper, Nano-based phone: JP Morgan, July 9, 2007
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