AfterDawn: News

Patent filing suggests 'iPhone Nano'

Rumors have been circulating about Apple Inc.'s plans once again for future tech gadgets. A patent recently filed by the iPod-maker seemed to suggest that the company was intending to introduce a Nano-style iPhone at some point. To add some authenticity to the rumors, JP Morgan analyst Kevin Chang cites unnamed sources in the supply channel that are backing up the original rumors associated with the patent filing.

It indicates that the device would be a smaller, cheaper verison of the iPhone that uses an input system like the iPod click-wheel instead of the touchscreen. Chang goes further however to suggest that the device could replace the current iPod Nano's on the market.



"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," Chang is quoted as predicting. If the rumor is true, then it indicates that Apple is looking to break into the lower end in order to gain market share. Apple has always targeted the margin-rich higher-end of the spectrum.

While the company's iPhone enjoyed an excellent launch and a massive amount of publicity, its sales will be limited to a small percentage of the market due to its high price tag. In the United States, consumers tend to spend around $100 on a phone. Apple's iPhone comes in two models, a 4GB model for $499 and an 8GB model for $599.

Source:
Ars Technica

Written by: James Delahunty @ 10 Jul 2007 4:06

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• 9 comments

• Krmnnghia

  "HaHa so you spent $600 on an iphone did you? Well now that we have made millions, we are making a cheaper version! Bend over consumer we win again!"
  
  -Apple

  10.7.2007 04:45 #1

• vinny13

  Sounds good. I'd get it. The iPhone is too big for me to use as just an everyday phone.

  10.7.2007 08:06 #2

• jetyi83

  Originally posted by Krmnnghia:"HaHa so you spent $600 on an iphone did you? Well now that we have made millions, we are making a cheaper version! Bend over consumer we win again!"
  
  -Appleso since they made a different phone its stupid to own the bigger and better one?
  
  no offense but that is pretty stupid. i have neither nor do i plan to buy either, but i believe they will both do well. the nano phone will most likely sell 5 times as many units, but have about the same margin as the iphone.
  
  as for "Apple has always targeted the margin-rich higher-end of the spectrum. ". Has the writer of this article forgotten about the nano, the shuffle, and all the low end units apple has been producing.
  
  they are definitely going for market share as well as profit margins. the amount of marketing they used for the new shuffle was pretty significant.

  10.7.2007 11:50 #3

• Krmnnghia

  Quote:Originally posted by Krmnnghia:"HaHa so you spent $600 on an iphone did you? Well now that we have made millions, we are making a cheaper version! Bend over consumer we win again!"
  
  -Appleso since they made a different phone its stupid to own the bigger and better one?
  
  no offense but that is pretty stupid. i have neither nor do i plan to buy either, but i believe they will both do well. the nano phone will most likely sell 5 times as many units, but have about the same margin as the iphone.
  
  as for "Apple has always targeted the margin-rich higher-end of the spectrum. ". Has the writer of this article forgotten about the nano, the shuffle, and all the low end units apple has been producing.
  
  they are definitely going for market share as well as profit margins. the amount of marketing they used for the new shuffle was pretty significant.Think about it though...they do this shit on purpose. All this hype and all the stores selling out and then all of a sudden a week later...Oh yah we just now decided we may want a NANO type version of the iphone.
  
  They knew they would be producing a NANO type version a long time ago but if they would have told the consumer this, people may have waited until they could get a much cheaper version.

  10.7.2007 12:04 #4

• veyron

  Originally posted by Krmnnghia:"HaHa so you spent $600 on an iphone did you? Well now that we have made millions, we are making a cheaper version! Bend over consumer we win again!"
  
  -Appleits called "CAPITALISM" if you don't like it move to Russia!
  
  don't you think some people who can't afford the original version may
  be happy about a cheaper version?

  10.7.2007 14:05 #5

• rihgt682

  I can bet it won't come out 2007. Some time around 2008.

  10.7.2007 18:35 #6

• DarkJello

  Take it easy guys, this was rumored before the launch of the iPhone. There wasn't an iPod Nano when the first iPod came out, I don't think this is any different.

  10.7.2007 21:37 #7

• Mr-Movies

  no offense jetyi83 but you have to be pretty stupid to pay $600 for a phone, and that doesn't include the $60 to $220 a month service charge, iIdiots.... Once again there are predecessors that are better but everyone drools over the iCrap.

  13.7.2007 04:52 #8

• borhan9

  I doubt the iPod Nano will turn into a phone due to the fact that the iPod Nano is mainly a multimedia player that is for users that do not want to purchase a expensive piece of hardware.

  17.7.2007 01:27 #9