Speculations of Apple's low-cost iPhone have been floating around for the past few months, since Samsung overtook the Cupertino company as the top smartphone maker at end of 2012. Many praised Samsung for it versatility to bring in smartphones that met every budget need of consumers and opined that Apple ought to learn a few tricks from its rival if it needs to make a stronger comeback.
Now, a new report with alleged pictures of the iPhone seems to suggest that Apple may launch the low-cost smartphone in October itself.
Tactus, a phone case maker, on Thursday posted a snapshot of the speculated low-cost iPhone's plastic back panel on its official blog page. The exterior case has an Apple logo on the top of the case and it seems to look like a shiny polycarbonate based plastic with curved edges.
The website also revealed that the low-cost iPhone would sport a 3.5-inch screen with retina display technology, A5 processor, 5.0-megapixel main camera, and come in five colours - black, white, blue, red and yellow. It would be priced around $300 (₹16,000) and launch as early as the second week of October.
The above rumoured specifcations of the low-cost iPhone seem too fanciful to believe that it would come out from Apple, which is known for producing premium devices. However, sincethe Apple's stock value began to fall in early 2013, many market analysts had voiced concern that the company had to restructure its business model to include cheaper iPhones if it needs to have better future prospects.
Market watch dog IDC (International Data Corporation) has predicted that smartphone penetration in developed nations such as US, UK and other European markets will begun to saturate in coming years. It expects future smartphone business to grow in developing countries like India, Brazil and China, which are are price sensitive markets.
Apple had already tasted sucess in India thanks to its innovative marketing strategy through introduction of EMI (Easy Monthly Installment) payment mode for iPhone 5 and giving ₹7,000 off on iPhone 4 with the exchange of older smartphones. Dropping prices of older iPhone models has also helped the company to gain significant market share in the sub-continent. If the low-cost iPhone becomes a reality, Apple is sure make a windfall of profits and expand its reach, giving tough fight to reigning smartphone leader Samsung and other local makers like Micromax, Karbonn and others.
As of now, Apple is still keeping mum about the speculations of the low-cost iPhone. Until then, the rumours have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
