 Apple Inc is planning to launch a cheaper version of the iPhone by the end of this year. It could be based on the ultra-slim iPod Nano music player.
Apple filed a patent application document that refers to a multifunctional handheld device with a circular touch pad control, similar to the Nano`s scroll wheel.
Long lines of people turned out on June 29 when the sales began for the iPhone, a mobile phone with a music player and Web browser. Analysts have estimated that sales in the first weekend were as high as 700,000 units.
The officials at Apple said that they may convert iPod Nano into a phone, as it`s probably the only way for Apple to launch a lower end phone without severely cannibalizing iPod Nano.
Analysts expect Apple to bring out iPods that resemble iPhone, with features such as a touch-sensitive screen, later this year. Such products would help stop iPhone eating into iPod sales.
Because of the anticipated lower price for the Nano-based phone, Apple can achieve a sales of 30 million to 40 million units by 2008.
This would be a much larger volume than is expected of the first iPhone, Apple has targeted sales of 10 million units in 2008, which would give it a 1 percent share of the global market.
Sales of the iPhone are expected to be limited to a small percentage of the market due to its high price tag.
However 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 Inc, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Sony Ericsson, owned by Sony Corp and Ericsson.
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Posted On : 14 Jul 07
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