It’s no secret that Apple has but one phone while its rival Google has a whole, giant family of Android handsets. And it’s going to get more and more difficult to compete with all those levels of Android devices if Apple doesn’t branch out a bit.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is already on it. Of course, the Verizon iPhone (which launched today!!) is one such step, but Apple is also working on a smaller, less expensive iPhone to help diversify its iPhone customer base. That phone would be about a third smaller than the current iPhone and would use parts from the iPhone 4, rather than more advanced, expensive components from the upcoming iPhone 5, which it could be launched alongside.
According to the report, Apple is considering offering this new iPhone ‘Nano’ for $200 without a contract, which would let customers pick and switch between cell phone providers. While Google famously dabbled in the no-contract waters with the Nexus One, it charged a high premium for the untied handset. So a $200, no-contract phone would be huge.
Making it even huger, Apple is also reportedly developing a dual-mode phone that could switch between networks. Imagine if that phone were sold without contract: it would be an iPhone that could work on major U.S. network without being tied to a single one. That could certainly change everything.
Of course, since we’re working in unconfirmed rumors right now, that’s all we really can do: imagine.
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