Tweet

My take on the ‘iPhone lite, ‘Apple Pad’

Written by: Dennis Sellers

Article Overview: Sometimes the rumors get it right, sometimes not. But I think they’re at least half off on the reports of Verizon and Apple working together on an “iPhone lite” and/or an “Apple pad.” My take: the former isn’t coming, the latter is. Though not necessarily with Verizon.

My take on the ‘iPhone lite, ‘Apple Pad’

Sometimes the rumors get it right, sometimes not. But I think they’re at least half off on the reports of Verizon and Apple working together on an “iPhone lite” and/or an “Apple pad.” My take: the former isn’t coming, the latter is. Though not necessarily with Verizon.

On Monday USA Today reported that Verizon and Apple are discussing the possible development of an iPhone for Verizon, with the goal of introducing it next year. Yesterday BusinessWeek reported that the two companies may introduce an “iPhone lite” and “Apple Pad” as early as this year.

The iPhone lite is, purportedly, a smaller, less expensive calling device than the iPhone proper. The Apple Pad is reportedly a media pad that would let users listen to music, view photos, and watch high-definition videos. It would place calls over a Wi-Fi connection.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll reiterate: Apple has no plans for a low-end iPhone. There’ll be no iPhone lite. The company is no more interested in competing in that space than they are in the bargain bin computer niche.

The “Apple Pad, ” however, will arrive later this year, IMHO, and will be Apple’s answer to netbooks, ebook readers and tablet computers all in one. I’ve suggested that Apple bring the “iBook” name out of retirement (see my Dec. 16 article). I think it makes a better name for such a device than Apple Pad, which suggests a bachelor pad Steve Jobs might have had in his younger days.

Also, you might take all this talk of a Verizon collaboration with a grain of salt. Just last week Apple Chief Technology Officer Tim Cook, who is filling in for CEO Steve Jobs during his medical leave of absence, said that Apple was happy with AT&T as its sole wireless carrier of the iPhone in the US and said there was no plans to make any changes.

Related Articles
  iPhone Top Rated Application
  How about a 32GB iPhone (with better camera) when iPhone OS 3.0 arrives?
  A look at the latest iPhone, netbook rumors—and my prognosis of ‘em
  We call iPhone app market a “Grand Slam” for the iPhone developers since its launch
  Apple, regarding AT&T exclusivity—just say no

Article Tags: bachelor pad, bargain bin, businessweek, chief technology officer, ebook readers, grain of salt, imho, iphone, leave of absence, media pad, medical leave of absence, music view, steve jobs, tablet computers, tim cook, today reported that, usa today, wi fi, wireless carrier, younger days



Related Forum Posts
Re: Quote of the Day - "Just because something works doesn't mea - iPhone 4 was the best phone in the world in my own opinion then comes iPhone 4s. It is so wonderful, i don't know what they will do with iPhone 5
Re: iPhones - [quote="OmnivoreInk"]iPhone batteries don't last long enough though...[quote] I own an iPhone and I have no problem with the batteries. I am a pretty heavy Internet user and if I don't watch videos or listen too much music (which I don't), I recharge my iPhone every other day.... exactly the same frequency as my old blackberry pearl.
Re: Apple sold 10 million iphones in 2008 - I love reading the story Apple and Steve Job. 10 millions iphones within a year, this is amazing. I am interested in owning Apple shares
Re: iPhone Apps: Biz Idea! - San Diego, California – Got an idea for a killer iPhone app? With more than 1 billion applications sold since its launch last July, Apple’s iPhone App Store has become one of the fastest-growing tech enterprises in recent history, and gained a reputation as something of a developer’s goldmine. Success stories such as that of Ethan Nicholas, whose iShoot app has earned him $900,000 in eight months, have only added to the App Store’s appeal for would-be iPhone entrepreneurs. “The runaway success of the App Store has created the legend of the iPhone millionaire,” says Ian Maskell, principal of iPhone App Freelancer, a company aiming to make it possible to get your idea into the App Store without technical knowledge and minimal financial outlay. “Everywhere we went people would say: ‘I’ve got a great idea for an app.’ We saw an opportunity to level the playing field and allow anyone the ability to become the next success story, regardless of their ability to program or write code.” So Maskell launched iPhone App Freelancer, a website offering the ability to turn great ideas into apps with little or no programming knowledge. Rob Shoesmith, a 27-year-old garbage collector from Coventry – England, submitted one of the first ideas to iPhone App Freelancer for development. Shoesmith says he has only had an iPhone for a few months, but has been following the growth of the App Store since its launch. He wants to keep the specifics of his app under wraps until its launch, but describes it as a user-generated advice service.
Re: What If Steve Jobs Hadn't Returned To Apple In 1997? - Thanks for sharing with us Yinko. Steve Jobs is definitely a visionary. Not only his products are innovative in a technological sense, but he's managed to turn a tech-company's products into a lifestyle.... a lifestyle!! [quote:zfqoq43n]Fast Forward to today. Apple has the sexiest products in the business: iMacs, Macbooks, iPhones, iPods and more.[/quote:zfqoq43n] I think not only tech would be different (music players and phones), but ways we can think of marketing and branding. What Steve Jobs did was of course no easy task for the smaller businesses, but he did start somewhere. What I did not know was that Apple is worth about as much as Google. How do you think Apple accomplish what they did? In terms of strategy wise? If you could advice Steve on one thing, what would it be?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Executive Blind Spots

How do you keep it together on a daily basis?

Do You Deserve To Be Happy and Successful?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.