Apple's official leaks claims a lesser specced iPhone coming

[Pliablemoose]

I've heard a few analysts suggest this, a cheaper device that has access to the App Store & iTunes.

WSJ says one is coming, $200 off contract, so it would be free with a contract or $200 on a month to month pay as you go plan, the thinking is that App Store & iTunes sales will generate a ton of $$$ for Apple, and give them some ammo in the low end smart phone sector. Throw in Mobile Me for free, and you have another game changer from Apple.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704657104576142262842435544.html?KEYWORDS=kane+smith

The person who saw the prototype of the new iPhone said the device was significantly lighter than the iPhone 4 and had an edge-to-edge screen that could be manipulated by touch, as well as a virtual keyboard and voice-based navigation. The person said Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., also plans to upgrade the iPhone 4.
The new MobileMe file-storage and music service could be available as early as June, depending on the progress of licensing talks that are in their preliminary stages, the people familiar with the situation said. Apple had planned for the service to be available a year earlier.
The new service would give users access to their iTunes libraries from, say an iPhone or iPad, instead of requiring that the devices be synced by cable with a computer and use space to store the actual files, the people said. The new service likely would be compatible with the iPhone 4, one of the people said.

 

[sjwaste]

It's a good idea. Free on contract means more parents entertaining an iPhone (variant) for their kids on family plans. The real money's in the music and app sales anyway, I'm sure.