Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi interviewed Apple COO Tim Cook recently, where he said that they seek an ideal iPhone customers prepaid; "price is major factor in the prepaid market", and they are not "surrender any what market." China is a target of choice for such product, and Cook, said they are working on "clever things" to allow anyone to get an iPhone - it is not "just for the rich".
Prepaid is something Stefan think that Apple should have approached by the get - go, and although I am tempted to agree, I understand that as a new entrant iPhone needs support partners, that he could obtain. Although the older iPhone can certainly compete on price, new low-end Android phones have better chance to prepaid markets than iPhone right now. Corners Apple is willing to cut to reduce costs is the big question, though; Perhaps a $200 off-contract iPhone Nano with a non-retinal display is sufficient, even though this rumor even more in the air. Supposedly Apple backed off on the idea of SIM cards integrated because service providers, so an iPhone nano can be also overwritten if retail partners are not cooperative, though that Sacconaghi said Apple remains optimistic in their carrier relations.
Everything ends up with the coming of the iPhone prepaid, land we get this iPad sound 2 week next to get any idea of a solid Apple smartphone plans.
