Given Android has according to most assessments, at least slipped ahead of iPhone in the US, the suggestion that Apple might be considering its position in reply is hardly surprising.
Launching an entirely new model of iPhone specifically to deal with the Android threat, however, is likely to raise a few more eyebrows.
Small stories
That's exactly what the firm is currently working on, according to unnamed sources reporting to Bloomberg.
The site claims a smaller, cheaper device could well be in development at Apple, with the company looking to sell the handset for $200, without forcing consumers to sign a two year contract.
"Instead of targeting 25 percent of the global mobile- phone market, Apple would be going after 100 percent," said Needham & Co. analyst Charlie Wolf in response to the rumours.
Far from a done deal
Said sources suggest Apple is looking to launch the device which is apparently one third smaller than the existing iPhone 4 - towards the middle of 2011.
Significantly, there are also rumours it could be SIM-free, something already practised by US operator Verizon to better lock in customers.
However, it's already known Apple is in the habit of developing products that never actually make it to market, with Bloomberg claiming cancellation is already a possibility.
Questions would also be raised as to how apps many of which already rely on finite touchscreen controls would cope on an even smaller screen.
Likewise, a device that couldn't run the hundreds of thousands of existing iPhone apps would likely be dead on arrival.
[source: Bloomberg]
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
News
10 hours, 28 minutes ago
Nintendo releases first official statement on "the successor to Nintendo Switch"
News
10 hours, 57 minutes ago
Microsoft closes Mighty Doom dev Alpha Dog, Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and more
News
11 hours, 13 minutes ago
Nintendo made $10.8 billion in FY24 with mobile and IP income up 81.6%
Feature
11 hours, 51 minutes ago
Mobile Mavens: The industry has its say on Squad Busters ability to draw in “untapped audiences” with its “influence from a range of genres”
Feature
May 7th, 2024
Hot Five: Supercell’s Squad Busters supremacy, Brawl Stars bounces back, and a games industry journey at King
Feature
May 7th, 2024
April 2024 mobile game charts: Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile loses launch momentum and Brawl Stars’ astronomical rise
Events
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Develop: Brighton 2024 | Europe | Jul 9th |
Mobidictum Meetup Barcelona September 2024 | Europe | Sep 1st |
Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki 2024 | Nordic | Oct 1st |