While the iPhone 5C might not have delivered the cheaper option many had been hoping for, it seems Apple has been considering a budget model since as early as 2010.
The information comes from Samsung and Apple’s latest court battle with Samsung submitting evidence that Steve Jobs sent an email in late 2010 detailing the company’s plans for 2011. The email was sent ahead of the company’s annual meeting which would see Jobs meet with 100 of the most trusted Apple executives to discuss company strategy for the year ahead.
For the 2010 meeting, Jobs bullet-pointed a budget iPhone handset, which was described as a “low –cost iPhone model based on iPod touch to replace [iPhone] 3GS.”
Apple’s iPhone 5C followed at least part of this strategy in 2013; in the sense it replaced the iPhone 5 when the iPhone 5S emerged as the flagship. Although it clearly wasn’t based on the iPod. It was also still relatively expensive compared to rival “budget” devices.
But the point is, Apple has at least considered a genuine “low-cost” alternative in recent history, meaning it could still be on the cards. As BGR points out in its report of the email, other devices and products detailed by Jobs did not emerge within 2011 but rather appeared later. Apple had plans for an LTE capable iPhone for “mid-2012” but this didn’t materialise until the iPhone 5 in late 2012, meanwhile, both iPad 2 and iPad 3 models were being considered at this time despite quite a gap between the two.
So, could we see an even cheaper follow-up to the iPhone 5C? Tricky one to call. Plenty of analysts suggest Apple will stick to its premium guns once again, but then again, the iPhone 5C didn’t perform as well sales-wise as Apple had hoped.
by pbriden via Featured Articles
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