WSJ: Apple has started working on a cheaper version of iPhone

[RaduTyrsina]

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Apple’s iPhone has managed to capture the interest of countless consumers around the world who pledged their loyalty and faith to the company. Nevertheless, there’s still a segment of the population worldwide who can’t afford such a device, as the iPhone is not exactly the cheapest phone there is. But according to different rumors, Apple has been aware of this and has been trying to remedy the situation for some time now.

But now, recent information coming from relevant sources confirm that Apple has been working on a low cost version of their all too popular iPhone. The device will probably look as a regular iPhone but the company will use cheaper parts when building its unibody. One theory states that Cupertino will probably replace the material from which it builds the outer shell and use polycarbonate plastic. At the moment, the iPhone 5 case is made of aluminum. Other internal components might come from recycled or refurbished models.

Apple has been considering building a low cost model since 2009 and even managed to design a few blueprints before the launch of the iPhone 4 in 2010. Those devices feature a cheaper back and slides. Apple is said to have brought up to idea of a cheaper iPhone to executives, but they abandoned it, fearing that such a device would complicate the manufacturing process.
Concerns have been raised that if Apple will indeed release a low cost iPhone, the company will end up sabotaging its own revenue. However, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says that is unlikely as long as the cheaper model manages to attract customers who never owned an iPhone before.

Source: WSJ