Rumours that we could see a number of different Apple iPhone models in 2009 have been floating about for a while. The rumours gained credence in March shortly after Apple previewed its Apple iPhone 3.0 OS. Buried in the firmware were references to new iPhone models (including an iPhone 2,1 and 3,1).
Mike Abramsky, an analyst at the Royal Bank of Canada, is the latest to predict that Apple could unveil three models at WWDC. The first would essentially be the next generation iPhone. Selling for US$199 and $299 in 16GB and 32GB of storage respectively, it would come with 7.2Mbps HSPA connectivity, a 600MHz Samsung ARM processor, a 3.2MP camera supporting video, a magnetometer as well as the features found on the current models. A second model would sell for US$99, offering 8GB of storage and would have the same specifications as the current model. The third model could be specifically for China and could support the TD-SCDMA standard while possibly dropping 3G connectivity. A similar rumour about a cheaper iPhone model headed to China also surfaced back in January.
Apple has successfully used a similar strategy with the iPod. Having introduced it as a single mode, it eventually grew it to the family of products currently available, allowing to tap a wider market than a single model could. A cheaper iPhone could also help Apple increase sales by 30 to 40 percent.