One of the rumors is that the iPhone 5 is going to be discontinued immediately, instead of the usual price lowering.
The 5C will be the new $99 phone, the 4S will be the free phone.
It crossed my mind that the 5 and 4S might go away, if the 5C could be built for considerably less, using newer technology.
But as much as I love and desire a 4S, can it be profitable to keep around?
.
Cost to produce (and service/refurbish) these handsets must be a factor.
From experience, I've got to say the 4 & 4S are nightmares!
.
Maybe it's to put more distance between the premium and inexpensive handsets?
No matter how you slice it, a regular 5 will be just as high end device come Xmas, as it is today!
So to many, getting it at a lower price will seem a bargain.
But that also lowers the resale value as well.
?Guess we'll have to wait 'n see.
.
.
edit: oh, the light bulb goes on!
The 4S was truly a world phone.
One hardware build could be programmed for any CDMA or GSM system, world wide.
So, only one assembly to manufacture and stock.
.
In iPhone 5, to support differing LTE bands for various carriers, different filters get assembled onto limited PCB real estate!
That's got to be a manufacturing, test, and logistics nightmare.
What if the 5C and 5S are again true world phones?
You'd have a big savings! :up
.