Apple could launch 'iPhone Mini' next year

[Tom172]

Is an "iPhone Mini" on the horizon? Strategy Analytics analyst Neil Mawston thinks so. But why?
Samsung has been the clear winner in the smartphone wars, with Apple playing second fiddle. And that lead may wider further in 2013.
Based on data sent to CNET, Mawston expects Samsung to carve out a 33 percent chunk of the smartphone market this year, up from a projected 31 percent in 2012. At the same time, Apple's share will inch up to 21 percent from 20 percent last year. Samsung could sell as many as 290 million smartphones this year, while Apple is likely to sell 180 million iPhones.
The Korean handset maker has the edge over Apple in large part because it "plays in more segments," Mawston told Reuters, allowing it to "capture more volume than Apple."
To fight back, Apple may try to win over a larger base of consumers by launching a smaller, cheaper variant of the iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone Mini" by the analyst.
With the iPhone 5 grabbing huge demand and sales, a low-end model may not be on Apple's agenda this year. But Mawston told CNET he thinks it's coming.

Source

 

[Gnosis]

I would get one if they had a horizontal slide-out keyboard like the original Pantech Pursuit's did. I can text so much faster with one of those than a touch screen. I bet no one else feels that way about it though.

 

[illumination]

I would get one if they had a horizontal slide-out keyboard like the original Pantech Pursuit's did. I can text so much faster with one of those than a touch screen. I bet no one else feels that way about it though.

You just lost that bet
I can not stand touch screen phones, and type faster on slide out keyboards!

 

[Tom172]

Back in the days of my old Nokia phones I could text message lightning quick. It did take a while to adjust to the touchscreen.

As for this news of the iPhone mini, it's still going to be overpriced for what it will be. I can't see them directly competing with the current line of Samsung phones price wise.

 

[Exterminator]

I cant text for the life of me so it really makes no difference to me.I wonder how long people will camp out for that one.You pay a whopping price for a iPhone depending on the GB.I bought a 16GB Galaxy S3 for under $200 and put in a 64GB micro SD Card.Moved all my music onto it in a couple mins without having to deal with iTunes.If I had never used the Jailbreak when I had my iPhone I probably would have thrown it against a wall.

 

[Gnosis]

I can not stand touch screen phones, and type faster on slide out keyboards!

Glad to know I am not the only one.