Based on July, 2011 data, the iPhone is still the best selling smartphone in all the land. But with its new $99 price point and news that Sprint will start offering the iPhone on the Sprint network in October of 2011, will the Apple iPhone become even more popular?
 |
| The Apple iPhone is still on top. (July, 2011 data from Millennial Media). |
Concerning the New $99 iPhone
- This form of iPhone clearance has been going on with Apple since the 3GS. Apple has been cutting the price on the older models as well as lowering the storage amount, usually to 8 GB.
- The 960 x 640 resolution on the 3.7” display looks like it will remain, as no new modifications have been done to cheapen the quality of the screen on the new budget-priced iPhone.
- This marks a huge step for Apple and its iPhone. With the new $99 price point, the iPhone will no longer be considered such an exclusive item anymore. Gone is the snob appeal as Apple begins to court "the masses" with its entry level price point, similar to what it has done with its mac mini computer in relation to the rest of its computer lineup.
Will the New $99 iPhone Make a Huge Difference for Sprint?
Verizon didn't get the boost it expected from its adoption of the iPhone. While Sprint getting the iPhone is a big deal for the company, its basically the last major carrier to get the iPhone and much of its luster has already gone, especially now with its new $99 price point that places it more in line with a mass market commodity. Sprint does have good unlimited data plans and as long as they don't move to a tiered data pricing structure, that could be a huge selling point for Sprint and its version of the iPhone.
