Apple has asked its Taiwan-based supplier to begin shipping two new versions of the iPhone next month, including a lower-cost model.
Unnamed sources were cited saying Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision, the parent company of Foxconn in China, was readying both a standard iPhone with new upgrades and a less expensive model with fewer features.
Last week, reports said Apple had scheduled a September 10 event to unveil the new smartphones as part of an effort to regain momentum. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.
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Apple’s move comes with its chief rival Samsung reportedly set to unveil its own smartphones and other devices, including a smartwatch.
Speculation has centered around whether Apple will shift its strategy to include a lower-cost handset to appeal to more consumers, especially in emerging markets.
A survey released by Gartner last week said Apple’s share of the smartphone market worldwide fell to 14.2% in the second quarter, while Samsung’s share rose to 31.7%. Gartner said the Google Android operating system was used on 79% of smartphones sold in the period.
Credit: The Star
