Apple COO Tim Cook Hints at Cheaper iPhone

Apple is working hard to “figure out” the prepaid market and doesn’t want its products to be “just for the rich,” but “for everyone,” according to sources analyzing a conversation between Apple COO Tim Cook and Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi.

Interpreted by various high-profile blogs and online publications watching Apple up close, the details of the conversation between Cook and Sacconaghi were reportedly leaked on Twitter.

Horace Dediu of Asymco, a market intelligence company, reveals that Apple doesn’t want its products to be “just for the rich,” citing Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook.

Cook reportedly “appeared to reaffirm that Apple is likely to develop lower priced offerings,” Dediu said, implying that a low end, iPhone nano is still on the table for Apple.

According to the Asymco man, Cook believes that that the tablet market has much bigger potential than the PC market.

Cook further said that the current handset distribution model is poorly constructed.

Apple is ahead of the curve on this one, and is looking to “innovate” and do “clever” things in addressing this, according to reports covering the story.

He reportedly said Apple has been looking closely at China which is "a classic prepaid market."

Based on Cook’s comments, many now assert that Apple COO Tim Cook strongly suggested a cheaper iPhone is on the launch pad.

While Softpedia would not dismiss these claims, it should be noted that Apple has been reluctant to develop a 7-inch iPad, therefore developing a low-end iPhone with a scaled-down iOS is unlikely.

Apple is focused on delivering the best of quality through its already well-established presence in every major market.

Cook’s highly interpretable comments could well suggest that Apple will try to tackle the way iPhones are being sold, subsidized and distributed worldwide, rather than figure out a way to make cheaper device that doesn’t play in the smartphone league.