14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is reportedly asking around to see if any carriers would agree to charge a $100 (€72) premium for the next-generation iPhone 6, likely the rumored larger version with a 5.5-inch display.
The news comes from Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. He’s not predicting the move, but rather reports that Apple is at it already. The California company is reportedly very interested in raising the subsidy to $300 (€217) for what I imagine would be the much larger 5.5-inch model. The tech giant is also said to be making a smaller, 4.7-inch version.
Misek’s argument is that Apple will have little to no competition this year, therefore will afford to be arrogant.
“...we think this general lack of differentiation could be the reason why Apple may be able to get a price increase. Carriers realize that the iPhone 6 will likely be the only headline-worthy high-end phone launched this year and that they will lose subs if they do not offer it.”
Misek may know a thing or two about numbers, but I doubt that he fully understands Apple’s mindset. Not to say that the cost prediction can’t turn out accurate, but I doubt it’s this particular “headline-worthy” reason that Apple has in mind. The phone could be draped in sapphire and Liquidmetal, making the profit margins projected by Misek sound quite silly.