A second, lower-cost cellular phone could well be in the works from everyone's favorite new handset manufacturer. Patent filings, analyst predictions, and now "extremely reputable source" are all pointing towards an "iPhone nano" hitting the shelves within the next few months.
Apple Insider writer "Kasper" claims that Apple has been working on a second, less expensive iPhone for some time now and this nano-esque device should hit the market in time for the holiday season later this year. Kasper's piece cites industry sources (note that Kasper's track record with sources is better than your average writer/analyst's) as saying that the new phone will have "iPod functionality and rudimentary cellular capabilities," sell for "significantly below" the $499/599 price points of current iPhones, and possibly be made available through third party retailers beyond Apple and AT&T stores.
The new iPhone would lack robust Internet and email capabilities, but sport a new user interface most likely related to recent patent filings made by the Cupertino, CA-based company. Apple filing documents detail a system for a virtual click wheel-based input method for dialing and text entry.
My favorite line of the article references Apple's continued plans to dominate the world of gadgets:
"The move is believed to be part of a broader, all-out blitz on the consumer electronics sector this holiday shopping season, in which a staggering array of gadgets from the Cupertino-based firm is expected to leave would-be rivals confused and unable to react."
