Apple is reportedly working on a iPhone similar to the iPhone 5, possibility for a launch in Summer 2013. It is believed that production plans are being set down for what will probably be the iPhone 5S.
It is also believed that Apple is communicating with partners in Asia about a less expensive iPhone. This device will probably have a different casing and will launch in the second half of the year.
This reflects a new tack from Apple as competitors in the smartphone category such as Samsung put pressure on them.
“There isn’t really any major differentiator between the players at this phase,” said Neil Mawston, an analyst at research firm Strategy Analytics. “The panacea is to transform the industry with a revolutionary design. [Until then] you have to do the traditional business school implementations like manage costs and move quicker than rivals.”
Investor confidence in Apple has been waning, with the stock at $429.79, below a high of $702.10 last September. While it is believed that the company has innovations that could disrupt the market, things like bendable displays or mainstream wearable devices are years away.
Source: WSJ.com {link no longer active}
