Tech Rumor of the Day: Apple
Updated from 6:59 a.m. EDT
AT&T
is considering a $10 price cut for the iPhone's monthly service plan when
Apple
(AAPL) - Get Apple Inc. Report
introduces the newest version of the phone next month.
There is a "strong possibility" that AT&T will drop the entry-level price to $59 from $69, says
analyst Michael Cote, an industry pricing strategist. The announcement, he said, will probably accompany the launch of the new iPhone on June 8, during Apple's World Wide Developers Conference.
The price cut would underscore the pressure AT&T and Apple are under to boost iPhone sales.
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AT&T needs a way to reach beyond its core iPhone customers to people who might find it too expensive. Meanwhile, Apple may be looking to push iPhone sales
and toward other players like
Verizon
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.
But price cuts have always helped juice Apple iPhone sales, and if AT&T can convert more modest spenders to iPhone owners, both AT&T and Apple would be happy.
The lower-entry $59 price would trim 14% off the existing cost of the service plan, reducing the cost of a two-year contract by $240.
The current price of an iPhone including a two-year AT&T contract is a hefty $1,880.
"This price does not address the whole market," says Cote. And the price barrier has started to be a concern for Apple. For example, says Cote, "Wal-Mart iPhone sales haven't met expectations."
There has been a lot of speculation that Apple would someday introduce a $99 nano-iPhone to target people who can't readily afford the current iPhone. But Cote says he's not expecting a cheaper iPhone anytime soon. He does say that tinkering with the price plans signals that AT&T is eager to make some headway on affordability.
"Apple would first need to address the entry-level price point before introduction of a $99 iPhone," says Cote.
Apple fans will recall last year AT&T
of the iPhone to $199 from $400 by subsidizing a big portion of the sales price. The price cut juiced iPhone sales to 17 million last year, that's well above the 4 million iPhones sold in the last six months of 2007.
The price strategy also highlights efforts to forestall the end of a strong two-year run for the iPhone. Entering its third year, the iPhone
where cool designs start to look a little uncool.
Apple also faces a new smartphone assault from
Research In Motion
(RIMM)
, which seems to be hitting its stride after initial stumbles in the consumer market. And old foe
Palm
(PALM)
has a new touchscreen Pre phone to rival Apple's iPhone coming this summer. And later this year
Nokia
promises to
jump into the touchscreen race
with three smartphones.
AT&T may be firing the first shot in the coming price plan war.
