Matter of survival

New York, July 10 (Reuters): Apple Inc plans to launch a cheaper version of the iPhone in the fourth quarter that could be based on the ultra-slim iPod Nano music player, according to a JP Morgan report.

Kevin Chang, a JP Morgan analyst based in Taiwan, cited people in the supply channel he did not name and an application with the US Patent and Trademark office for his report dated July 8.

Apple filed a patent application document dated July 5 that refers to a multifunctional handheld device with a circular touch pad control, similar to the Nano’s scroll wheel. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined comment.

Long lines of people turned out on June 29 when US sales began for the iPhone, a mobile phone with a music player and Web browser. Analysts have estimated that sales in the first weekend were as high as 700,000 units.

Chang said a way to follow up the iPhone with a cheaper version would be to convert the Nano into a phone and price it at $300 or lower. The iPhone sells for $500 and $600, depending on storage space.

“We believe that iPod Nano will be converted into a phone because it’s probably the only way for Apple to launch a lower end phone without severely cannibalising iPod Nano,” he said noting that the new phone could have “rather limited functionality”.

Another analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray said he expects Apple to bring out iPods that resemble iPhone, which features such as a touch-sensitive screen, later this year. Such products would help stop iPhone eating into iPod sales.

“We believe the iPhone reveals much of what the iPod will soon be,” Munster said in a note to clients, “iPods with some of the touchscreen features of the iPhone should lessen the impact of cannibalisation.”

Kerris also declined comment on Munster’s note.

Because of the anticipated lower price for the Nano-based phone, 2008 sales of 30 million to 40 million units “is achievable”, according to JP Morgan’s Chang.

This would be a much larger volume than is expected of the first iPhone, Apple has targeted sales of 10 million units in 2008, which would give it a 1 per cent share of the global market.

Sales of the iPhone are expected to be limited to a small percentage of the market due to its high price tag, particularly in the US where 85 per cent of consumers tend to spend $100 or less on cellphones.