Rumors Have Apple Dropping iPhone, iPod touch Prices
22 February 2008-Oops, Happening Already. Shuffle Price Drops 38%
Apple Rumor Central is filling with reports that prices for iPhone and iPod touches are headed down.
9to5Mac.com got a tip that prices will drop by $100 between February and April and that the 8GB models of the iPhone and iPod touch will be discontinued. That will reportedly leave room for 3G iPhones that are expected later this year - some folks say May. Much of the price drop, if it occurs, is due to a decline in the price of memory as well as perceived or actual slow downs in iPod sales.
Almost as if to confirm the rumors of price cuts, on Tuesday Apple dropped the price of its entry-level iPod shuffle by 38% to $49.99.
The old price for the 1GB shuffle was $79.99. By evening, retailers like Circuit City and Best Buy were selling the 1GB iPod shuffle for $49.99 in stores and on their web sites.
Expected prices are:
8GB iPod touch$199
8GB iPhone$299
16GB iPod touch$299
16GB iPhone$399
32GB iPod touch$399
Apple also rolled out a new iPod shuffle with 2GB of storage for $69, about 11 bucks less than the cost of the 1GB version before Tuesday. The 2GB shuffle is scheduled to ship later this month.
The 1GB version can hold up to 240 songs and play music for up to 12 hours. So the 2GB version should be able to hold close to 500 songs.
Current Apple iPod Prices
shuffle nano classic touch
1GB 2GB 4GB 8GB 80GB 60GB 8GB 16GB 32GB
$49 $69 $149 $199 $249 $349 $299 $399 $499
“At just $49, the iPod shuffle is the most affordable iPod ever,” said Apple’s VP of worldwide iPod product marketing Greg Joswiak.
The iPod shuffle is small - half a cubic inch in volume, weighs half an ounce, features an aluminum design with a built-in clip and comes in five colors.
However, unlike its costlier iPod siblings like the Classic, Nano and touch or for that matter the iPhone, the shuffle lacks video playing capabilities.
Since its launch in October 2001, Apple has sold 140 million iPods, which have become the most popular digital music players and achieved cult status among music lovers.
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