iPhone nano rumoured as 3G version boosts sales

Rumours that Apple is working on a ‘nano’ version of its successful iPhone 3G will please operators, whose recent results have been boosted by sales of the multimedia mobile device.

The Mail on Sunday quoted an industry source as saying Apple will launch a mini version of the iPhone, in line with its iPod nano range, in time for Christmas.

The new version will reportedly cost up to £150 for pay-as-you-go customers.

Apple refused to comment on the rumours. But news of a potential follow-up to fastest ever selling mobile phone in the UK will be welcome news for official carrier O2 and mobile retailers alike.

O2 said in its second quarter results last week that the recent launch of the 3G version of the device had helped drive an additional 137,596 new pay monthly subscriptions for the period. This was 81 per cent more than the same quarter last year.

And, although it does not make a breakdown of handset sales by manufacturer public, O2 also confirmed with IT PRO today that the iPhone was their biggest selling device ever.

Carphone Warehouse also said it had seen “a sharp pick-up in subscription connections on the back of the iPhone 3G launch”. But like O2, it did not break out specific numbers.

Rob Bamforth, service provision and mobility principal analyst for research firm, Quocirca told IT PRO it was a ‘no brainer’ that the likes of O2 and Carphone Warehouse would be keen to sell an iPhone nano off the back of recent popular demand.

But he added that he wasn’t sure what a ‘cut-down’ version would offer. “I think the second-generation iPhone is more business ready, what with the ability to sync to Exchange and some more business friendly tariffs,” said Bamforth.

“But it depends on what they cut down in any new model – smaller screen, battery, no Wi-Fi or 3G – on whether it still proves attractive to businesses.”

It had been suggested a new iPhone nano would feature a touchwheel for dialling on the back, with the screen on the front.

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