More clues point to iPhone nano debut

By Charlie White, Mashable

(Mashable) -- Is there a smaller, cheaper version of the iPhone on the way? Rumors abound, but now the Wall Street Journal has found "people familiar with the matter" who have actually laid hands and eyes upon it:
"One of the people, who saw a prototype of a new iPhone several months ago, said the new device is intended to be sold alongside the current line of iPhones and would be about half the size of the iPhone 4. The phone, one of its codenames is N97, would be available to mobile carriers at about half the price of Apple's main line of iPhones, the person said."
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple's also considering making its MobileMe online storage service free, allowing users to store their data in the cloud rather than on a small device such as an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.
This move could facilitate a smaller iPhone, which could store most of its data elsewhere rather than within its tiny confines.

When will we see such a tiny iPhone, reportedly one-third smaller than its bigger brother, and costing $200 with no contract?

The WSJ sources are saying this summer, which is right in line with the usual time new iPhones are unveiled.

Is Apple Finally Releasing an iPhone Nano?

By Brian X. Chen

Apple might be preparing a smaller, less-expensive version of the iPhone for release this year, according to multiple media outlets.
The smaller iPhone could be half the size of a normal iPhone, and it may have a strong focus on internet-streamed media and “cloud” storage, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Bloomberg followed up with a report citing a source who claimed to have seen a prototype of the device.
Neither publication had details on device specifications or pricing. Cult of Mac later echoed the rumor about a focus on cloud storage, adding that the smaller iPhone’s storage had to be extremely pared down to reduce costs.
Whispers of a so-called “iPhone Nano” have made the rounds for years, but mainstream media outlets such as WSJ add more credibility to the rumor. It would be an opportune time for Apple to introduce such a product to compete with cheaper, smaller Android smartphones, as well as HP’s miniature Veer smartphone introduced last week alongside the TouchPad tablet.
Photo of a Chinese counterfeit of an iPhone Nano: maxime/Flickr

  

More Clues Point to iPhone Nano Debut [REPORT]

by Charlie White

Is there a smaller, cheaper version of the iPhone on the way? Rumors abound, but now the Wall Street Journal has found “people familiar with the matter” who have actually laid hands and eyes upon it:
“One of the people, who saw a prototype of a new iPhone several months ago, said the new device is intended to be sold alongside the current line of iPhones and would be about half the size of the iPhone 4. The phone, one of its codenames is N97, would be available to mobile carriers at about half the price of Apple’s main line of iPhones, the person said.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple’s also considering making its MobileMe online storage service free, allowing users to store their data in the cloud rather than on a small device such as an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. This move could facilitate a smaller iPhone, which could store most of its data elsewhere rather than within its tiny confines.
When will we see such a tiny iPhone, reportedly one-third smaller than its bigger brother, and costing $200 with no contract? The WSJ sources are saying this summer, which is right in line with the usual time new iPhones are unveiled.