Rumors are Ripe – Apple Would Release the Next iPhone During the Summer

The speculation about the next iteration of Apple iPhones continues with the latest news that the next iPhone will be released in the Summer. There has been no word yet on the specs of the new device, and when exactly it will be released.

Apple and Samsung Leading Smartphones

This bit of news shouldn’t be surprising considering that Apple has released new models during the summer. The notable exception was the iPhone 4S which came out in October 2011. In 2012, the iPhone 5 was released in Septermber. The next release could be at the Apple World Developers Conference is usually held during the Summer in San Francisco.

The anticipation is heavy among Apple fans and industry analysts even as Samsung has been working to release the Galaxy S 4 during the second quarter. Samsung has been leading the smartphone industry in terms of unit volume sold, and continues to pile up the lead. Globally, the Samsung share of total handset shipments was 25% in 2012. It was a significant increase from 21% market share in 2011. In contrast, Apple’s global market share was 8.6% in 2012, and 6% in 2011. In a separate report, Samsung was estimated to have 25% of global handphone profits, while Apple brought in 70%.

A Low-End iPhone

Analysts anticipate that this year’s iPhone release will include a low-end model for export to developing markets in Asia and South America. The savings might come from a different casing, but with different colors, as well as lower hardware specifications. The yearly iPhone releases have been a steady increase in power from better processors and cameras, as well as upgrades to iOS. The current Apple strategy is to sell older models at lower prices to these markets. However, these older models are still more expensive than newer, more powerful and more updated models from other manufacturers.

Running on Android, the Samsung Galaxy S series has proven to be a powerful alternative to the iPhone and has created some distance from other Android phones. It would be interesting to see what Apple would bring to the table for the Apple faithful to show their continued dominance in terms of a better smartphone.