Coming off the news that Apple's new iPhone 5S will likely be released on September 10, news about the company's low-cost solution for iPhone users, the possibly titled iPhone C, has been scarce. Now it seems analysts are speculating that Siri, everyone's favorite digital personal assistant, might not be making the shift to the low-end iPhone.
Because it will be a cheaper iPhone, many key features will have to be dropped. Forecast analyst Gene Munster, in an investors note released Monday night, said Siri was a likely candidate to remain on the chopping block for the iPhone C. After being unveiled in 2011, Siri made her way to all smartphone devices from Apple iPhone 4S and above. The iPhone 4 was never able to support the use of Siri.
According to CNET, Munster believes the 5C will sell for $300 on average and roll out in September along with the iPhone 5S, which will dominate the company's high end market. It would make the most sense for the company to then retire the iPhone 4S and position the C as the company's only low-end iPhone. Contrary to Munster's claims that the C will not feature Siri, the iPhone 4S, which the C would be replacing, does offer support for Siri, so why then would the customers be happy with a low-end smartphone that downgrades what they will be able to use?
In addition, any new products from Apple are going to sport the new iOS 7. A major feature and selling point of the John Ive inspired iOS 7 is the ability to use an upgraded version of Siri, complete with new voices and other languages. If the company really wishes to show off its next generation of iPhones, there's no reason to leave Siri out of the equation.
The iPhone C is likely to be released at a date that coincides with the expected release of the iPhone 5S. So, it will likely come out on September 10 alongside the iPhone 5S or it will be given a quiet release similar to the newest line of iPod Touches a few days prior.
