Now that the iPad 3 has been launched as the new iPad, the question on everyone's mind is how Apple will name their next generation iPhone. It is the sixth generation iPhone so it should ideally be named iPhone 6 or will it have 4G on board and be named the iPhone 4G instead?We can never know for sure with a company like Apple, which prides itself at being unpredictable, but we can always speculate.
Apple generally has only one product in the market at a time. The Macs and MacBooks are succeeded by newer models which are then known as 'Mac' or 'MacBook'. Even the iPod family generally retains the name as the newer device succeeds it. The tech world identifies these devices as first generation, second generation and so on.
With the new iPad we are dealing with the third generation of the device. Apple seams to have retired the first generation iPad and have two iPads available to their customers. The iPad two - which is now the old iPad and the new iPad. Having two devices in the market always leaves room of one of them to be named the "new iPad". Its easy to compare the new iPad with the old one and we can image Apple continuing this trend in future.
But What becomes of the iPhone?
Currently there are three iPhones in the market - The iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and the iPhone 3GS. When the iPhone 5 (or new iPhone) is released all the existing phones will take a step down leading the iPhone 3GS to retirement. But the thought of having a new iPhone alongside the old iPhone and the older iPhone doesn't make much sense.
So if Apple does name their next generation iPhone the 'new iPhone' it is likely that only the iPhone 4S will remain in the market alongside it.
If this happens it is also possible that Apple is trying to adopt a similar strategy of what they are offering with their Macs or iPod Touch devices. We may see just one iPhone available in the market at one time.
This strategy will even shift over to the iPad, this means that even if Apple does release a smaller 7 inch iPad, both devices will just be the iPad.
What does this mean for the consumer ?
It is great that the consumer gets a chance to purchase an iPhone 3GS for free with a two year contract, but it is not fair that the customer has to buy a two year old device and continue to pay the high contract prices when a similar competitors products could have much better features at the same price. I am hopeful that Apple will be able to diversify their offering to meet the market demand, while retaining one iPhone for all.
This will allow you to have a standard set of features for the Phone you purchase instead of having a device with a sub-par specifications at premium monthly prices for your phone bills.