Sorry, cheapskates, Apple iPhones to remain pricey
Apple (AAPL) is likely to stick with its premium pricing strategy for future iPhones, market research firm IDC said Wednesday. Apple also should see the average selling price of its iPhones remain relatively stable for the next five years, IDC forecast. This year, the worldwide average selling price for an Apple iPhone will be about $649, compared with $247 for a Google (GOOG) Android-based smartphone, IDC said. Over the next five years, the verage selling price of an iPhone is projected to decline at a compound annual rate of 1.2% to $610 in 2018, the researcher says. During the same period, Android smartphone prices are seen dropping at a compound annual rate of 6.1%, falling to $202 in 2018. Prices for Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Phone smartphones are expected to fall the most during the five-year forecast period. The worldwide average selling price for a Windows Phone will be about