New iPhone to appeal to wider market

Last week, Apple introduced two cell phone models new to the iPhone dynasty.

The iPhone 5S, showing a lot of similarities to its predecessors, basically has the same exterior design as the iPhone 5 with three new color options and some internal improvements and camera upgrades.

The second option, iPhone 5C, is an entirely new concept for the company, introducing a lower-priced, colorful, non-aluminum model.

In other words, Apple has gone plastic.

The offering of these two models is no doubt an attempt to appeal to a wider variety of clientele— a smart move by Apple.

The company has always kept a constant price point for its newest iPhone models, and because of that, has earned a very positive reputation for its product quality and ability to stand apart from the competition.

People have never had a problem forking over more cash for what they know will be a superior product.

I once saved every penny of my money for nine months to purchase my own MacBook.

I could have easily cut that time in half to purchase an HP Notebook, but was adamant that any other company’s substitutions weren’t good enough.

The quality, ease and guarantee that what I’m buying is going to be the best of the best in every way is first.

Whether or not that sounds frivolous or obnoxious, statistically there is more than a 30-percent chance that Americans own an Apple product.

By introducing iPhone-gone-plastic, it seems the company is hinting at a new direction for future products.

Although many are saying the adaptation to more “Windows-like” options means
Doomsday for the company, I find it extremely refreshing that a top-grossing company such as Apple takes a look at not just the people who are purchasing its products, but the people who aren’t.

Yes, it’s obvious people had no problem paying for the extra-expensive iPhone models of the past,  but now more people can afford to get in on the fun.

Apple has now designed and presented two models, one for each demographic.

As long as Apple continues to hold up its end of the bargain by providing cutting-edge, high-quality products, I don’t care how many different versions it provides.

I hope this is the path Apple will take in the future with its other products.

Should the day come where Apple surrenders to Window’s design standards of completely plastic products, then we can look back on this and blame the 5C for getting the ball rolling.

However, if Apple is smart enough to double its offerings in an attempt to provide service and quality for the masses, I doubt that will happen.

As long as the plastic Apple doesn’t fall too far from the quality tree, I’ll be hanging with the company for a long time.

­— cnmcelwa@indiana.edu
Follow columnist Claire McElwain on Twitter @claire_mcelwain.