Wal-Mart drops iphone in US $97

Beijing time May 25 morning news, according to foreign media reported today, the world's largest retailer Wal-Mart announced plans to start next Tuesday, the United States store Apple iphone 3GS 16GB mobile phone prices to 97 U.S. dollars (about 663 yuan).　　The industry is expecting Apple to launch a new iphone next month, so it may be working with retailers to clear inventories of existing products. This means that users will be able to buy the iphone at a price that is 100 dollars lower than the original. The iphone is currently priced at 199 dollars.　　U.S. users need to sign a 2-year contract with the iphone's exclusive operator, At&t. Wal-Mart's senior wireless product manager, Mehdad Acabal Mehrdad Akbar, said: "Wal-Mart is always committed to leading product prices."　　"Apple sold 8.3 million iphones last quarter, twice times the same period last year," he said. Wal-Mart has been cutting prices for electronics, thanks to strong competition from Google, rim and HP in the smartphone market.　　Industry analysis showed that global smartphone sales exceeded 54 million in the first quarter, up 49% per cent from a year earlier. Wal-Mart's 97-dollar iphone next week is priced at less than 99 trillion dollars previously estimated by analysts.　　If users know the next generation of iphones will be launched, then the existing old version of the sales would be significantly reduced. After a new iphone prototype was leaked last month, Apple issued a formal statement saying the details of the leaks would seriously damage the company's interests, as some users who had intended to buy an existing version of the iphone might opt to buy a new generation of products. (Shuko)