That Happened!

New York - Most folks have frequented a Wal-Mart when searching for the best products at the most reasonable prices in the past. Rural folks and city dwellers alike may soon find the latest in a reasonably priced iPhone at $99. Rumors abound over the newswire and publications that an iPhone may be available at Wal-Mart by late December or even as early as Christmas.

Wal-Mart corporate headquarters at Bentonville, Arkansas declined to confirm the announcement though, stating, “we are not making an official announcement at this time.”

The San Jose Mercury News was told by managers and store employees in North California that they were undertaking training to promote the sale of the iPhone. They declined to speculate on a definite date.

Presently, iPhones are sold at Apple retail stores, in AT&T’s stores and at Best Buy Co., which began offering the smart phones in early September.

In early October, just thirty days later, Apple disclosed that it had sold 6.9 million iPhones during the third quarter, nearly seven times the number it sold during July, August and September in 2007.

Based on the statistics from the research firm of Gartner Inc., Apple was ranked third world wide -largest smart phone seller in the months of August, September, and October of 2008, bringing home an impressive 13% of all sales. Nokia Corp. was ranked number one and Research In Motion Ltd. ranked second with 42% and 16% of the market during this past June, July and August.

Many naysayers believe that, if it’s true that Wal-Mart will sell iPhones, that it will never take off. Along with the $99 price, iPhone purchasers will have to sign up for a minimum $30 a month unlimited web access from AT&T and what’s a phone without texting capabilities these days? A minimum of 200 text messages per month could be added to the monthly price for $5.

“But I wouldn’t rule out a $99 iPhone,” said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst at Technology Business Research Inc. “If the current 8GB model brings in $587 to Apple, which is our estimate, then they would probably be willing to go as low as $487 for a 4GB iPhone. The puzzle to me is, will people buy it, knowing what the commitment [cost] is?”

So what are the chances of plumber Joe and all the rest of us shoppers seeing a $99 iPhone in our neighborhood Wal-Mart? This writer, and apparently many others, say yes, the chances are probable. Stayed tuned for more word; as the corporate powers determine the fate of this smart phone. After all, Christmas is a time for miracles!