Figuring that Apple (News - Alert) would want to pull more diversely budgeted consumers into its iPhone fold, a Vancouver Island, Canada-based technology magazine threw these provocative questions out into cyberspace today: Will Apple make an iPhone (News - Alert) Nano or iPhone Flip?

 

According to Michael Kwan, associate editor of Mobile Magazine, it probably makes sense for Steve Jobs’ (News - Alert) company to do just that.

 

As TMCnet reported, rumors swirled earlier this month that Wal-Mart was poised to sell a 4GB iPhone for $99.

 

That rumor basically has been put to bed. Yet, as Kwan writes, the idea of a less-expensive iPhone, even with less memory, holds a certain appeal.

 

“The possibility of an iPhone nano is really intriguing, because it’s only natural to see the iPhone lineup mature and expand in much the same way as the iPod line,” Kwan writes. “Along the way, we were introduced to the iPod mini, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle, along with the main progression of iPods, so why doesn’t Apple do the same for the iPhone? I don’t know when or how, but they should do it.”

 

First, Kwan says, the iPhone itself – the device is pictured right – is still “too big.”

 

“Yes, smartphones are more popular than ever and people are getting used to larger devices like the Helio Ocean, Samsung BlackJack, and T-Mobile (News - Alert) G1, but there’s still a market for something smaller and more pocket-friendly,” Kwan says.

 

Noting that Research In Motion Limited did just that with its Pearl line, Kwan goes on to say that the HTC (News - Alert) Touch and Touch Diamond are smaller than previous HTC WinMo phones.

Smaller devices from RIM, such as the BlackBerry Pearl and Pearl Flip, introduced the company’s smartphone brand many who wouldn’t have otherwise considered the Curve or the Bold.

 

As TMCnet has reported, mobile technologies are gaining traction in this weak economy, particularly among businesspeople. Last week, Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM announced a 7.9 percent increase in revenues, to $2.78 billion, for the quarter ended Nov. 29. The figure marks a 66.3 percent increase from the year-ago quarter for the BlackBerry smartphone makers, who say that the company shipped about 6.7 million smartphones during the three-month period.

 

For Kwan, it’s up to Apple’s design team to create a compact version of the iPhone.

 

“We could see something as simple as the iPhone nano, which would still take on a similar bar-style form factor, but would have a smaller screen,” Kwan said. “Alternatively, they could take the Pearl Flip route and offer a clamshell-style iPhone. The flip phone is still one of the most popular styles of phones, especially among ‘regular’ consumers.”