Apple to cease production of iPhone 5c: reports

Apple will cease production of its Apple iPhone 5c, CNET reported, citing a report from Taiwan's Industrial and Commercial Times.

Apple iPhone 5c manufacturers Foxconn and Wistron would stop production of the device some time next year and thereafter the phone would not be available.

The iPhone 5c had only been introduced last year as a low-budget alternative to the extremely popular iPhone 5s, but lacked features that the popular iPhones had. The device does not have the touch ID fingerprint sensor as also the A7 processor that the iPhone 5s featured. At the time of its first release, the 5c was on offer for $99, but now, one could get the phone free just by signing up for a two-year wireless contract with any service provider.

According to commentators, though Apple had to yet to give its reason for stopping the production of the colorful iPhone 5c, sales might have been a factor in the decision.

The device fell short of sales expectation after its debut. According to other reports, the production halt was due to Apple wanting to continue meeting customer demand for its iPhone 5s, and the 5c was losing the company money.

The device was offered in five different colours and no specific reason had been given for ending production, but it was common for Apple to eventually phase out older products after it ushered in new models. Apple launched the 4.7 inch iPhone 6 in September, and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus and still sold the iPhone 5S at a starting price of $99.

According to a January survey from research firm CIRP, the 5S scored 59 per cent of iPhone sales during the last quarter of 2013, while the 5C accounted for only 27 per cent.

Commentators say, though the subsidised price of the 5C might have appealed to the cost conscious, the full retail price of $549 kept it out of reach for potential buyers in some emerging markets.

Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged, the 5C was not supposed to be a cheap phone.