Rumors have been surfacing in the smartphone industry that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost iPhone to penetrate deeper in the smartphone market. Now, recent rumors indicate that Apple is already in talks with U.S. carriers regarding the cheaper iPhone priced in the $99 to $149 range and expected to be launched in 2013.

iPhone has revolutionized the smartphone industry since its launch in 2007 and Apple has now become one of the most popular smartphone makers globally.

All the versions of iPhones have been successful; however, it seems that Apple is still hungry to for more market share and this time at the entry to mid-level market segment. Speculations suggest that Apple is working on an iPhone with retail price of $99 to $149.

A Bloomberg report suggests that "Apple has spoken to at least one of the top U.S. wireless carriers about its plans. Executives at Apple have been particularly interested in building a lower-cost model with less-expensive components as a way to appeal to customers in emerging markets"

Currently, Apple only has its top-end iPhone which competes with an array of Android and Windows Phone 8 smartphones, available in all segments, in the consumer market. The introduction of a cheaper iPhone will mean that more smartphone enthusiasts will be privileged to use an iOS-based device. Furthermore, a cheaper iPhone will also increase the company's market share globally.

Rumors indicate that a cheaper iPhone will target emerging markets like China and India; however, the cheaper version of the iPhone will also be available in developed countries like the U.S. A strong likelihood exists that the cheaper iPhone will have lower hardware specifications and features when compared to the top-end models.

The year 2012 has been very exciting for Apple and 2013 seems even more challenging. With rumors floating that Apple may launch the iPhone 5S in March this year, we will have to wait and see if the company launches a cheaper iPhone in March itself.