Apple in no Hurry to Release iPad 3? Two iPhones Coming in 2011

While Microsoft aims to hit the tablet market with Windows 8, Apple seems reluctant to consider any competition— the company is unlikely to release the iPad 3 until 2012, reports a J.P. Morgan analyst.

The company is rather eyeing its two iPhones— iPhone 5 and what J.P Morgan’s Mark Moskowitz calls an iPhone 4-Plus, a better version of iPhone 4 at a cheaper rate.

Apple had earlier announced that it was expanding its market by extending the range of iPhones. The iPhone 5 will be expensive, so with the iPhone 4, Apple is trying to counter the variety of well-designed Android phones which are available at less than $100.

When it come to tablets, Moskowitz says Apple is in “no rush” to replace its existing models based on lack of competition.

In recent months, there has been rising investor speculation that a new iPad 3 would be launched for the holiday season, Moskowitz wrote in a research note to clients. Our latest research continues to indicate that there is no such device slated for production this year. … There are prototypes in the supply chain related to the next-generation device, but our conversations with industry participants suggest that a new device will not be available until sometime in calendar 2012.

With HP is giving up its TouchPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is stuck with patent issue, the tablets by MMI and RIM are disappointing and Sony’s tablet lacks the refinement of the iPad— Moskowitz points at the lackluster competition for Apple’s iPad.

Several reports, earlier this year, claimed Apple was planning to release a special HD model that would be sold alongside the iPad 2 and that it would be ready by Thanksgiving.

Recently, there have been rumors of two iPhone model offerings as part of deals being worked with Chinese carriers, which will carry the new iPhone.
However, Samsung Electronics has buckled up to take legal action by imposing ban on the sales of Apple’s new iPhone, a move to counter Apple’s claim that the South Korean firm has copied it’s product design.