Wal-Mart? $99? That's taking populism a little far...

ZDNet has a story by Larry Dignan and InformationWeek has one by Antone Gonzalves about Apple's plans for the iPhone:

Apple may be offering a $99 iPhone at Wal-Mart. More than 300 million applications have been downloaded from Apple’s App Store. And the iPod touch is out of stock in at key retailers. Add it up and signs abound that Apple’s has created a virtuous cycle for its touch platform and the payoff may be coming macroeconomic concerns be damned. Apple’s master plan for its touch ecosystem isn’t news. In fact, analysts like UBS’ Ben Reitzes had been connecting the dots on what iPhone’s touch platform would mean for Apple’s entire product line back in March 2007.
Let’s face it: Apple just does touch better. As Apple spreads its platform to the masses, the touch platform just expands. In fact, the touch platform will likely be included in most of Apple’s products at some point.

Apple is reportedly getting ready to sell the iPhone through Wal-Mart Stores. Several news agencies, including the San Jose Mercury News, Bloomberg, and the Associated Press, have quoted unnamed Wal-Mart employees who say the popular smartphones are expected before the end of the year, possibly the week before Christmas. However, there was no confirmation that Wal-Mart would offer a 4-GB iPhone for $99, which was recently reported on rumor sites on the Web.
A Wal-Mart spokeswoman responded Monday to the reports by saying, "We've made no official announcement on offering the iPhone at Wal-Mart." However, if they are true, Wal-Mart would become the fourth major United States retailer to sell the iPhone, which is now available through Apple, Best Buy, and AT&T stores. AT&T is the exclusive wireless provider in the United States. The iPhone comes in an 8-GB and 16-GB model for $199 and $299, respectively. At those prices, however, the buyer must also subscribe to a two-year AT&T service plan that starts at $70 a month.

Rico says Apple gave him a rebate when they lowered the price on his original iPhone; maybe they'll have to do it again, only in Wal-Mart money...