But there are indications of consumer interest.US telecom carriers Sprint and T-Mobile have announced that iPhone 7 pre-orders were up significantly from what they saw for the prior version. "It could be a first step for Apple making this completely wireless, and maybe next year a new iPhone with wireless charging," he added.Some analysts see improvements in graphics quality and processing power as signs Apple plans a radical new iPhone next year with a screen reaching rounded edges and pressure-sensitive spots to replace physical buttons.Apple has made significant technology improvements in both hardware and its iOS software, a new version of which also launched this week, experts say. "Apple wanted to make sure that the iPhone franchise was not going to fall behind the Samsung Galaxy S franchise," Mobilocity principal analyst J. Gerry Purdy said. "While the hardware seems to always get the headlines, it's most often that the software is where the real innovations occur that appear to more greatly affect our overall productivity. "While Apple has touted total iPhone sales of one billion, the number sold in the quarter ending June 25 fell 15 percent from a year earlier, highlighting concerns over growth for the key profit driver.Joining the lineup in Friday's launch will be the upgraded and water-resistant Apple Watch Series 2, which the company hopes will reverse a slump in smartwatch sales.Apple has been under pressure to restore its luster as an innovator and rev its money-making machine with the kind of "next big thing" for which it was known when the company's late co-founder Steve Jobs was at the helm.

Source: Economic Times September 15, 2016 09:56 UTC