iPhones At $199 Today -- Cheaper In Days Ahead?

Blaise Zerega can't wait.  Today is a big-day for the iPhone, sure. Block-long lines of customers outside of Apple stores. All kinds of "man-on-the-street" reports on the evening news. Etc. Etc. And while sales of the device are probably going to be great, Apple's price-drop and pre-emptive move to grab market share is occurring on a calm sea. In the months ahead, as LiMo phones and Android phones come to market, the waters are going to get very choppy.

As the SJ Merc reports, the LiMo Foundation is far out in front of the Android phone. What's not yet clear is how the iPhone will stack up against the LiMo phones. One thing is certain, while Apple has squared off against formidable competitors in the past -- with mixed results, the cool Cupertino company has never had to endure a cutthroat price war, the kind to which the telecom giants backing LiMo are long accustomed.

What does mean? A price war, better handsets, and more choices for consumers. And for Apple? I wouldn't bet against Steve Jobs. Just as he fled to higher ground from the iPod to the iPhone, it's safe to say he'll once again raise the ante.