iPhone 5c

Apple has launched the 8GB iPhone 5c in 14 new markets including Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic. The unapologetically plastic phone was first spotted at a carrier retail location in the Netherlands before landing on Apple's online store for €549.

The 8GB iPhone 5c is around €50 cheaper than the 16GB model in most regions. The new model has also been spotted in Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and Portugal at around the the same price differentiation as the Netherlands.

As expected, Apple has launched a more affordable 8GB model of the iPhone 5c in select markets. The company has also discontinued the iPad 2 and has replaced it with the fourth-generation iPad with Retina display.

The 8GB iPhone 5c is only available in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and China. The new handset is currently listed on the UK carrier O2′s website for £50 on-contract (around $80 USD) and £429 off-contract. As a comparison, a 16GB iPhone 5c in the US will cost you $99 with a two-year carrier agreement and $549 off-contract.

The motto save money takes on new meaning for Walmart customers looking to purchase a brand new iPhone. The company is now offering the iPhone 5s for $119 and the iPhone 5c for just $29. Both deals require a two-year service agreement with AT&T Mobility or Verizon Wireless.

These new prices on 16GB handsets are highly competitive, slashing $26 off the previous iPhone 5s price, and lowering the iPhone 5c cost by $16. Best Buy will get a run for its money, as Walmart now beats its lowest price on the iPhone 5s and 5c by a total of 31 bucks and $21 respectively.

Starting Sunday, February 16, through Saturday, February 22, Best Buy will be discounting all iPhone models by $50. This means Best Buy shoppers will be able to nab an iPhone 5 for free, an iPhone 5c for $50 or the iPhone 5s for only $150, when they sign up for a new two-year agreement. The sale also includes all three major carriers AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon Wireless.

Customers can also receive a $50 gift card if they they reserve an iPhone at a Best Buy retail location, Best Buy Mobile specialty store or at BestBuy.com before February 15th.

According to The Wall Street Journal, anonymous sources have indicated that Apple plans to discontinue production of the iPhone 5c and launch two new iPhones with larger displays sometime in late 2014.

There has been much talk about the iPhone 5c sales coming in well below Apple's expectations. This cannot be confirmed however, as Apple does not disclose sales based on iPhone model. Analysts point towards ineffective pricing strategy - the colorful, plastic-backed 5c starts at $100 with a two year contract ($550 without