Tim Cook explained recently that the colorful iPhone 5C, once called Apple’s “low-cost” smartphone offering, was never meant to be an entry-level handset. Instead, Apple always perceived the iDevice as mid-tier, in a move that would encourage “growth across the iPhone,” Cook noted.

The chief executive officer’s comments were made during Apple’s recent financial results conference call, in response to a question concerning the iPhone 5C’s relationship with lower priced smartphones.

His response, which was transcribed by MacRumors, reads:

If you look at what we’ve done, we’re selling the iPhone 4s as our entry offer. We sell the iPhone 5C as the mid-tier and the 5s. Our goal is to have growth across the iPhone but we want each of those categories to grow as compared to what we were doing previously. If you look at the total that we’re making in the low end and mid tier and high end, the sum there, we’d like to grow in each one of those. We’re really please [sic] that we did that.

Of course, despite its popularity, Apple chose not to continue selling its iPhone 4 following the launch of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5C, and Cook discussed this, too.

Claiming that the reason concerned foreign markets, he continued:

What we did with our lineup this time was the 4s is replacing the 4. If you look at the US as an example, the 4s is now free. The 4 was free previously. When you translate that out of the US, it depends on the market as to what specifically happens. Currency changes and the strength of the dollar doesn’t always play in our favor in some goes.

We see the 4s as our entry iPhone offer that gives somebody the ability to access the entire ecosystem as a fantastic product. We understand that there is elasticity in that market and it will move accordingly.

Apple recorded impressive iPhone sales during the third quarter, and even though production of the iPhone 5c is said to have been decreased, the colorful smartphone was the second most-popular handset with two out of the United States’ four major carriers in September.

During the same conference call, Cook also made a number of further interesting points.

In particular, he hinted that “new product categories” could come from Apple in the near future — perhaps as soon as 2014. Of course, this could refer to Apple’s anticipated iWatch, or its long-rumored 4K display-equipped Apple HDTV.

Following the unveiling of Apple’s third quarter financial results, Cook also emailed his entire staff, thanking everyone for their contribution over the course of the last three months.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.