Bear Stearns expecting iPod phone, new video lineup

Bear Stearns analyst Andrew Neff expects Apple Computer to launch an iPod phone and a new lineup of video iPods at some point in the not-too-distant future, he said in a research note distributed Wednesday.

Neff recently met with Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer and Vice President of iPod Product Marketing Greg Joswiak, and he came way with the impression that Apple plans to develop a new generation of iPod products in time for the holiday season, although the exact timing was uncertain. These new products could include an iPod that focuses more attention on video playback than the video iPods released last year. It might also include the iPod phone, although Neff said Apple refused to comment directly on any future products, as is usually the case.

Indeed, an Apple representative declined to comment on the report.

It looks like Apple is very serious about continuing to develop new features for the iPod lineup to stave off competition and commoditization, Neff wrote in his report. PortalPlayer, a longtime iPod chip supplier, announced earlier this year that it had been shut out of the next generation of Apple's high-end iPods expected in the second half of the year. Samsung Electronics won the contract for the new units, it later emerged.