Analyst: 32GB iPhone could debut in June
Updated at 9:15 a.m. PDT with comments from analyst Daniel Amir.
Apple is expected to begin production on a high-end iPhone with 32GB of flash memory and a low-end 3G version this spring, according to a research report released Tuesday by Lazard Capital Markets analyst.
Production is anticipated to begin in April and ramp up in May, and the new phones could be announced in June, Daniel Amir, a Lazard Capital Markets analyst, said in his report.
He noted, however, that the low-end version may only be available in the fast-growing, emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, while the high-end version is expected to make its way to North America and Europe.
(Credit:
Apple)
The low-end version is expected to run on a 3G network, rather than on Wi-Fi, while the high-end version is anticipated to double its storage capacity from 16GB to 32GB of NAND flash memory and feature improvements to its camera, Amir noted in his report, citing checks with Apple's iPhone channel partners.
Meanwhile, Amir predicts, iPhone unit shipments for the first and second quarters could be higher than Wall Street's current forecast.
He expects iPhone shipments to come in around 3.8 million to 4 million in the first quarter, while Wall Street is anticipating 3 million to 3.5 million units.
In the second quarter, iPhone shipments could reach 7 million to 8 million units, a threefold to fourfold increase over last year's second quarter performance, he asserts. Apple's new iPhones are expected to account for about 3 million of these figures, Amir said. Wall Street, meanwhile, is expecting Apple to ship 6.5 million to 7 million iPhones in the second quarter.
Apple was not immediately available for comment.
Reports of an Apple flash-memory buying binge surfaced in February, with one analyst from Think Equity Partners noting that Apple had virtually cleaned out one large supplier and was hitting up two others for more flash memory.
Amir told CNET New that the February rise stemmed from increased production for the iPhones that shipped in March. In order to meet its needs for a 32GB iPhone, Apple will hit up its suppliers up toward the end of next month, he said.
Amir noted in his research report:
About 20 percent of all NAND capacity goes to Apple, and its impact on the NAND market should not be underestimated...
NAND prices should move up further off the Apple orders. We believe that with the new iPhone design which could include 32GB NAND, Apple is setting the stage for another potentially big flash order starting in April. With the potential for 3 million units to be shipped in 2Q, we believe the magnitude of such an order could enable prices of NAND components to move up an additional 20 percent in the (first half) of 2Q.
Dawn Kawamoto covers enterprise security and financial news relating to technology for CNET News. E-mail Dawn. 
A better improvement would be opening to other carriers and/or AT&T allowing more flexible data/voice plans instead of the single rob-every-last-penny-from-your-couch-cushions policy. Can they at least do family plans so the second line doesn't double your bill? How about an iPhone for me and an iPhone for my wife at $10 for the 2nd line?
Why characterize them as thieves? Because it is an effective way for me to express my personal disdain for the high cost of iPhone ownership which prevents me from owning one. So in short, it is simply a manner or matter of expression, Hence, I don't really think AT&T are thieves. But is my disdain directed more towards the policy or the makers of the policy?
It'd just be nice if the finer things in life were more affordable. And I stated my case above with the strong liklihood that there are many others in my position, therefore and furthermore, the case could be reasonably argued that AT&T would actually gain more profit by lowering its plan costs thereby enabling many more people onboard!
memory can never be too much
but one thing I've learned when it comes to analysts is that they are clueless when it comes to Apple !
Well... There is good chance there is going to be a 1 TB iPhone this summer!
Is the price comping down to $99 or less (free)? Is there going to be a physical keyboard rather than virtual? Will the battery be replaceable? Will it have a mini-SD Card slot? Will the camera be higher resolution and do video? Will the web browser finally support flash and java? If the answer to any of these is still no, then the iPhone still will not do what my free Palm Centro already does. I'm not going to spend more money to get less functionality with a cool looking device and the fruit logo. Sorry, but I'm not a member of the "me too" club of followers.
So I wait.
You're right, technology advances by its own rules. But a person who shells out $500 for a device only to have it drop $100 and increase features a day later might feel a bit...oh, I don't know, stiffed? When Apple did that to to iPhone 2.0 buyers, they gave those buyers a $100 credit at the Apple store. Touch owners who got similarly burned? Nothing. Apple has continously treated Touch owners like second class citizens.
Argue that.
wait, what? the current iphone models already use 3G.
and for Zaunto, of course there won't be a KB, replaceable battery or SD slot, that's not what apple is about.
I still don't get why it doesn't record video, there are 3rd party apps that can do it...
Who needs a real keyboard anyhow? That would turn the form factor into a behemoth. As for a replaceable battery, everyone I know who has a cell phone with a dead battery just gets a new one since the cost of a replacement goes a long way toward a new phone. In any event, there are user-installable battery kits for iPods out there and once iPhones have been in the field long enough to need it, someone will market such a thing.
1. they don't sell different versions of their products in different countries (that's what nokia would do alas a stupid strategy)
2. the don't cut features in a new model (so wifi will be in every model of course)
3. they usually don't sell an old model when a new model comes out (the old macbook is the only exception to that rule in the last years)
how come someone is paying these people? they are eighter stating the obvious or making an "analysis" that shows that they have no idea what they are talking about. and forget about these "channel checks" and "channel partners" they are not existing. and if he really knows bob working at marketing at att, one thing is for sure: apple will not tell bob what it's plans are.
this analyst has no insight whatsoever so how come cnet or any news outlet is giving them a forum. please spare is this bs from now on.
You should really understand a company's strategy - particularly when that company has over half the entire market - before calling it stupid.
- by AppleSuxLeo April 2, 2009 8:11 PM PDT
- With Microsoft`s Sync system , you don`t need an iPod. 32GB cards are like $40 on sale at Fry`s.
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