Analyst: Apple To Produce 4GB iPhone In Early 2009

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Could Apple be readying a 4GB iPhone during the first quarter?

An analyst Wednesday told clients he expects a new 4GB iPhone during the first quarter, pushing sales of the popular handset to 7 million units beyond the 6.9 million iPhone 3Gs sold in 2008.

“Checks indicate a new 4GB iPhone which may be helping to increase build rates,” UBS analyst Maynard Um advised. Taiwan-based chipmakers may be preparing parts for a new iPhone, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Unconfirmed speculation of an iPhone nano priced below the $199 8GB iPhone has swirled for some time.


In his note, Um cautioned Apple’s supply orders could change as the company considers whether introducing a new iPhone would cannibalize existing models.

Tiawan’s Economic Daily reported chips for a new iPhone could be ready by March ready for a product introduction in June.

Um said a new iPhone could boost Apple’s handset sales to around 7 million units during the first quarter with 23 million expected for all of fiscal 2009.

Apple may have sold less than 5 million iPhones during the holidays. Tuesday, Citi analyst Richard Gardner reduced to 4 million his estimate for iPhone sales during the last quarter of 2008.

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7 responses to “Analyst: Apple To Produce 4GB iPhone In Early 2009”

  1. mick says:

    Why would they reintroduce the 4GB iPhone? It already existed and was killed off. Give the iPhone mini rumors a break.

  2. charli says:

    i have to agree with Mick. i don’t see the rumors playing out. the 4gb was tried and is gone and rare is it for Apple to step back on storage. As for the stripped down Nano rumor, ATT is cutting down their Edge so at least in the US, that will make an Edge only phone less likely. And any device without the phone, ipod functions and internet functions is NOT an iphone, which has been pushed from day one as all 3 in one device.

    a cut in price another $50 off maybe. pressure on ATT to cut the data plan or to add unlimited texting, sure. I could see either or both

    but a Nano phone. or a 4gb phone. doubt it

  3. iPhone Fan says:

    Would $50 be enough to make the iPhone affordable? I personally doubt it, almost as much as I doubt I would ever need any more than 4gb!

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