$bbtitle
AAPL: 92.47 ( +3.54 ) AppleInsider RSS Feed
Search:
AppleInsider.com Archives Reviews Anonymous Mailer Submit Story AppleInsider Forums Polls Advertise on AppleInsider Contact AppleInsider
AppleInsider's Mac Pricing Matrix updated December 2nd (Find the best prices on Macs).
Friday, August 29, 2008

iPhone 3G finally reaching supply and demand balance

By Aidan Malley

Published: 08:00 AM EST

After more than six weeks of almost constant iPhone 3G shortages, Apple is finally known to be getting a grip on its retail supply and has virtually every model in stock everywhere.

Research by analyst Ben Reitzes of Lehman Brothers reveals that, as of Tuesday evening, all US Apple retail stores had 16GB iPhones in either color ready to sell for the following morning -- a feat which Apple hasn't managed since Lehman first began canvassing the stores just days after the July 11th launch.

Even the 8GB model, which for several of the reports was often in the shortest reply, showed 99 percent availability across the electronics giant's retail network.

"We have seen a major improvement in iPhone availability in the US throughout August," Reitzes says. "It appears as though supply has met demand entering September (as expected)."

The equilibrium isn't seen as slowing demand and instead simply reflects Apple stepping up its production, he adds, reiterating his belief that earlier estimates of 3.8 million iPhones sold during the September quarter are "very conservative" and that this surge of sales could spill over into Apple's fiscal 2009.

Further tracking by Lehman also suggests unusual activity among iPods. While supply of most iPods at Best Buy dipped at least slightly lower from a stock check two weeks ago, availability of the 32GB iPod touch dropped from 94 percent of stores to just 82 percent this week ,or its lowest point since the surveys began in mid-June.

Reitzes maintains that Apple will need to target the iPod touch at a different price bracket now that the iPhone is as inexpensive as it is; the opinion gained momentum over the weekend with a detailed rumor from Digg head Kevin Rose implying that Apple would not only modify the iPod touch but slash iPod prices across the board to bring them into step with the newly discounted cellphone.

Supplies at Apple's online store, however, don't hint at any imminent upgrades; besides steady iPod supplies, all Macs remain at their usual 24 hour availability outside of normally delayed special order iMac and MacBook Air models.

Sources for AppleInsider maintain that Apple will have new iPods in early September, followed by new MacBooks and then iMacs before the end of the year.

Filed under : iPhone 29 Comments ] 
Story topics: iPhone 3G, iPod touch, Lehman Brothers, Ben Reitzes   Print ] [ Story Link ] 


Parallels 4.0
Mac Poker players can play Full Tilt Poker for Mac and get 100% to $600 free with bonus code MP600, courtesy of Online Poker Mac
AppleInsider Features
Hot Forum Topics

Recent Articles
Apple looking into liquid-cooled MacBooks
Apple's Snow Leopard still evolving, developers say
iPhone single-handedly driving smartphone growth
Apple finally taking orders for new in-ear headphones
Apple now "encourages" antivirus use for Mac OS X
High-quality unboxing photos of Apple's LED Cinema Display
Apple pushing Mini DisplayPort through no-fee licenses
Apple opening first German retail store in Munich this weekend
Apple a 'bright spot' during lackluster Black Friday kick-off
VMWare offering 50% off Fusion 2.0 for Cyber Monday
iPhone Dev Team successfully boots Linux on iPhone
Black Friday Mac pricing matrix (find the best prices)
Apple's Black Friday Sale: $101 off some MacBooks and iMacs
Black Friday at Amazon: cameras, GPS, hard drives, and more
Black Friday: Office 2008, Parallels, Quicken, Adobe
Google testing Picasa for Mac beta
iPhone 2.2 hides video out code for third-party apps
Apple investigating graphics issues on new MacBook lines
Early deals: $250 off new MacBook Pros, $325 off Office 2008
Apple's Black Friday discounts may rise to 15%, says firm
QuickTime 7.5.7 allows SD iTunes playback over DisplayPort
Mac small business share nearly triples over the summer
Apple's unadvertised retail store price matching policy
Talks to bring The Beatles to iTunes break down
Piper Jaffray addresses 12 more 'unanswered Apple questions'
Apple lays claim to greenest notebooks ever in new ad campaign
Apple stock surges on belief MacBooks "peel away" Windows users
Apple sued over mobile Safari as email retention policy questioned
Microsoft developing NVIDIA-based mobile phone - report
LG holds iMac-suitable touchscreen; new iTunes plus hints
Best Buy cuts prices on Apple's Mac line for 4-day sale [u]
Apple, Palm taking different steps to reduce worker overhead
Dining out with iPhone: Zagat and OpenTable hit the App Store
Apple updates Final Cut Pro, Compressor, Color, and Shake
Apple releases iPhone Software v2.2
Apple releases iTunes 8.0.2 ahead of iPhone software 2.2
iPhone security posting suggests 2.2 firmware tomorrow
Apple now No. 2 in corporate smartphone market share
Review roundup: RIM's new touchscreen BlackBerry Storm
Apple authorizes MMS on the iPhone, but not for US users

AppleInsider Market Place

Sell your Laptop - working or not. Free shipping.: Get an instant online quote and sell your laptop today !

Believe in Office: Save Up To 25% on Office 2004 For Mac. Visit Our Site for Details!

IBackup - SMB Online Backup: IBackup is the preferred online storage and backup service of choice for SMBs for its ease of use, security and value. Offers automated backup and restore, file selection and securiy.

Download free software - everyday updated freeware files

 
Advertisements








AppleInsider RSS Feed
AppleInsider © 1997-2008
Please review our Privacy Policy.
Written/Edited/Compiled by the AppleInsider Staff.