NEW YORK - Apple Inc is expected to launch a high-speed
wireless version of iPhone in the second quarter and produce as many as 8
million of the devices in the third quarter, according to Bank of America.
Apple shares closed up $2.76, or 2 percent, at $143.01 after
the prediction in a research report about the third-generation phone from Bank
of America analyst Scott Craig. Shares in AT&T Inc, the exclusive US carrier for
iPhone, closed up flat at $37.66 after rising to $38.39 earlier in the day.
"Our latest channel checks point to a significant production
build of a 3G iPhone beginning in the month of June after an initial small build
in May," he said.
AT&T said last year it expects to be able to sell a 3G
version of iPhone in 2008, but it declined comment on specific launch dates on
Friday.
Apple representative Jennifer Bowcock declined comment.
Craig said that now he expects production volume to be much
higher than his previous estimates. He said Apple planned to build more than 3
million high-speed iPhones in May followed by more than 8 million in the third
quarter of the year.
Craig, who had previously estimated 8 million iPhone units
for the whole of 2008, said that was starting to look conservative unless some
of the plans were pushed back.
Many other analysts have said they expect Apple, which is
holding a developer conference in June, to launch an advanced iPhone around that
time.
Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart said it would make
sense for Apple to bring out its high-speed iPhone in June around the time it
launches an upgrade to iPhone software.
Apple has said it expects to have sold 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008.
It said in January that it had sold more than 4 million iPhones since the phone
was launched in June. – Reuters
