Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Financial
Analyst roundup: iPhone sales could drop, production cuts possible
Several analysts have been lowering their expectations for iPhone sales during the first quarter of 2009, pointing to possible cuts in the number of units manufactured, according to a series of articles by Cult of Mac's Ed Sutherland.
Barclays Capital today cut its estimate of iPhone sales to 5 million handsets, down from 6.2 million. Yesterday, BMO Capital lowered its expectations to a slightly-better 5.6 million units, but still down from an earlier estimate of 6.6 million.
On Wednesday, UBS said iPhone production could drop to 6.7 million units, down from 9 million in the last quarter. Earlier this week, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said that Apple could have already cut iPhone production by 40 percent.
Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes suggested that Apple could cut prices on iPhones and develop a new low-end handset to stimulate sales, taking the lead from how the iPod and iPod mini sold.
Reitzes also speculated that a low-cost laptop could sell 3.5 million units per year. It's unclear if Apple will take Reitzes' advice, as Steve Jobs said at last month's laptop event that "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
diskgrinder said 1:11PM on 11-10-2008
"We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that."
maybe because they're going to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk?
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ack154 said 6:34PM on 11-07-2008
You know... when I make up random crap, the last thing I get called is an "analyst."
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Tony said 6:40PM on 11-07-2008
You mean this Craig Berger?
http://bullcross.blogspot.com/2008/11/fbr-chip-analyst-craig-bergers.html
The guy that has not only NEVER been right when predicting anything Apple related, but his failures are usually EPIC?
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The Geek said 12:10AM on 11-08-2008
Seem that the Apple "analyst" are like the political analyst during the election.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=189139&title=Who-the-F@#k-Is-That-Guy?---Political-Experts
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Jash Sayani said 2:39AM on 11-08-2008
How about Price cuts... ??
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eric f. said 10:52AM on 11-08-2008
Anything with "could" or "speculate" should never be considered news.
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brian said 4:50PM on 11-08-2008
iPhone sales to drop???
I am not sure whether u are aware, but iPhone is officially the world's second most popular cellphone...(only after Nokia)....wait for 2 more years....we will see who is no.1 !!!
http://www.livbit.com
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max braud said 6:26PM on 11-08-2008
I'm not an analyst but read the fact
ATT 40+ million customers
Verizon 40+ million customers, I don't have any cue what is the percent of private versus business.
4.9 millions IPhone sold (2 million in inventory)
Bold just coming not a big rival, but the storm? with as it seems a quite good cost plan
Where is the IPhone market? individual, yes, business, yes, but what about families, take 1 with 2 teens, family plan 700 rollover, around $70, 3 extra lines $30, plus 4 data plan $120, plus 2 unlimited text for the teens $ 40 total $260 a months $3.120 a year. WOE
I'm not sure there is a big market here.
I had a family plan 500 rollover with 2 lines, I bought an IPhone for my wife when her razr battery dead ($60 replacement), she's really happy with it, even if it is a great phone and I can afford the cost I will not buy one for me (the charge for data is so ridiculous), my niece came to study in California, her parents move abroad, she joints our plan with her mother the 1st gen. IPhone, ATT erase almost 4,000 rollover minutes saying it is a new plan?
So I will have soon to move for a higher minutes plan. For ATT customers are just "cochons de payeur", (pigs for cochons)
I'm not unhappy, just phylosophing. I'm sorry for a not really net english.
PS
Until between 2010 or 2012 Apple is tight with ATT that will not accelarate the sales. At this time they will be more concurrence (with android more achieved and RIM performing from end 2008, moto seem out, what about nokia and sonny ericson?
8
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grossness54 said 1:09AM on 11-10-2008
iPhone sales could actually drop? People might actually NOT be willing to spend a bunch of dough to get a phone with a zillion bells and whistles? Maybe they really CAN'T do a gazillion things at once, and might want just a ------- a PHONE? Maybe they really are finally saying no to the 24-7 workplace, especially since so many of those workplaces have said goodbye to them?
Maybe they really are burned out by all this techno-complication and actually want to take back control of their own lives?
Just a thought...
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