Apple building stockpile of 3 million iPhones for launch?
Apple, historically under-stocked and overwhelmed when it comes to high-profile product launches, may have a surprise up its sleeve come June 29th -- the day it plans to revolutionize the cell phone industry.
If sources cozying up to BusinessWeek's Peter Burrows are earnest, there are about 3 million reasons to believe that every iPhone line waiter will walk away from an AT&T or Apple retail store later this month clenching what they came for.
"Still, Apple will need to execute flawlessly. In units built and shipped, the iPhone launch will dwarf anything Apple has attempted," Burrows wrote. "It plans to have 3 million iPhones ready for sale on June 29, two sources say."
As the report notes, the iPod wasn't an immediate hit when it first came to market back in 2001. Although the iconic digital music players have now sold in excess of 100 million, Apple had years to ramp up production.
"Jobs did so expertly, often creating a sense of scarcity by running slightly short of demand," Burrows implies. "With all the buildup over the iPhone, pumping up demand will be the least of his concerns."
The BusinessWeek reporter suggests the Apple co-founder, having driven demand to ridiculous levels, is now poised to cash in on all the hoopla with a blockbuster day-one.
Of course, that would mean that manufacturing ramp has been in full swing for some time and that those analyst reports of "less than 40" iPhones per AT&T store were based on cleverly-crafted misinformation.
If sources cozying up to BusinessWeek's Peter Burrows are earnest, there are about 3 million reasons to believe that every iPhone line waiter will walk away from an AT&T or Apple retail store later this month clenching what they came for.
"Still, Apple will need to execute flawlessly. In units built and shipped, the iPhone launch will dwarf anything Apple has attempted," Burrows wrote. "It plans to have 3 million iPhones ready for sale on June 29, two sources say."
As the report notes, the iPod wasn't an immediate hit when it first came to market back in 2001. Although the iconic digital music players have now sold in excess of 100 million, Apple had years to ramp up production.
"Jobs did so expertly, often creating a sense of scarcity by running slightly short of demand," Burrows implies. "With all the buildup over the iPhone, pumping up demand will be the least of his concerns."
The BusinessWeek reporter suggests the Apple co-founder, having driven demand to ridiculous levels, is now poised to cash in on all the hoopla with a blockbuster day-one.
Of course, that would mean that manufacturing ramp has been in full swing for some time and that those analyst reports of "less than 40" iPhones per AT&T store were based on cleverly-crafted misinformation.
Comments
AAPL is dropping today... could the big boys be cashing out early?
AAPL is dropping today... could the big boys be cashing out early?
AAPL is still up, over yesterday ... just not the $4.00 that it was earlier.
I know Apple sold 1,000,000 1G nanos in 17 days, but 3,000,000 iPhones for the US at launch just seems a bit ridiculous to me. 3,000,000 3G iPhones in October for Europe would however make sense. Apple is aiming for 10,000,000 iPhones in 2008, I personally wouldn't be surprised if that was more towards 30,000,000 worldwide for 2008. A great launch surprise would be if the storage was 8 and 16Gig though.
I wonder - is meeting initial demand actually in Apple's interest? Would it generate more buzz if they sold out quickly and the waiting lists were long? I guess in the long run it doesn't make much difference.
I doubt they'll have 3 million units. ML reported that they would only have 200k-300k at launch.
McDonalds Hamburgers.
McDonalds Hamburgers.
And Burgerkings', and I'd say a few makes of golf ball too.
I heard from an AT&T henchmen that they're going to have a billion units ready for launch and are expecting to sell out in a matter of seconds.
Water.
I heard from an AT&T henchmen that they're going to have a billion units ready for launch and are expecting to sell out in a matter of seconds.
I wonder - is meeting initial demand actually in Apple's interest? Would it generate more buzz if they sold out quickly and the waiting lists were long? I guess in the long run it doesn't make much difference.
I think in this case, it would be better for them to have them on hand then not.. PS3 were hot at xmas but once the buzz that they are not around wore off.. who wants one.. (makes one helluva good blu ray player) to bad stevie did not add a blu ray to apple tv
Just think if they moved a million units on day one (and if they have them, they will). That would be over a half billion dollars changing hands all for a little white plastic box that makes phone calls.
It would be especially amazing, as the iPhone is black (and chrome).
Problem seems to originate from all the bandwidth being used by the new 3,000,000 iPhones that were activated at over 2000 Apple & AT&T stores.
Just think if they moved a million units on day one (and if they have them, they will). That would be over a half billion dollars changing hands all for a little white plastic box that makes phone calls.
White plastic?
It's not white plastic, it's metal.
(beaten to it)
AAPL is still up, over yesterday ... just not the $4.00 that it was earlier.
It's 124.069 at closing, which was a few moments ago, up 0.4290.
A high of 127.61.
All the markets were down. NASD down 45.80.
That's the main reason the price wouldn't hold.
MSFT down 0.67 to 29.62.
Dell down 0.36 to 26.99.
AT&T network crashes, no customer is able to use their phones.
Problem seems to originate from all the bandwidth being used by the new 3,000,000 iPhones that were activated at over 2000 Apple & AT&T stores.
Not to mention everyone's btching about the internet running slow with all the new heavy users...
A great launch surprise would be if the storage was 8 and 16Gig though.
That would be glorious.