White iPhone 4 forecast to drive 1M-1.5M incremental sales, Apple explains delay
With the white iPhone 4 finally set to go on sale in nearly 30 countries on Thursday, one new prediction calls for an incremental sales boost of between a million and 1.5 million per quarter. Also, Apple has offered some details behind the delay, including issues with protection from UV rays.
White iPhone 4 predicted to boost sales
Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities said on Wednesday that he sees the long-delayed white iPhone 4 playing a meaningful role in pushing iPhone sales even higher. Earlier this week, White had predicted that a "mystique" surrounding the device could lead to strong sales following a 10-month delay.
White made a more specific prediction on Wednesday, after Apple officially announced that the white iPhone 4 will finally go on sale on Thursday, April 27. The device, first announced last June but delayed numerous times due to production issues, will be available in 28 countries this week, and White believes it will bring in customers who might have otherwise passed on the iPhone 4.
"This delay has created a certain mystique and scarcity value around the 'white' iPhone 4 that we believe could drive incremental iPhone 4 purchases in the range of 1 million to 1.5 million units per quarter until the iPhone 5 potentially comes to market in September," he said.
Earlier this month, Apple reported a record 18.65 million iPhone sales in the second quarter of its 2011 fiscal year. Apple typically introduces a new iPhone in its June quarter, but this year numerous rumors have indicated that the company is planning a later-than-usual launch, with production of the fifth-generation iPhone apparently set to begin in September.
Phil Schiller explains reasons for white iPhone 4 delay
In an interview with Mobilized, Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller explained that there were a number of reasons why his company had such trouble in bringing the white iPhone 4 to market. One of those reasons was that the white models need more protection from ultraviolet rays from the sun.
"It was challenging," Schiller told Ina Fried. "It's not as simple as making something white. There's a lot more that goes into the material science of it -- how it holds up over time... but also how it all works with the sensors."
Over the past year, a number of rumors related to white iPhone 4 issues have cropped up, including alleged problems with the paint mixture, camera flash, light leaks, and even the proximity sensor. Schiller's comments reveal that there were in fact a range of problems associated with building the white iPhone 4, lending support to previous rumors.
White iPhone 4 predicted to boost sales
Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities said on Wednesday that he sees the long-delayed white iPhone 4 playing a meaningful role in pushing iPhone sales even higher. Earlier this week, White had predicted that a "mystique" surrounding the device could lead to strong sales following a 10-month delay.
White made a more specific prediction on Wednesday, after Apple officially announced that the white iPhone 4 will finally go on sale on Thursday, April 27. The device, first announced last June but delayed numerous times due to production issues, will be available in 28 countries this week, and White believes it will bring in customers who might have otherwise passed on the iPhone 4.
"This delay has created a certain mystique and scarcity value around the 'white' iPhone 4 that we believe could drive incremental iPhone 4 purchases in the range of 1 million to 1.5 million units per quarter until the iPhone 5 potentially comes to market in September," he said.
Earlier this month, Apple reported a record 18.65 million iPhone sales in the second quarter of its 2011 fiscal year. Apple typically introduces a new iPhone in its June quarter, but this year numerous rumors have indicated that the company is planning a later-than-usual launch, with production of the fifth-generation iPhone apparently set to begin in September.
Phil Schiller explains reasons for white iPhone 4 delay
In an interview with Mobilized, Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller explained that there were a number of reasons why his company had such trouble in bringing the white iPhone 4 to market. One of those reasons was that the white models need more protection from ultraviolet rays from the sun.
"It was challenging," Schiller told Ina Fried. "It's not as simple as making something white. There's a lot more that goes into the material science of it -- how it holds up over time... but also how it all works with the sensors."
Over the past year, a number of rumors related to white iPhone 4 issues have cropped up, including alleged problems with the paint mixture, camera flash, light leaks, and even the proximity sensor. Schiller's comments reveal that there were in fact a range of problems associated with building the white iPhone 4, lending support to previous rumors.
Comments
I certainly don't want any likes leaking into or out of my white iPhone...
Couldn't a source other than Brian White have been found for this story? I mean, really, how are we to take these reports seriously? White will naturally tend to overestimate the market impact of white. I'd like to hear Black's analysis of the situation.
It's a gray area.
Is that an extra speaker on the top of the white iphone 4?
no, it's the proximity sensor.
So, I compromised on the iPhone case!
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It's a gray area.
Don't know why you think so. It's a pretty black and white case.
Couldn't a source other than Brian White have been found for this story? I mean, really, how are we to take these reports seriously? White will naturally tend to overestimate the market impact of white. I'd like to hear Black's analysis of the situation.
Conrad Black was too busy with his own problems to make a comment on the iPhone today
http://www.askeachother.com/q/Apples...ll-You-Buy-One
Although, I think the "white" Apple products now look somewhat dated compared with the all aluminum line, this white iP4 looks pretty cool!
PS. That does look like another opening at the top of the white iP4....it's not on my black iP4! Huh?
the white iPhone 4 will finally go on sale on Thursday, April 27.
Gee Slash, thanks for delaying the white iPhone 4 another 6 years.
The white iPhone looks kind of nice, but it's elusiveness makes it interesting. Apple makes it sound very hard to perfect. Wonder if there are any Android white, or whiter than white phones.
It's like a white tiger, or the Albino twins in "Matrix", but I wonder if someday Apple would be asked to make a red iPhone for the White House! He could do FaceTime. Could be a funny movie where he catches some foreign sovereign with an under-aged mistress in his (or her) bed.
PS. That does look like another opening at the top of the white iP4....it's not on my black iP4! Huh?
It's the proximity sensor, and it is on the black iP4. You can see if you hold it in the sunlight just right.
Couldn't a source other than Brian White have been found for this story? I mean, really, how are we to take these reports seriously? White will naturally tend to overestimate the market impact of white. I'd like to hear Black's analysis of the situation.
. . . but you can't use this phone after Labor Day.
There's a lot more that goes into the material science of it -- how it holds up over time... but also how it all works with the sensors."
I am hoping that this complexity will keep the more egregious copycats out of the white glass phone market for a while at least. Or if they do offer a slapdash version that it will suffer from whatever ills Apple's first version did. On the other hand, there are no black glass competitors either. Only Apple seems to have the balls to try new and potentially risky things. In this case, even Apple taking the lead was not enough to get others to take the plunge into such slick and fashionable materials.
"We are busy updating the store for you and will be back shortly."