Apple planning major (iPhone) product transition by end of September
Apple during its quarterly conference call on Tuesday revealed that it will undergo a 'future product transition' sometime during the current September quarter but declined to disclose any formal details about the move which almost certainly pertains to the launch of the company's next-generation iPhone handset.
Specifically, Morgan Stanley analyst Katie Huberty asked Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer during the call why he was guiding the company to see a 12% revenue decline during the September quarter, which has historically proven to be one of the company's stronger periods.
To this, Oppenheimer commented that the Cupertino-based company has "a lot going on in the fall with iOS 5 and iCloud" in addition to a "future product transition that we will not talk about today" but will have a material impact on the September quarter.
The comments seem to support widespread claims that Apple will introduce its fifth-generation handset sometime during the three-month period ending September 30th. As such, the company guided revenue to $25 billion for the quarter, compared to the $28.57 billion it reported during the June quarter, under the expectation that iPhone sales will slow sometime over the next 10 weeks as consumers begin anticipating the launch of the new handset.
On average, industry watchers expect Apple to introduce the new handset during or by the time the company holds its annual music and media event, which has traditionally taken place during either the first or second week of September. However, at least one recent report suggests an announcement could come as early as mid-August, as Apple has put out calls seeking temporary "full-time iPhone Sales Staff for an exciting project" from August 16th till October 29th "within key retail stores."
To date, very few details regarding Apple's plans for the next-generation iPhone have surfaced outside of expectations that the handset will adopt the company's A5 processors, a dual-mode Qualcomm-powered baseband chip for operating on both GSM and CDMA networks, and an updated 8 megapixel camera.
Since the touch-screen handset's inception four years ago, Apple has chosen to transition to new iPhone models closer to the end of the June quarter than the September quarter. However, this year's shift towards a transition closer to autumn is believed to have stemmed from a number of factors, such as the need to repurpose iPhone engineers away from the iPhone 5 project and onto the iPad 2 earlier this year so it could push the new tablet device to market ahead of competitors' offerings making their market debut around the same time.
The shift towards a roll-out later in the September quarter will also allow Apple to fuse its CDMA and GSM iPhone models into a single world-phone release that will be powered by iOS 5 and run on the majority of the world's wireless carriers without individual software or hardware considerations.
Specifically, Morgan Stanley analyst Katie Huberty asked Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer during the call why he was guiding the company to see a 12% revenue decline during the September quarter, which has historically proven to be one of the company's stronger periods.
To this, Oppenheimer commented that the Cupertino-based company has "a lot going on in the fall with iOS 5 and iCloud" in addition to a "future product transition that we will not talk about today" but will have a material impact on the September quarter.
The comments seem to support widespread claims that Apple will introduce its fifth-generation handset sometime during the three-month period ending September 30th. As such, the company guided revenue to $25 billion for the quarter, compared to the $28.57 billion it reported during the June quarter, under the expectation that iPhone sales will slow sometime over the next 10 weeks as consumers begin anticipating the launch of the new handset.
On average, industry watchers expect Apple to introduce the new handset during or by the time the company holds its annual music and media event, which has traditionally taken place during either the first or second week of September. However, at least one recent report suggests an announcement could come as early as mid-August, as Apple has put out calls seeking temporary "full-time iPhone Sales Staff for an exciting project" from August 16th till October 29th "within key retail stores."
To date, very few details regarding Apple's plans for the next-generation iPhone have surfaced outside of expectations that the handset will adopt the company's A5 processors, a dual-mode Qualcomm-powered baseband chip for operating on both GSM and CDMA networks, and an updated 8 megapixel camera.
Since the touch-screen handset's inception four years ago, Apple has chosen to transition to new iPhone models closer to the end of the June quarter than the September quarter. However, this year's shift towards a transition closer to autumn is believed to have stemmed from a number of factors, such as the need to repurpose iPhone engineers away from the iPhone 5 project and onto the iPad 2 earlier this year so it could push the new tablet device to market ahead of competitors' offerings making their market debut around the same time.
The shift towards a roll-out later in the September quarter will also allow Apple to fuse its CDMA and GSM iPhone models into a single world-phone release that will be powered by iOS 5 and run on the majority of the world's wireless carriers without individual software or hardware considerations.
Comments
Apple during its quarterly conference call on Tuesday revealed that it will undergo a future product transition' sometime during the current September quarter but declined to disclose any formal details about the move which almost certainly pertains to the launch of the company's next-generation iPhone handset.
Specifically, Morgan Stanley analyst Katie Huberty asked Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer during the call why he was guiding the company to see a 12% revenue decline during the September quarter, which has historically proven to be one of the company's stronger periods.
To this, Oppenheimer commented that the Cupertino-based company has "a lot going on in the fall with iOS 5 and iCloud" in addition to a "future product transition that we will not talk about today" but will have a material affect on the September quarter.
The comments seem to support widespread claims that Apple will introduce its fifth-generation handset sometime during the three-month period ending September 30th. As such, the company guided revenue to $25 billion for the quarter, compared to the $28.57 billion it reported during the June quarter, under the expectation that iPhone sales will slow sometime over the next 10 weeks as consumers begin anticipating the launch of the new handset.
On average, industry watchers expect Apple to introduce the new handset during or by the time the company holds its annual music and media event, which has traditionally taken place during either the first or second week of September. However, at least one recent report suggests an announcement could come as early as mid-August, as Apple has put out calls seeking temporary "full-time iPhone Sales Staff for an exciting project" from August 16th till October 29th "within key retail stores."
To date, very few details regarding Apple's plans for the next-generation iPhone have surfaced outside of expectations that the handset will adopt the company's A5 processors, a dual-mode Qualcomm-powered baseband chip for operating on both GSM and CDMA networks, and an updated 8 megapixel camera.
could also be a next gen Ipad as they seemed to hint towards that as well.. they could possibly be trying to put it on a six month refresh just like the macbook line typically is since its outpacing mac sales already!
Drop a dual-core processor and an 8MP camera into it and it'll be a day one purchase for me.
Processor... m'eh... better camera oh yea... especially over my 3GS.
Waiting patiently... tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Is it here yet? Tap, tap, tap, tap. Is it here yet?Tap, tap, tap, tap..................
IOS5, Apple has said Fall release. Fall begins Sept 21st.
Obviously Apple would like IOS 5 with iPhone update.
Hmmm..... Sept 21/28th launch for both iPhone and iOS seems to meet all Apple public announcements.
could also be a next gen Ipad as they seemed to hint towards that as well.. they could possibly be trying to put it on a six month refresh just like the macbook line typically is since its outpacing mac sales already!
There is another possibility, the release of a MBP that is MBAir-like.
aehaas
Could it not also be an iPod 'future product transition'?
The product transition was mentioned in reference to why apple was predicting sales to dip in the 3rd quarter. Therefore, it is assumed by the author that the product transition would slow sales for the quarter AND have a material impact on sales. If they add an iPad, i'm sure it will be an add on (plus or pro type) adding an SKU not replacing one; A new MBP would probably lower sales; and the iPod is rapidly dropping in importance. All signs point to iPhone...
The product transition was mentioned in reference to why apple was predicting sales to dip in the 3rd quarter. Therefore, it is assumed by the author that the product transition would slow sales for the quarter AND have a material impact on sales. If they add an iPad, i'm sure it will be an add on (plus or pro type) adding an SKU not replacing one; A new MBP would probably lower sales; and the iPod is rapidly dropping in importance. All signs point to iPhone...
Apple signed agreement w/ Liquidmetal.
In agreement, Apple agrees to commercialize Liquidmetal.
In agreement, Liquidmetal must achieve specific benchmarks within 2 years.
Agreement dated August 2010.
In separate articles, head of Yale Materials Science Department states Apple will use Liquidmetal in iPhone within next 2 years.
THAT is what will be very exciting.
Apple signed agreement w/ Liquidmetal.
In agreement, Apple agrees to commercialize Liquidmetal.
In agreement, Liquidmetal must achieve specific benchmarks within 2 years.
Agreement dated August 2010.
In separate articles, head of Yale Materials Science Department states Apple will use Liquidmetal in iPhone within next 2 years.
THAT is what will be very exciting.
Especially for my shares of Liquidmetal stock.
Drop a dual-core processor and an 8MP camera into it and it'll be a day one purchase for me.
Not another one.
The current 5 MP camera is limited by the quality of the optics. Going to 8 MP would have absolutely no benefit (since the pixels would be smaller, it would probably actually be worse).
the iBreathe
and those people who start anticipating it too early and don't take a new breath until then will result in the drop in sales due their departure from the consumer base (and life in general)
The product transition was mentioned in reference to why apple was predicting sales to dip in the 3rd quarter. Therefore, it is assumed by the author that the product transition would slow sales for the quarter AND have a material impact on sales. If they add an iPad, i'm sure it will be an add on (plus or pro type) adding an SKU not replacing one; A new MBP would probably lower sales; and the iPod is rapidly dropping in importance. All signs point to iPhone...
It could indicate that they are going to do an across the board price reduction to increase the velocity of product sales and grow their already spectacular lead. Just imagine.
Apple signed agreement w/ Liquidmetal.
In agreement, Apple agrees to commercialize Liquidmetal.
In agreement, Liquidmetal must achieve specific benchmarks within 2 years.
Agreement dated August 2010.
In separate articles, head of Yale Materials Science Department states Apple will use Liquidmetal in iPhone within next 2 years.
THAT is what will be very exciting.
Cool!
iPhone 5 Pro
The product transition was mentioned in reference to why apple was predicting sales to dip in the 3rd quarter. Therefore, it is assumed by the author that the product transition would slow sales for the quarter AND have a material impact on sales. If they add an iPad, i'm sure it will be an add on (plus or pro type) adding an SKU not replacing one; A new MBP would probably lower sales; and the iPod is rapidly dropping in importance. All signs point to iPhone...
What's interesting is assuming we do get a genuinely different iPhone 5 and not a minor update, what happens to iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4? Does the iP-4 become the new 'cheap' phone? Does the iP-3GS stay the cheap phone and iP-4 production capacity is rapidly repurposed?
I can see it going either way.
With the iPad HD rumors and the high resolution art within Lion, I wonder if the product transition would be retina displays for all Apple products.
If they do that I will hate them forever, even as I go and buy another MBP
I don't think it's likely though, they simply won't have the supply yet, and the panels will make a bigger difference to sales in the iPad market than the laptop market. It's going to be challenging enough producing 10" panels at that dpi.
It could indicate that they are going to do an across the board price reduction to increase the velocity of product sales and grow their already spectacular lead. Just imagine.
Then they'd be predicting bigger margin drops and revenue increases.