Apple readying three million iPhones for launch?

We won't bother trying to number crunch how much coin Apple will be laying down if sources at Business Week are right about just how many iPhones will be available to thrill come June 29th, but Cupertino better hope this thing takes off a tad quicker than the iPod did in 2001. Two separate sources have apparently noted that Apple will have a whopping three million iPhone units ready at launch, which should (if true) quell looming any shortage fears right off the bat. Interestingly, several analysts have predicted that the firm will only move about that many units this entire year, but we're sure Apple won't be complaining if any more iPhones are necessary to quench 2007's demand. Here's to hoping this Rev. A iPhone was thoroughly scrubbed for bugs beforehand, or else Steve & Co. could be dealing with quite a hefty basket of recalled Apples.

[Via AppleInsider]

[oakenfolded @ Jun 8th 2007 7:31AM]

1st..iPhone FTW

[Kneep @ Jun 8th 2007 7:38AM]

How many iPhone news will there be in the next 21 days...

[Alex Jacobs @ Jun 8th 2007 7:42AM]

OK. so if all 3 million sell ...

3,000,000 x $500 (average selling price for arguments sake) = $1,500,000,000

The divide that by 2 if the rumours about the 50% mark up are right = $750,000,000

That is an obsene amount of money generated from one product

Nice bonus for the Apple execs this year!

[tekdroid @ Jun 8th 2007 7:43AM]

the iPhone is currently in negotiations to be cool by having USB OTG, playing FLAC and Ogg Vorbis and freeing itself from "the man", but until then...

[John @ Jun 8th 2007 8:52AM]

What's the loss when they don't sell a la the PS3?

[BobTurbo @ Jun 8th 2007 7:48AM]

I like to spend my life reading iPhone rumor stories. It is so much better than real life.

[007baf @ Jun 8th 2007 7:53AM]

I visited an AT&T store and discovered the Manager has an iPhone training book that is not allowed to be shown to workers until 28 June, to stop them from revealing anything not known to the public. They tried to help me figure out what the monthly charges might be. Their estimate: 1350 minutes at $79.99 plus, they're guessing, at least $30 monthly for data/media plan for the iPhone. So, probably $120 - $130 monthly. My current bill with Sprint PCS for voice only (750 minutes) is about $120. Bottom line: they can put out 3M iPhones, but plunking down $500-$600 is just the beginning because you're going to pay out $3,120.00 for 24 months. Personal outlay: $3,720.00. From Dan Mosqueda

[Guy @ Jun 8th 2007 9:53AM]

I agree with that estimate of $120. That would be in line with Cingulars smart phone plans. Buf if you are paying $120 with Sprint for 750, change your plan you are getting ripped off. Right now Sprint has 900 minutes, with nights and weekends starting at 7pm for $59.99. For $99.99 you could 2000 minutes.

[Mike @ Jun 8th 2007 10:06AM]

You can get a 59.99 voice plan w/ 900 minutes. So actually, you'd be saving a little money. You can't compare accurately if you're going to increase the voice plan.

As for the data plan, the pricing hasn't been announced yet. It could be 29.99, or all the way up at 44.99. I'm sure theres going to be a special apple data plan to use with the phone.

[CaptSaltyJack @ Jun 8th 2007 10:43AM]

I'm paying $20/mo for unlimited data (Cingular). That is ALL you need to pay. When I upgraded to my Cingular 8125, they tried to force me to pay for the $40/mo PDA plan. I repeatedly told them I didn't need it, that I had NO plans to tether my cell phone to my laptop as a modem (which is true). I said that the $20/mo plan for unlimited data was fine. They finally conceded.

Don't let AT&T screw you over. I just checked the cingular.com site and looked at plan options, it seems there's still a $20/mo unlimited data plan if I'm not mistaken. As far as I'm aware, there's absolutely no need to pay more. (PS, I have all open ports as well so I can connect to any remote host from my phone, on any port)

[Moff @ Jun 8th 2007 8:04AM]

Apple is not that stupid. 3 Million? More people would buy a PS3 than people switching to "The New AT&T".

Insane.

[Yojimbo @ Jun 8th 2007 1:18PM]

I sure as hell hope it's better than "The Old AT&T"!

[McGinley @ Jun 8th 2007 8:10AM]

What I love about Engadget is that everyone is an expert on everything.Where else could I get such informed opinions about absolutely any gadget ever created in the history of mankind?And nearly everyone seems to know someone who works for a major Tech company and has an insiders opinion!It's brilliant!

Also,the new reply system is way better.

[Moff @ Jun 8th 2007 8:11AM]

I saw this in the dvorak article... Still funny though:

My unnamed friend also offered an odd anecdote that I found somewhat weird, but worth mentioning. He said that he was in the Apple store and the personnel there were showing videos of the iPhone, when a customer said, "Wow, you mean it is also a cell phone!"

[BoZs13 @ Jun 8th 2007 8:44AM]

wow, just a brilliant comment since the thing is called "iPhone"

[Ian Jardine @ Jun 8th 2007 8:52AM]

There will be those that MUST have this phone ASAP. Then there are othes, like me, who already have their Palm Treo 755P with a 4GB SDHC costing around $315.00. So tell me apart from a little more memory what exactly does the Apple do that I can't do with my Treo? Oh yues and the 755P is a 34G phone which can be used as a modem to my laptop and the Apple isn't.

[Reggie @ Jun 8th 2007 9:09AM]

Here are some:
1. If indeed the iPhone is running Safari (browser), then it's a full browser that supports javascript and most web 2.0 sites. We'll see if it can run flash and other video formats fluidly.
2. The Treo (or any other cellphone as of the moment) doesn't have a multi-touch screen. Zoom by pinching, stretching and tapping.
3. You cannot select which voice mail to hear.
4. iPhone screen turns off when you hold it at the side of your face.
5. Auto rotate display to landscape/portrait.
6. The iPhone can connect to iTunes. ;)

[johnny5 @ Jun 8th 2007 10:59AM]

"What exactly does the Mac do that DOS can't?"

Just because you can't put good experience design in numbers doesn't mean it's not a spec.

[Maestro @ Jun 8th 2007 8:55AM]

The problem I see is that for the most part, a cell phone is not an impulse buy. Unless you are buying some unlocked model on ebay, and dont want to pay full retail, there is going to be some kind of contract involved with a cell phone purchase. Not to mention the cost of getting out of your current contract if you want to switch to ATT.

A PS3 might be over-priced but you can just walk in to a store and buy one. Not so for the iPhone. I'm not saying they won't sell millions, but maybe not the millions everyone is thinking.

[Todd @ Jun 8th 2007 9:00AM]

It is encouraging to hear of the ample supply, but a word of caution. It is the DISTRIBUTION "pitch point" that is the big lumbering dinosaur called AT&T that is my point of concern.

The same people that cannot get my phone bill correct for more than two months in a row, with me calling some half asleep CSR and getting a correction, THEY are the ones that must distribute millions of phones.

Not everyone in the country has a local Apple store and the vast, vast majority of people who want an apple phone will have to either suffer a visit to the local Cingular store ( home of "No that's a display model we don't have that phone in stock." ) or the consistently awful cingular web site.

I hope AT&T steps up an actually makes an effort to get all those iPhones in the hands of people who want them with little or no hassle.

[psxp @ Jun 8th 2007 9:21AM]

a few will be bought to be resold on ebay for thousands of $$.

[Constable Odo @ Jun 8th 2007 9:46AM]

Not nearly enough iPhones to go around! I'm buying two for myself and one for each of my 500 closest friends. Everyone in my upper middleclass white neighborhood is buying one for every member in the family including toddlers. New targets: 100 million iPhones sold by 2010. One billion by 2015. Eventually, every man, woman and child on this planet will own an iPhone.

Now for those who are going to accuse of me of being a crazy Apple fanboi, please note that I'm being sarcastic and it's plain silly to try and foretell the future with all of it's quirky variables.

[Alexander The Best @ Jun 8th 2007 12:07PM]

lmfao soooo many iPhones!!!

[Zenshai @ Jun 8th 2007 9:58AM]

I wonder how much these cost to produce

[Muu @ Jun 8th 2007 10:00AM]

Apple isn't stupid, so if they're really getting 3million of these ready then they must have done some homework to get to that number.

I think the main thing we're not thinking about, is how many people don't renew their phone service. Bargain-site denizens and other people scouring the net for new, new items will no doubt know that most contracts expire in two years' time, but does the general public? The iPod name does a lot to drive sales, so the people that could care less about some of the new phones out there may bite into this one.

[wWw @ Jun 8th 2007 10:06AM]

LOLLLLLLLLLLL 3 million?

I wouldn't count on it, Steve Yobs.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 8th 2007 10:22AM]

The difference here is that you have a single Mobile Operator that can guage customer intrest and provide reliable data to Apple. I trust that number (if accurate), is not based on "tea leaves or bones"!

[tiuk @ Jun 8th 2007 10:48AM]

Seriously, die in a fire.

[Gil @ Jun 8th 2007 11:31AM]

"Alex Jacobs @ Jun 8th 2007 7:42AM
OK. so if all 3 million sell ...
3,000,000 x $500 (average selling price for arguments sake) = $1,500,000,000
The divide that by 2 if the rumours about the 50% mark up are right = $750,000,000"

That also means it costs them to make that many. That's more than half the Apple income. One hell of a gamble

[lawrence @ Jun 8th 2007 11:41AM]

tis gonna be a history for apple and the mac comes back also super down to microsoft

[Dave @ Jun 8th 2007 11:40AM]

Rachel,

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

iPhone

[lawrence @ Jun 8th 2007 3:22PM]

apple thunmps up

[Darnell @ Jun 8th 2007 12:04PM]

If this thing costs $100+ a month for the plan then I may not get it. That is rather expensive. If not, then I'm still on course to snatch one up.

[Peekay @ Jun 8th 2007 12:15PM]

Can the iPhone live up to the hype? From people I talk to, I am not sure it's going to be quite as revolutionary as it's being made out to be. I plan on sticking with my Treo. I have the "M" app from Mercora on there, which gives me my music wirelessly already, and I just don't see a huge reason to change. And I'm not going to buy a new phone just because it says "Apple" on it.

[inetnawlins @ Jun 8th 2007 12:45PM]

iphones are also going to be sold by any and all Apple Authorized Business Associate (many apple consultants) and through the Apple Web site. If you don't have a store in your neck of the woods, then go online and order. They'll ship to your house.

[Pipper @ Jun 8th 2007 1:57PM]

Is this how you earn $???
- Create a iphone hate blog
- sign up for google adsense
- spam engadget or other web site with your ridiculus comments and link to your stupid blog
- collect site visit from Apple fanboy / hater / lurkers...

[CharlieX @ Jun 8th 2007 1:16PM]

I wouldn't be terribly surprised if ATT/Cingular has some completely new pricing structure for the iPhones.... right now the dearth of options available when I got my Blackjack was mind numbing. Even the guys in the store scratch their heads trying to figure out what to sell you.

Currently: $80 a month for 450 minutes, unlimited data. Good thing everyone I know is on Cingular so calls are free.

[brutha @ Jun 8th 2007 2:09PM]

thieves countrywide are smiling.....

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jun 8th 2007 6:19PM]

Three cheers for the new reply system. Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray!!

Now all we need is a digg-like 2 minute edit feature, and we'll have a much nicer Engadget.

[Trey @ Jun 8th 2007 6:19PM]

iPhone won't be perfect and I think everyone can expect AT&T to try and whore out new customers who buy the iPhone a little...but when it all comes down to it...when I sit across from you with my iPhone and you try to explain to me that your Treo is just is good when you analyze a lot of the major functions, I will simply put on my head phones and catch the newest episode of South Park and smile...

[trillionandone @ Jun 15th 2007 4:59PM]

Q E D

QED baby!