Signs Point to Better, Stronger, Faster iPhone

For something so innovative,
it already feels so passé

Apple's new model of the iPhone, which will provide 3G access and faster data connection speeds, is imminent — if shortages of the current model means anything, reports MediaBuyerPlanner.

Apple's website announced yesterday that the company is out of stock on previous iPhone models, writes Brandweek. The news fuels rumors that an upgraded model will be announced in the next month. In a research report, Gene Munster of Piper Jaffrey pegs June 9 as the date of reckoning.

In recent weeks Apple penned deals with wireless carriers in Asia, India, Italy, Australia, Singapore and Canada. Such liaisons shall ensure the company meets — and even exceeds — its stated goal of selling 10 million iPhones by year's end, said Wired News.

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu said the deals could more than triple Apple's wireless subscriber opportunity, from about 150 million potential customers today to approximately 470 million potential customers of the 3G phone.

The speed with which the deals were closed may also herald the impending announcement of a 3G unit. "The original launch of the iPhone here in the US was amazing," said IDC senior mobile analyst Chris Hazelton. "It was much less than amazing in Europe; and that’s largely because the device wasn't 3G capable."

A study found iPhone users generate 50 times more Google searches than other mobile handsets.