14 DAY TRIAL // Sources are reporting that Apple has allegedly secured deals to sell the new iPhone 3G at Best Buy and Radio Shack locations. However, the source could not put their finger on whether sales will begin as soon as July 11th, or later.
"We just received unconfirmed word that Apple is going to be shaking things up a bit when it comes to iPhone 3G distribution here in the US," a Boy Genius Report claims. "Apple has supposedly secured deals with both Best Buy and Radio Shack to sell the iPhone 3G in their stores." The leak comes from a source who "has definitely done well for (BGR) in the past," the publication notes.
Macnn suggests the deal could be part of Apple's plans to reach sales targets - its landmark of 10 million iPhones-sold by the end of the year. However, some analysts are predicting that Apple will have absolutely no problem selling at least 11 million units, while others even go as far as forecasting sales of up to 18 million devices sold by the end of the year.
One such analyst is Jenny Lai, of the Hong Kong-based CLSA Emerging Markets. The researcher, who covers the contract manufacturer responsible for producing the 3G iPhone, claims Apple has hit the sweet spot for consumers by pricing the 8GB model of the new device at $199.
"The higher expectation on the 3G iPhone reflects attractive prices and a broader distribution channel (availability in ~70 countries)," wrote Jenny Lai. "The newly added white color for the 3G iPhone also bodes well to consumers," she added.
In a written report, the analyst claims Apple could sell as many as 18 million new iPhones this year, noting that Apple's original self-imposed landmark was, and still is, selling 10 million units by the end of the year, including the original iPhone.
What some analysts probably failed to document more thoroughly was the fact that iPhone 3G would be tied to carriers, who were most likely to offer ridiculously high prices for data plans. That of course, turned out to be true, as Canada's Rogers Wireless has proven recently.
But whether such optimistic predictions still stand, or not, Apple still isn't likely to fail selling 10 million iPhone units, even though iPhone fans in territories like the UK might be forced to start looking for other smartphones to use.
All this being said, do you see Apple inking in deals with BestBuy and RadioShack over the new iPhone 3G?