Apple signals iPod phone in works; 2007 debut seen
Apple Computer Inc., known for its secrecy about new products, gave the strongest signal yet it's working on an iPod phone that analysts said could be released early next year.
``We don't think that the phones that are available today make the best music players -- we think the iPod is,'' Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said on a conference call yesterday. ``But over time that is likely to change and we're not sitting around doing nothing.''
Oppenheimer's comments fueled anticipation that Apple will add a mobile phone to its iPod line. Apple, which has released at least two new models a year to spur sales, last updated the player in October. Growth in IPod shipments has slowed in the past two quarters and analysts anticipate new video and music players in coming months.
``The biggest part of last night's call was the iPhone,'' said Piper Jaffray Co. analyst Gene Munster, based in Minneapolis. ``It was the closest we could get to the announcement of a new product from Apple.''
An iPod phone may be released in the first half of 2007, said Munster. Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst Richard Farmer pegged the release in the first quarter.
``We don't think that the phones that are available today make the best music players -- we think the iPod is,'' Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said on a conference call yesterday. ``But over time that is likely to change and we're not sitting around doing nothing.''
Oppenheimer's comments fueled anticipation that Apple will add a mobile phone to its iPod line. Apple, which has released at least two new models a year to spur sales, last updated the player in October. Growth in IPod shipments has slowed in the past two quarters and analysts anticipate new video and music players in coming months.
``The biggest part of last night's call was the iPhone,'' said Piper Jaffray Co. analyst Gene Munster, based in Minneapolis. ``It was the closest we could get to the announcement of a new product from Apple.''
An iPod phone may be released in the first half of 2007, said Munster. Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst Richard Farmer pegged the release in the first quarter.
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