Analyst predicts iPhone 2 to be released Spring 2008

A UBS analyst has suggested a new iPhone will drop by spring 2008, along with a host of other Apple predictions as part of a financial report.

UBS Investment Research analyst Ben Reitzes has published a new report with a range of predictions for the company’s market strategy and potential profits over the next year.

The biggest news/rumour to emerge from the financial analyst’s crystal ball is that a new iPhone is definitely on the way and could be hitting stores as early as next March.

According to Apple Insider, Ben said:

“We expect Apple to make an announcement on additional international iPhone carriers in the coming months, and our contacts in the supply chain point toward a new iPhone model to be released by March.”

It might just be one line in a lengthy report but it looks like signalling that the relentless rumours of either an upgrade or a new model to replace the first generation of the iPhone may have some truth to them.

He continued:

“We continue to believe Apple is in the process of creating another version of the ‘multiplier effect,’ which we call ‘Halo 2,’”

“Apple’s fiscal 4Q results show that the build up to the launch of the iPhone and its ongoing excitement is driving sales of accessories, boosting retail traffic, and helping drive sales of iPods and especially Macs. As a result, we believe shares can continue to move higher into Macworld [Expo] in January.”

There’s no doubt that the iPhone’s release and the huge amount of publicity buzz that it created both on and offline puts all Apple products in to people’s mindsets and sells more stock. Mac sales beat estimates by 10%, and a host of other Apple products sold in greater quantities thanks to the so called ‘Halo effect’.

Apple would be mad not to already be planning the iPhone 2, but I personally didn’t expect to see it before next summer.

He also predicts a huge surge in iPod sales now that the new models are readily available, suggesting that sales of 10.2 million units are “slightly disappointing”. I bet there are a host of companies who would kill for sales even approaching anywhere near that figure.

All eyes are now on Macworld in January, where we’ll either see an official unveiling or maybe just early glimpses of the possible second generation of iPhones. Fingers crossed.

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