According to Business Week’s Peter Burrows, Apple intends to manufacture at least 40 million iPhones in 2009. These ambitious plans are largely dependent on Apple’s ability to sell the “Jesus Phone” well in several countries around the world.
Burrows writes:
While final sales can’t be known until after the fact, clues are emerging as to Apple’s production plans. As of mid-August, they were ambitious, BusinessWeek has learned. Apple plans to build 40 million to 45 million iPhone 3Gs in the 12 months through August 2009, according to a person familiar with the company’s plans. The low end of that range is 52% more than the 26 million Munster expects the company to sell in that time. Apple boosted its production plans when initial sales proved stronger than the company expected, says the person, who requested anonymity. On launch day, the company expected to build 30 million iPhone 3Gs in 12 months. Apple declined to comment beyond reiterating that it expects to reach a stated goal of selling 10 million iPhone 3Gs in 2008.
Besides increasing the speed with which it takes to actually activate a new iPhone purchase, Apple will need to handle software malfunctions and wide-spread connectivity issues with the 3G network if they’re going to come anywhere near the 40 million sold mark. However with the increasing popularity of the phone as well as the knock-out success of Apple’s App Store, the iPhone could be poised to sell incredibly well through 2009.
