Piper Jaffray tech analyst Michael Olson, getting a jump on Apple's launch next Thursday of new iPhone models, published a research note Friday morning saying that its latest survey of iPhone users found demand for new models is likely to be stronger than expected. Olson raised his target price for Apple's stock to $250 a share, about 12 percent higher than it was trading before the market opened Friday. Apple shares were up about a half-percent in early trading Friday. Apple climbed 38 percent in the year since the last iPhone launch. Much of that gain has happened since April when investors started to realize that the higher-priced iPhone X was driving better-than-expected revenue and profit gains for the tech giant. For months before that, reports suggested that the iPhone X wasn't selling as well as forecasters thought it would. Olson continued a tradition of surveying the iPhone customer base that was started by Gene Munster, who followed Apple for years at Piper Jaffray and was … [Read more...] about Ahead of new iPhone launch, Piper Jaffray raises price target on Apple
When was first iphone launched
Cricket to offer prepaid, no-contract iPhone
(AP) NEW YORK - Leap Wireless International Inc. (LEAP), the parent of the Cricket cellphone service, on Thursday said it will be the first mainland U.S. phone company to sell recent Apple (AAPL) iPhone models on a prepaid, no-contract basis. Starting June 22, Leap will sell the iPhone 4S starting at $500 and the iPhone 4 starting at $400. Service will cost $55 per month for unlimited calls, texting and data. Leap Wireless International Inc., which is based in San Diego, focuses on selling no-contract service to low-income households. Its own network is limited to certain cities. In other places, it uses Sprint Nextel Corp.'s (S) network. What happens to BlackBerry users if RIM tanks?From AT&T to Leap: How iPhone availability grows The iPhone is compatible with only part of Leap's network, and the company is limiting sales to those areas, which include Houston and Austin, Texas; Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh; Denver; and Salt Lake City. Leap said the arrangement will be … [Read more...] about Cricket to offer prepaid, no-contract iPhone
CBS News Logo Google flubs its first iPhone Gmail app
Hours after launching the hotly anticipated Gmail for iPhone app (and for all iOS devices), Google pulled the broken app from the Apple App store and apologized on Twitter. "The iOS app we launched today contained a bug with notifications," the tweet reads. "We have pulled the app to fix the problem. Sorry we messed up." Google later replied with an official statement: Update: 11/2/11: Earlier today we launched a new Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately, it contained a bug which broke notifications and caused users to see an error message when first opening the app. We've removed the app while we correct the problem, and we're working to bring you a new version soon. Everyone who's already installed the app can continue to use it. We witnessed the broken notifications first-hand on multiple iPhones when loading the Gmail app for the first time after a reboot (see right). iPhone users also complained vociferously on social networks like Twitter and Google+ (here's one example of dozens). … [Read more...] about CBS News Logo Google flubs its first iPhone Gmail app
Apple slammed for canceling China iPhone launch
BEIJING - Angry customers and gangs of scalpers threw eggs at Apple Inc.'s flagship Beijing store Friday after its opening for the China launch of the iPhone 4S was canceled due to concerns over the size of the crowd. Apple reacted to the outburst by postponing iPhone 4S sales in its mainland China stores to protect the safety of customers and employees. It said the phone still will be sold online and through its local carrier. The incident highlighted Apple's huge popularity in China and the role of middlemen who buy up limited supplies of iPhones and other products or smuggle them from abroad for resale to Chinese gadget fans at a big markup. Hundreds of customers including migrant workers hired by scalpers in teams of 20 to 30 waited overnight in freezing weather at the Apple store in a shopping mall in Beijing's east side Sanlitun district. The crowd erupted after the store failed to open on schedule at 7 a.m. Some threw eggs and shouted at employees through the windows. A person … [Read more...] about Apple slammed for canceling China iPhone launch
How the world reacted to the first iPhone 10 years ago
A decade ago, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone, and nobody knew quite what to think. It was expensive; it didn't have 3G; there was no physical keyboard and the touchscreen didn't have a stylus. Critics said that Apple was entering a bear pit where profit margins were low and tastes changed quickly. Not everyone was convinced it could repeat the success of the iPod. Steve Ballmer: 'No chance of any significant market share' Then Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer's comments on the iPhone would come back to haunt him. He predicted that it would be a niche product and that Microsoft would dominate the smartphone. There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It's a $500 subsidised item. They may make a lot of money. But if you actually take a look at the 1.3 billion phones that get sold, I'd prefer to have our software in 60 per cent or 70 per cent or 80 per cent of them, than I would to have 2 per … [Read more...] about How the world reacted to the first iPhone 10 years ago