Apple financials shed light on iPhone shortage, keep 3G shrouded in darkness

Remember all that fuss about iPhone shortages? The ones that had people convinced—convinced—that a 3G iPhone was all but imminent? Well, the shortages are certainly real, as Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook acknowledged in yesterday’s financial results conference call, though only in the US. The European markets are still seeing balanced levels of supply and demand.

But if you thought not having enough iPhone for the unwashed masses was a bad thing, then you clearly haven’t met Apple. Here’s what chief operating officer Tim Cook had to say on yesterday’s call:

In terms of shortages; we expected [iPhone demand] to decline more on sequential basis than it did; it beat our expectations, so we started to decline in supply.

It’s just because the iPhone is more popular than even Apple expected, see?

Every time the conversation drifted in that direction Cook would firmly reiterate that the only reason Apple had a shortage was because they ended up selling more iPhones in the last quarter than they’d expected to. That’s what we call Teflon, baby.

A number of analysts also tried to trick Cook’s into admitting that a 3G iPhone was forthcoming—like they were dealing with Mr. Mxyzptlk or something.

The much-coveted iPhone Central award still goes to Sharon Cross of Cross Research, who asked if there were any plans to continue selling the current 2.5G model when the 3G model was released—oh how crafty! She must have spent hours figuring out the exact phrasing of that question, only to have it shot down by Cook’s boilerplate “We don’t comment on new products.” Kudos, Ms. Cross. Perhaps next quarter.

Category: Musings, News

Posted by Dan Moren on Apr 24 2008, 3:34 PM ET

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iPhone illustration by Joe Zeff Design Inc. // Design by Jason Brightman