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Errant iPhones? No Big Deal, Analyst Says

Apple profits can withstand unaccounted for gadgets without loss

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 28, 2008 8:41 PM CST

(Newser) – An estimated 1.4 million iPhones that have been either inventoried or clandestinely unlocked may not pose a significant threat to techno-juggernaut Apple's overall profit. The "missing" phones could force stock prices to dip, "but if you look at Apple," reassures analyst Ezra Gottheil, "It's solidly profitable without the iPhone. The iPhone just takes it up to another level."

Gottheil puts Apple's monthly iPhone revenue at $10 per phone, ComputerWorld reports. "This is a substantial revenue stream, generated at no cost to Apple," Gottheil claims. "Nevertheless, every iPhone sale brings profit to Apple." And errant phones won't stop Apple from unloading its projected 10 million phones by December, either. "There is room in the iPhone margin," Gottheil assured antsy speculators.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up an Apple iPhone at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco, in this Jan. 9, 2007 file photo. Steve Jobs has a tough act to follow at the Macworld Conference on Tuesday
Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up an Apple iPhone at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco, in this Jan. 9, 2007 file photo. Steve Jobs has a tough act to follow at the Macworld Conference on Tuesday   (Associated Press)
A customer tries out an Apple iPhone at an Apple store in Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
A customer tries out an Apple iPhone at an Apple store in Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs gestures in front of a projected image of an iPhone during his keynote at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs gestures in front of a projected image of an iPhone during his keynote at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
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