Apple will only ship four million iPhones this year and 12 million in 2008, according to a recently released report from Merrill Lynch. The report indicates that monthly shipments will initially total 200,000-300,000 and ramp to about one million units by the end of the year. Apple insiders who have confirmed the estimates say that they anticipate a back order situation immediatly.
It is believed that Cingular Wireless (now AT&T) have already taken over 1 million calls from people wanting to place an order for the iPod. Executives at Cingular have said that they are "certain" that a back order system will have to be implemented from day one that the phone goes on sale as only 200,000 a month will be available for sale.
The iPhone is expected to begin shipping in the US in June and in Australia "sometime in 2008."
Based on its forecast, Merrill Lynch added that component suppliers for the device are unlikely to see a boost in their revenues in the short-term, though the iPhone should help drive demand for higher-end handsets, which should help suppliers in the long-term.
