Apple shares jumped in high-volume trading after researcher iSuppli estimated the company will reap a gross profit margin in excess of 55 percent on its 8-gigabyte iPhones.
Reports say a 3G version of the iPhone – suitable for use in Australia – could be unveiled in January at the annual Macworld show in San Francisco.
Apple shares added $5.91, or 4.9 percent, to $127.17 in an abbreviated trading session that ended at 1 pm ahead of the July 4 Independence Day holiday. In the past year, the stock has traded between $50.16 and $127.61 ISuppli reported that a tear-down analysis of the iPhone showed its bill of materials and manufacturing costs totalled $265.83. That means Apple would generate a margin of more than 55 percent for every eight-gigabyte iPhone it sells for $599.
South Korea’s Samsung is the biggest supplier, accounting for 30.5 percent of component costs, by making the memory chips and processors, according to iSuppli. Infineon, Wolfson, Balda and National Semiconductor also make parts.
The iPhone is built by two Taiwanese companies: FoxConn and Quanta. Taipei reports suggest Quanta may be concentrating on a second version, to incorporate 3G technology and GPS navigation. This would make it suitable for European and Australian markets.
