Hype It Up, Hire It Up

Apple Computer's newest innovation, the iPhone, is not being released until June 29th, however with all of the media hype surrounding the launch, it's expected to generate a significant demand once it hits shelves.

AT&T, the exclusive iPhone retailer, (outside of Apple) expects to generate wireless subscribers through the launch. The phone company announced yesterday that it had hired 2,000 temporary store workers for its 1,800 stores in anticipation. Apple will also be selling the iPhone at all of its 162 U.S. store locations.
Foxconn and Quanta Computers, both manufacturers based in Taiwan, are rumored to be the Apple's iPhone manufacturers, not to mention all of the other manufacturers of various components in the iPhone supply chain, from factories in Singapore and the U.S. to Apple's assembly plant in China.

The phone combines a music and video player with a web browser and, of course, a phone. The design is Apple's trademark: simple, clean, and very usable. The phone will initially cost consumers between $499 and $599.

The Indianapolis Star reported yesterday that Gene Munster, who covers Apple for investment firm Piper Jaffray, says the iPhone could nearly double the size of Apple within two years. Apple revenue is now at $24 billion, and he projects iPhone sales could push that to $42 billion - including $15 billion in iPhone sales - by 2009.

Sources: Forbes, Business Week, Reuters, macnn, Apple Computer, AT&T, Shmula, The Indianapolis Star