| | Apple Could Launch New IPod Product In June
04.22.05, 9:36 AM ET
Banc of America Securities expects Apple Computer (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) to launch a new iPod product "as early as June" to help stimulate demand and market share. Banc of America assumes that iPod unit shipments decrease to 4.8 million units in the fiscal third quarter ending June from 5.3 million units in the second quarter. The research firm noted that its model incorporates "some seasonal softness" and with flat revenue guidance from Apple's last conference call, "we imagine that investors are looking to flat to slightly down MP3 sales, and strength in CPUs." The firm believes that flash memory-based players are growing faster than drive players. Synaptics (nasdaq: SYNA - news - people ), which provides components for Apple's hard-drive-based iPods, guided to flat revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter ending June, noting softness in their customers' forecasts for the portable music player market. Creative Technology (nasdaq: CREAF - news - people ), the #2 player next to Apple, is projecting sales in the June quarter ranging from flat to up 8% quarter over quarter. "If the Creative forecast proves to be more representative of the market, we will have upside in our iPod units for Apple in the June quarter," Banc of America said.
forbes.com |
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