Speculation from Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster has triggered a fresh undercurrent of buzz amongst Apple faithful as the analyst believes that the company has lined up two important events for the end of June. The triumphant return of Steve Jobs and the epic unveiling of their next-generation iPhone.
The company's announcement on Wednesday confirmed that the keynote address at their 2009 World Wide Developers Conference on June 8 will be delivered by marketing vice president Phil Schiller. Rather than Steve Jobs as many had hoped. Schiller and friends will focus on iPhone 3.0 and Mac OSX Leopard software instead of launching any new hardware according to Munster. Jobs is currently half-way through month five of his planned six-month medical leave.
Gene Munster is convinced that Apple still intends to deliver a family of iPhone models with improved specs and functionality for a new high-end model, but the company will do so at an event targeted for the end of June or even early July as stated in his communication to investors.
“We expect Apple to host a special event in late June or early July to launch a family of iPhones. We continue to expect multiple models, possibly a high-end iPhone with improved specs from the current version and a low-end version with lower capacity and fewer features along with a reduced pricing plan. Such a model could also be used in Apple’s launch of the iPhone into China as soon as the end of summer ‘09." Munster wrote to investors. Source: Apple 2.0
It's obvious that Munster's assertions are conveniently timed knowing that Apple's announcement created much anxiety and disappointment for the sold out WWDC crowd along with investors expecting to see Steve Jobs presenting a new iPhone handset during his traditional keynote address. It goes without saying that the idea of Steve Jobs taking part in this year's developer's conference has been equal parts speculation and wishful thinking among cult of Mac loyalists. Including myself in that gang of magical thinkers.
It is possible that Schiller could be tasked with presenting some expected iPhone specification improvements along with an expanded 3.0 feature set recently hinted at in a Chinese-language screenshot. With Apple holding out the unveiling of their new high-end iPhone for a special media only event closer to the end of June. That's if such a monster truly exists.
You can expect the grand speculation to continue until Uncle Phil wraps up his keynote address at the WWDC on June 8. That's when a fresh crop of wild guesses will begin anew. For now all eyes remain focused on the return of Steve Jobs.
“Although this may raise some concern among investors that Steve Jobs will not return [at all],” wrote Munster, “we continue to expect his return to the company by the end of June.”
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