UBS predicts new iPhone features

UBS analyst Maynard Um on Tuesday provided possibly early insight into new iPhones based on "checks" within the industry. Without pointing to specific sources, he claimed new iPhones may have a backside touch surface not unlike the Motorola Backflip. Other estimates raise but don't confirm the possibilities of a 5-megapixel camera, as much as 64GB of storage, an AMOLED display and longer battery life.

Um adds that he still expects these new iPhones to ship in June at $199 and $299 prices and for Apple to repeat its strategy of last year, where it discounted the older model to $99 to create a budget version. This year would likely put a 16GB iPhone 3GS at the lower price point.

In an unusual step, the UBS analyst was dismissive of Verizon iPhone rumors and said a CDMA version would be more likely to ship in the fall for the few but significant CDMA carriers outside of the US, such as China Telecom or Japan's KDDI au. No explanation was given for why this might be the case, although differences in standards use from region to region may make a worldwide CDMA phone more difficult to implement. Verizon is nonetheless one of the largest carriers on the standard at 91.2 million total customers.

By Electronista Staff

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iPhone, Investor, industry, Verizon, Motorola, KDDI, Apple, China Telecom, au