AT&T: exciting "product refreshes" this quarter
updated 11:55 am EDT, Wed April 21, 2010
ATT not shy about likely iPhone update
AT&T may have dropped hints about the timing of an iPhone update today in the conference call discussing its latest quarterly results. Following a line of questioning that began with asking about the possibility of a mid-year iPhone refresh, the company didn't confirm any plans but admitted there were "product refreshes we're excited about" in the ongoing quarter, which ends this June. The new hardware, regardless of who makes it, may drive upgrades and hurt profit margins.
A new iPhone is virtually expected this quarter, but the comments partly support beliefs of a late June WWDC unveiling for the update that may involve a relatively quick turnaround for the actual launch. Two out of the three iPhone launches since 2007 have had both the formal announcement and the ship date in June.
AT&T itself may have provided an unofficial clue as employees have reportedly been blocked from June vacations, a strategy that has been followed in the past to make sure that as many staff are available as possible to handle the rush of iPhone buyers.
