Analyst believes CDMA iPhone being sped up

The Verizon iPhone could be on store shelves in November, Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar claimed today. Checks with manufacturers have ASUS' manufacturing arm Pegatron building iPhones soon enough that it could ship two months before the end of the year. Most rumors have had production starting as early as August but no later than September, giving Apple enough time to have a large quantity on hand for a Verizon launch.

Traditionally, Verizon has often reserved November for the launches of the phones it expects will be the blockbuster releases for the year. It will break that tradition somewhat tradition with the Droid Incredible in April and new Droid phones in July, but recent years have seen the BlackBerry Storm and original Droid arrive in the fall, often with major marketing campaigns attached.

Overall iPhone production would also see an increase. Kumar understands that Apple could be making 4 million iPhones a month by September, or 25 percent more than it does now. He didn't say whether this factored in the Verizon launch, but Apple has usually had to expand its production to anticipate extra demand for a redesign in addition to any new carriers.

Accelerated iPhone shipments could put Apple's total iPhone tally as high as 40 million, or above most predictions. The number would be larger than the total smartphone market just a few years ago and could have Apple challenging RIM for the number two position in the smartphone market, as its BlackBerry-making opponent only expects closer to 11 million phones this summer and may not necessarily get a boost from holiday sales, which have often been more favorable for Apple.

By Electronista Staff