Zaky's 2011 iPhone Sales Estimates

Andy Zaky submits:An early analysis of Apple's Fiscal Q3 2010 seems to indicate that Apple (AAPL) is on tap to significantly beat analyst estimates yet again.

Andy Zaky submits:While forecasting sales estimates for Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and iPad presents with a variety of difficulties, projecting Macintosh sales for 2011 and 2012 isn't all that hard. Macintosh sales have been on a nice, consistent upward trajectory and regularly observes an easily recognizable pattern of both seasonal and sequential growth trends.

Apple released earnings yesterday and, as expected, the average selling price of iPads declined steeply in the fourth quarter, which saw the release of the new iPad Mini.

Andy Zaky submits:In a piece I published yesterday at Seeking Alpha, I laid out two different forecasts for 2011 iPhone sales. One scenario is based on the assumption that the iPhone 5 is unveiled and launched for sale in June, and the other scenario is based on the assumption that the iPhone 5 released for sale in September.

This chart comes from Business Insider Intelligence, a new research and and analysis service focused on the mobile and Internet industries. Sign up for a free trial here.

Posts At Eventide submits: The Apple Finance Board (AFB) is home to many Apple (AAPL) traders, investors and Apple product enthusiasts. Among the members of the AFB are well know independent analysts Daniel Tello (deagol), Horace Dediu (aysmco), Turley Muller and Andy Zaky. I serve as the moderator of the AFB under the DawnTreader moniker.

Andy Zaky submits:So just how important is the iPhone to Apple's (AAPL) financial health, and is all this media attention on a cell phone really that warranted? The short answer: Yes, the iPhone is extremely important, and the media attention- very much warranted in this case. In fact, the iPhone has been Apple's lead revenue driver for three quarters running.

Andy Zaky submits:In a lawsuit dated April 15, 2011, Apple (AAPL) alleges that Samsung (SSNLF.PK) violated its intellectual property by basically ripping off its iPhone and iPad design.