Apple Set to Sell 10 Million iPhones This Quarter?

A DigiTimes report about growth in smartphone growth for Taiwanese component suppliers is gaining a fair amount of notice this morning for its citation of a market research firm's claims that Apple is set to sell 10 million iPhones this quarter, well ahead of the record 7.4 million units moved last quarter and above most analysts' estimates, which have been falling into the 8-9+ million range.

Taiwan's smartphone IC [integrated circuit] shipments reached 116.97 million units in the third quarter of 2009, up 30.9% sequentially, and market value amounted to US$613.7 million, up 32.0% sequentially, according to Taipei-based Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC). In the third quarter of 2009, sales of the Apple iPhone 3GS far exceeded expectations, and sales are expected to reach 10 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. iPhone chip suppliers have benefited from this development.

Apple has worked to broaden its distribution reach this quarter, making forays into China, South Korea, and several other countries while also adding new carrier partners in such countries as the UK and Canada.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs had announced at the original iPhone's unveiling in January 2007 that the company was aiming to sell 10 million iPhones during 2008, a goal the company reached with several months to go. Continued acceleration to the neighborhood of 10 million iPhones sold in a single quarter demonstrates that Apple's strategy of continued expansion of geographic markets, lowered price points, and hardware and software upgrades has so far been successful.