Date: 02-29-2008
Apple Inc. has affirmed its oft-stated goal of selling 10 million iPhones by the end of the year and hinted that it will unveil tools that programmers can use to create downloadable software for the phones. Those tools will be sold through its iTunes stores and a few retail partners. Analysts believe that this move will potentially step up competition with Research in Motion’s (RIM) popular Blackberry devices. Apple expects to spur demand for the multi-functional iPhone by charting out the software road map for outside users. “Apple has understood the importance of local applications and they are responding to that, and it will help them sell more iPhones,” said Tim Bajarin, principal analyst of Creative Strategies. For its part, RIM is expected to present tough competition in the consumer market where Apple dominates, with products such as the BlackBerry Pearl.
