iPhone 5: Apple to Sell 48M Units by January 2013

Despite disappointing some analysts by failing to include hotly-anticipated 'near field communications' technology in the new iPhone 5, Apple is expected to sell almost fifty million units of the iPhone 5 between late September and the end of 2012.

Apple officially unveiled the iPhone 5 on Wednesday, September 12. Although some industry experts were stunned by Apple's failure to build any cutting-edge technologies into the device, there's no doubt the slick new smartphone will satisfy a great many consumers.

New iPhone Is Thinner, Lighter, Faster

The new iPhone 5 is thinner, lighter, and operates faster than even its most recent predecessor: the iPhone 4S. It also comes with three-dimensional mapping software, the Siri voice-recognition tool, and better integration with Facebook, the social networking website.

"It's a beautifully crafted device," gushed Canalys analyst, Chris Jones. "They enhanced everything about the iPhone." (Source: washingtonpost.com)

Perhaps because many analysts claimed to be pleased by the new iPhone 5, Apple's stock price increased 1.4 per cent to just under $670. That extends Apple's stock surge to 65 per cent in the past year alone.

10 Million Sold by September 30; 48 Million by December 31

Analysts are now trying to predict how many iPhone 5s will actually sell in the coming months, with the device available for pre-order starting September 14 and hitting retail shelves on September 21.

Piper Jaffray Cos. analyst Gene Munster believes about ten million iPhone 5s will ship by the end of September, 2012.

Bloomberg analysts suggest that sales through the end of December, 2012, may total as many as 48.2 million.

If such numbers prove to be accurate, many analysts indicate that Apple's stock price could surge even higher. In fact, some observers believe the company's shares could surpass $750 by the end of 2012.

FBR Capital has even gone so far as to predict that Apple shares will hit $1,000 within the next twelve months.

"While it lacked the mind-blowing innovation we have come to expect of Apple, [it] is differentiated enough to maintain a sizable product advantage over its competitors," an FBR representative said of the iPhone 5. (Source: reuters.com)