How can Apple and AT&T put a relatively low pricetag of just $199 on the new 3G iPhone? According to research firm iSuppli, the answer is in the low cost of the components. iSuppli estimates the new 3G iPhone will cost just $173 to manufacture, which is significantly lower than rivals such as HTC's Touch Diamond (priced at $785) and Nokia's N96 (priced at $855).
iSuppli says that the most expensive component on the 3G iPhone is the 8 gigabytes of NAND flash memory storage, which the firm estimates costs $22.80. The second pricey element is the touchscreen, which costs about $20. In all, the chips and handset components add up to $164. iSuppli tacks on another $9 for assembly for a total of $173.
For more:
- read this PC World article [1]
Related stories:
AT&T will subsidize 3G iPhone [2]
Photos: 3G iPhone [3] Launched
Links:
[1] http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/147530/new_3g_iphone_costs_173_to_make_isuppli.html
[2] http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-subsidizes-3g-iphone/2008-06-10
[3] http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/photos-3g-iphone-launched