iPhone 3GS

A shopper in Germany may have stumbled upon evidence of an impending 8GB iPhone 3GS. According to their blog post, they ordered a refurbished 8GB iPhone 3G online that arrived as advertised, with nothing unusual about the device. The packaging, however, was labled as "iPhone 3GS v2.2, 8GB" instead of 3G. Some speculate that the mislabled package may be a possible sign that Apple is planning to launch an 8GB iPhone 3GS.

There's a part in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" where one of the main characters, upon losing 500,000 British pounds in a rigged poker game and being threatened with gradual dismemberment if unable to pay the debt, walks into a bar. His friends just look up at him and mention "This dinnae look good."

Per Chinese e-tailer Taobao.com, the site has sold only five iPhone units in its first two weeks of availability on the Web site, which is fairly similar to that line in the movie.

Japanese wireless carrier Softbank has launched a new promotion for the iPhone 3GS wherein customers willing to sign a two-year contract can now receive a 16GB 3GS for free, as part of the company's "iPhone for Everybody" campaign. The 32GB 3GS should be newly available at a cost of 480 yen ($6) per month, down from 960 yen.

Those of you looking to pick up an iPhone 3GS on the cheap are in luck. AT&T is offering refurbished iPhone 3GSs for just $49 with free shipping and no activation fee at their online store. Available models include both the white and black 16GB 3GS model. Price for the package is normally $199, but they are available for just $49 today. Of course, purchase requires signing up for a 2 year contract with the standard iPhone voice + data package.

In spite of a stock shortage earlier this year, Australia's major telecom outfits have stated they'll have a sufficient supply of iPhones in time for the holidays. Earlier this year, stock of Apple’s iPhone 3GS was exhausted across Australia, with the vendor admitting it was unable to make enough devices to meet demand. The iPhone 3GS launched in Australia on June 26, and has since spurred domestic smartphone shipments up 29%.

This has yet to be confirmed, but could be really interesting. Two sources have now stated that AT&T (and through them, probably Apple) have stated that a $99 8GB iPhone 3GS may be in the works. One source has stated that this is their way of combating the DROID fever that's been building with the competing device on the horizon.

Apple may have underestimated its iPhone 3GS handset, as several sources are indicating that Apple has recently increased manufacturing orders for the iPhone 3GS by up to 20%. The company has apparently increased fourth-quarter orders for the iPhone 3GS to its Taiwan-based manufacturing partners Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and Primax Electronics by 17-20%, noted the sources.

Today Apple reported its financial results for its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter ended September 26, 2009. Amidst the announcement that Q4 was Apple's second highest quarterly revenue, Apple also announced that 7.4 million iPhones had been sold in the September quarter. This is a new company record and an increase of 7% from the previous September quarter.

Regarding the recent change by the FASB to allow non-subscription accounting, Apple has said that it's not sure when they will begin adopting a non-GAAP accounting system. For the time being, Apple's sales of Apple TVs, iPhones, and the iPod touch will remain under subscription accounting.