Here is your daily Apple Inc. (AAPL) stock news and rumors for Monday, July 19. With Apple set to report third quarter earnings when the markets close tomorrow, we focus on the iPad launch in 9 more countries this week. Also, the iPhone 4 antenna-saving bumpers are no longer available to purchase on Apple’s website. Meanwhile, analysts speculate on whether or not tomorrow’s the day that Apple’s revenue finally surpasses Microsoft (MSFT):
Apple iPad to Launch in 9 More Countries: AAPL shareholders should get excited for Friday, July 23rd. The technology manufacturer will put their tablet computer on sales in 9 more countries that morning, further spurring the device’s runaway sales over the past three months. Both the 3G-capable and Wi-Fi enabled models of the iPad will be available to tech hungry customers in Austria, Belgium, New Zealand, Ireland, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Singaport, Mexico, and the Netherlands. Apple has not announced pricing in these territories. Following its April launch in the United States, the international release of the iPad was delayed until May 28th due to issues with production. In addition to the US, the iPad is currently available in Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Canada, and Australia.
iPhone 4 Bumper Protectors Unavailable for Purchase at Apple Store: Steve Jobs announced last Friday that Apple would be providing free bumper protectors to any iPhone 4 owner who purchases the smartphone between its June 24th launch date and September 30th. The giveaway is AAPL’s solution to the “Antennagate” fiasco and an apparent physical solution to the iPhone 4’s issues with reception and dropped calls. In what seems to be part of the preparation for the launch of the giveaway program, Apple’s own iPhone 4 bumpers are no longer available for purchase from the company’s online store at Apple.com. The bumpers are, however, still listed on the site as unavailable products. Apple has also assured iPhone 4 users that if they purchased an iPhone 4 bumper between the launch and the giveaway announcement, they will be reimbursed.
Apple to Pass Microsoft in Revenue: When the markets close tomorrow, Apple will reveal some remarkable sales numbers in their 3rd quarter financial report. Again. The numbers Apple will be showing off will hardly be news to anyone following the tech market in the spring and summer of 2010. Apple has sold nearly 3.5 million Mac computers in that period, 3 million iPods within 80 days of release, and nearly 2 million iPhone 4’s within three days of its release. It’s estimated that they will report around $15 billion in quarterly revenue. The company’s success isn’t a question going into their financial report. The real question is whether or not Apple will finally overtake nemesis MSFT in revenue. Apple became the most valuable tech company in the world this past May, valued at $223 billion compared to Microsoft’s $219 billion. Fortune‘s Andy Zaky thinks that, even though most analysts are saying it’s only a matter of time before Apple’s revenue surpasses Microsoft’s, it won’t be tomorrow. Microsoft’s one major advantage, according to Zaky, is their over-50 percent operating margin, something that should keep their coffers just a bit fuller than Apple for a while longer.
As of this writing, Anthony Agnello did not own a position in any of the companies named here.
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