Analyst: Apple increases Q2 iPod orders

Apple has increased its build orders for the majority of the iPod family in its second quarter (ending June), according to one analyst. Craig Berger, analyst with FBR Capital Markets, said in a note to clients that his latest checks on Apple’s supply chain show iPod orders up 15 percent since his last check in March, leading him to project 35 percent iPod order growth quarter-over-quarter. “We see greater shuffle, classic, and nano builds slightly offset by fewer touch builds, with greater shuffle builds accounting for most of the increased iPod builds,” said Berger. His checks also show iPhone build orders to be down less than 10 percent compared to March, however, Berger expects that iPhone orders to increase by as much as 250 percent to 3 million units going forward, as 3G iPhone production ramps up. “Apple’s June, September, and December total 3G order fell by 500,000 units versus our prior checks to 11 million units, although our contacts still say Apple will likely reduce this forecast over time,” he said. “This suggests Apple could sell 11 million iPhones in total in 2008, including its March actual shipments.”