Analyst: Two iPhones, widescreen iPod coming next year

Prudential Equity Group analyst Jesse Tortora claims that “the production ramp has already begun” in small quantities for an Apple iPhone to be available for sale in the first or second quarter of next year. Tortora expects a more advanced smartphone to follow 1-2 quarters later, “likely” in the third quarter. The analyst also believes Apple is planning production of a widescreen iPod for introduction late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Tortora says there is “new evidence that Apple has hired video game designers,” which he says suggests that “Apple may have interest in entering the video game market longer-term.”