High margins on the iPhone - cost analysis

Market researcher iSuppli has been hot off the blocks with a fantastic generic cost assessment of the cost of the iPhone (and much more valuable than the speculation into which chip suppliers are included).
The $499 and $599 are early price points, but Apple has significant room to move as the basic cost is around $245 (similar to other high end smart phones). While Apple has been able to hold up margins in its PC and consumer business, it will come under more pressure from the phone operators. but the hype of the last few days has helped ensure that the iPhone is a highly branded item with a brand of 'desirability' (rather than it being particularly desirable!). Some operators will fall for that, others will take a substantial share of that margin!


Click on the picture for the full analysis.