Apple's 3G iPhone could crimp existing iPhone sales

As Doug noted a few days ago, Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will be releasing an updated iPhone some time in early 2008 that will work on AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T)'s 3G wireless data network. After AT&T's CEO Randall Stephenson said this last week, it's been confirmed by Apple on several occasions. But, as an aspiring iPhone customer who may have been thinking about buying one this holiday season, will you be more apt to plunk down that $400 knowing that a new version will be out in just a few months (most likely)?

This story is a recurring one for different electronics and gadgets every six months. There is always an upgrade, a better product or a next new thing -- it's what keeps customer buying more and more stuff and it's also what keeps consumer electronics manufacturers plan for a steady income stream. Smacking Apple's holiday sales by sitting on a public stage (of sorts) and stating that, yes, AT&T will have a new iPhone in early 2008, might have just been a backhand against Apple's head.

The relationship between Apple and AT&T has been an odd one form the very start, no matter how professional it looked in January of this year when both companies announced the iPhone, and their exclusive partnership in the U.S. While Apple gets a cut of every iPhone user's bill, AT&T gets all these new customers and books all that revenue. Sounds like a win-win situation. That is, except for the customer. Then again, much business is not longer about the customers, it's about the company's bottom line.