Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) released some new software and hardware products a few days ago, and at the same time lowered the price on the standard iPhone to $99 with a two-year contract with AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T). Considering that the very first iPhone was released at the $599 price point with that same two-year contract almost exactly two years ago, one has to wonder how Apple has lowered the subsidy-priced iPhone in the U.S. to such a low level while retaining decent product margins.

The Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone is not selling up to expectations in the UK. According to the Financial Times, "O2 said shortly before the iPhone's UK launch on November 9 that it expected handset sales of 200,000 in the first two months, but people familiar with the situation said the actual figure for the first eight weeks was about 190,000." But, a number of analysts viewed sales estimates from O2, the exclusive iPhone reseller in the UK to be very conservative. Estimates by research firm Gartner were as high as 400,000.

The reason for the slow sales may be the pricing of the iPhone and its calling plan. The handset plus a minimum contract cost about $1,700.

If the news were in a vacuum it might not sting. But, just a week ago China Mobile (NYSE: CHL) said it had cut off conversations with Apple over distributing the product in China, the world largest cell market. The price of the calling plan Apple wanted to market in the world's most populated nation may be been a sticking point.

If sales in the UK and Europe do not begin to exceed expectations and an Asian roll-out is slow, that leaves the U.S. to carry the burden of Apple hitting its 2008 sales targets.

That may be a little too much to expect.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.