After rumors swirled that Walmart (WMT) was going to halve the price on the Apple (APPL) 3GS 16GB iPhone, it has happened. Walmart now sells the 16GB iPhone 3GS for $97 with a two-year contract or an eligible upgrade.

This move can be viewed several ways. The first is that the 16GB iPhone will become the entry-level model when Apple introduces the 4G iPhone (rumored to launch in the next month). The second is that Walmart is trying to boost its sales figures by dropping the price on the wildly popular phone.

Those who own an Apple (AAPL) iPhone be prepared to have your head explode. Highly regarded think-tank consultant Strand Consult has just released a report that may send shock waves through the iPeople. Apple iPhone users are a tad delusional and many even lie to protect their iPhones.

Strand's report went as far as comparing those who protect their iPhones at all costs as those who may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. That comparison alone is sure to spark debates for a while, but the question is this: Do you fabricate arguments to protect the "quality of life" your iPhone has provided you? Be honest, now.

Are you on the edge of your seat? Yeah, me too. With Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) quarterly results being announced today, the world is waiting to see the effect of strong sales for the new iPhone, hopefully continuing the positive news reported by Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) last week. Everybody is looking for signs of a recovery, and a robust report from Apple could be interpreted as a hint that consumer sentiment is changing.

Analysts note that demand for the 3G iPhone remains strong, with lower prices on laptops (for which demand has increased, as well) likely to add to the company's sales number. For the phones, of course, they noted that customers continue to wait in line, according to a report by Reuters. All of this bodes well for the company in the near term (and its stock price for that matter) and has the added perk of positioning Apple well for a turn in the market. Customers who spend money now will spend even more when they have deeper pockets.

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.