Apple has 3 million iPhones ready

BusinessWeek believes Apple will be selling $10 billion worth of iPhones a year by 2009. As a point of reference, financial analysts say sales of the iPod are expected to come in at around $11 billion for 2008. BusinessWeek cites sources saying Apple will have 3 million iPhones ready for sale on opening day.

But the iPhone launch is about more than the numbers. While Apple won't be the first to wrap a smart phone and music player into one device, the iPhone has a decent chance of popularizing the combo. Many of us carry at least two devices around with us, usually a phone and a music player. The iPhone, if designed with the same elegance as the iPod, might meld phone and music together for good. Carrying two devices might seem redundant. That could, of course, have profound effects on both the wireless handset and MP3 player industries.