The Apple iPhone announced earlier this month should pay off handsomely for the company with more than 50 percent gross margins for each version of the music-enabled smart phone, according to market researcher iSuppli. The Apple iPhone Users don’t have to worry too much, however, because iSuppli believes Apple will have to reduce iPhone prices to compete against other handset makers.The gross margin on the 4GB version of the iPhone will be nearly 51 percent, iSuppli said Thursday. The handset is expected to retail for US$499, but the cost of components and assembly are less than half that price, just $229.85.The premium version of the iPhone, the one that holds 8GB of music, photos and other data, will be even more profitable. It will cost about $264.85 to make, but sell in stores for $599, for a 53.1 percent gross margin, iSuppli said. Over time, Apple will be able to increase its profits, or lower the price tag, as it ramps up production of the iPhone, iSuppli said. In general, once sales of a hot new product start rising, a company such as Apple will increase orders, and component suppliers will reduce their price per part to win those larger orders. The Apple iPhone[2] It’s important to note that iSuppli did not actually have an iPhone to tear apart for its cost analysis. The price and profit figures are estimates based on the features Apple has announced for the handset. “iSuppli has a high degree of confidence in its conclusions,” it said in the report. Apple could not be reached for comment on the iSuppli report.The price tag on the iPhone may have to come down to attract users anyway, iSuppli said, because it will be competing with 835 other music phone models expected to be launched this year.There are already 14 music-enabled mobile phones with features similar to the Apple iPhone shipping from companies including Nokia, Motorola and Samsung Electronics, the market researcher said.-Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service (Taipei Bureau)Related Links: Cisco Hits Apple With Lawsuit over iPhone Name Why the iPhone Is the Single Most Important Thing to Happen to CIOs This Year Why Apple i-Anything Is a Non-Issue for CIOs and Corporate America Apple Ad Hints That iPhone Will Have Arm Chip InsideCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature 4 remedies to avoid cloud app migration headaches The compelling benefits of using proprietary cloud-native services come at a price: vendor lock-in. Here are ways CIOs can effectively plan without getting stuck. By Robert Mitchell Nov 29, 2023 9 mins CIO CIO CIO case study Steps Gerresheimer takes to transform its IT CIO Zafer Nalbant explains what the medical packaging manufacturer does to modernize its IT through AI, automation, and hybrid cloud. By Jens Dose Nov 29, 2023 6 mins CIO SAP ServiceNow feature Per Scholas redefines IT hiring by diversifying the IT talent pipeline What started as a technology reclamation nonprofit has since transformed into a robust, tuition-free training program that seeks to redefine how companies fill tech skills gaps with rising talent. By Sarah K. White Nov 29, 2023 11 mins Diversity and Inclusion Hiring news Saudi Arabia will host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh By Andrea Benito Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe