If Apple sells 500,000 iPhone 3G S units this weekend, as an analyst predicts, it would pale in comparison to the million iPhone Did Apple eat its own lunch by offering the iPhone 3G for a mere $99? Sales of the iPhone 3G S, which hits the shelves tomorrow, are expected to be lower than the iPhone 3G at its launch.At least, Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster thinks so. He predicts half a million iPhone 3G S units will be sold this weekend, which is still five times more than Palm reported for the Pre but only half of the million iPhone 3G units sold. Munster thinks iPhone 3G S sales will be less in the first weekend for a number of reasons: The iPhone 3G S costs $199, which is the same as the iPhone 3G when it first came out. But Munster says the iPhone 3G had a much higher value prop over the previous model (think: 3G!) than the iPhone 3G S does over the iPhone 3G – that is, the iPhone 3G S has a better camera, video and is faster but not much more. Thus, there will be “less of a surge in units at launch,” Munster says in a research note.Another reason iPhone 3G S sales won’t be as impressive as its predecessor’s sales, says Munster, is due to a limited launch. The iPhone 3G S will debut in eight countries, whereas the iPhone 3G launched in 21 countries. On the flip side, AT&T and Best Buy did sell out their pre-order allotments of the iPhone 3G S. Of course, Apple also ran out of iPhone 3Gs last year, as inventories were tight for weeks after the launch last summer.Are you buying an iPhone 3G S? Send me an email at tkaneshige@cio.com. Or follow me on Twitter @kaneshige. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline. Related content opinion Google Bigwig Eric Schmidt Posts Bizarre Guide for 'Converting to Android from iPhone' Google's Executive Chairman wants you to switch from iPhone to Android, and he posted a strange guide to help make the transition as smooth as possible. By Al Sacco Dec 09, 2013 2 mins Smartphones Android Operating Systems opinion Apple's 'Spaceship' Campus Evokes Jobs-Era Perfectionism Some facts have emerged about Apple's planned "spaceship" campus. Delayed and over-budget but painstakingly detailed, it's already part of Apple history, and makes CIO.com's Tom Kaneshige nostalgic for Steve Jobs' maniac By Tom Kaneshige Apr 05, 2013 3 mins Financial Services Industry Innovation IT Leadership opinion Apple, Where Art Thou? Apple is under siege and uncharacteristically running for cover amidst mounting competition and research reports favoring Android. By Tom Kaneshige Mar 12, 2013 2 mins Smartphones Tablets IT Leadership opinion Is Computer's Future a Glass House? According to Google and Corning, glass surfaces and eyeglasses are where we'll do our computing in the future. By Tom Kaneshige Mar 06, 2013 1 min Small and Medium Business Innovation Mobile 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