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In the world of superlatives that Apple and only Apple could inhabit, today saw the passing of a milestone—there are now over 1,000 applications available for download from the AppStore. In the mothership's growing panoply of iPhone-flavored statistics, this is a superficially unremarkable feat (we've already accepted the AppStore as unassailable part of the Apple liturgy). Another number now looms on the horizon, or perhaps it's almost upon us already—10,000,000 iPhones sold. With news that the company shifted 1-million handsets in the 3G version of the device's first three days, Apple put analyst and punter minds at ease—it's a done deal. However, with endless chatter about apps that rock and / or suck, as well as MobileMe service that's decidedly not pushy, not to mention morbid murmurings about Steve's health (or lack thereof), no one's bothered to discuss when Apple would hit their first full-year sales goal. Ars Technica has picked up this cudgel, and with the aid of a little back of the matchbook math, informs us that as of July 13 Apple had sold a combined total of 7.124-million 2G and 3G iPhones. They also reckon, what with iPhone demand raging unabated here in the US and the addition of France to the list of countries where the device is available, that Apple has likely sold another 1-million units since then. Further, with back-to-school buying and Apple promising iPhone availability in another 40-plus countries before year's end, not to mention holiday shopping season upside to consider, the question of just how many will be sold begs an answer, too. Bank of America analyst Scott Craig has gone on the record to say Apple will sell something well north of 20-million handsets this year. So, you're a betting man. When will Apple announce that it's sold 10-million iPhones (ie next week?) and how many will the company sell this year? I'm thinking 25-million for the year and an announcement within the next two weeks... What's your take?
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