Apple Conference Call: 3rd Quarter Results

I was just in time to listen to the Apple Financial Report (starting at 2:00 P.M. [PDT]) for the 3rd quarter results via Apple’s live conference call:

• Apple restated that this record breaking quarter for Macs was astonishing; with 2.5 million units being shipped out to consumers (which is a 41% growth).
• iPod shipments also grew with a 12% (10% in the U.S.) increase, which was led by the iPod Shuffle.
• iPhone sales were 717,000 during the quarter, which was much lower due to the supply demands that Apple ran into around mid-May. Peter Oppenhiemer, Apple’s CTO, said that things have certainly picked up since then, with 1 million iPhone 3Gs being sold worldwide, which will gradually speed up the iPhone’s market share.
• A new Apple product was also hinted by Oppenheimer, but he stated “he couldn’t get into it today”.
• Citigroup reps asked about the stronger and stronger relationship between Best Buy and Apple, seeing that Macs will be in 600 of U.S. Best Buy stores by the end of Q4.
• More than 25 million apps have been downloaded from the App Store.
• Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray asks: “Why do iPod Touch users have to pay to have their software upgraded?”. Oppenheimer responds to him with a short and simple answer stating that iPhone users will not have to pay for updates, but iPod touch and Mac users will.
• Tim Cook, Apple’s COO, during the conference that they will act “very aggressively” when it comes to defending iPhone patents like the touch screen.
• Peter Oppenheimer agreed that their was some iPod cannibalization from the iPhone, but  they would rather cannibalize themselves then have somebody else do it for them.
• A question about the difference between the iPhone and iPhone competitors sparked Mr. Oppenheimer to say that the iPhone is very unique in software design and with its touch screen features. The App Store, which is provided for both the iPhone and the iPod touch, is another key feature that is make the iPhone a major success for Apple.
• Lastly, someone asked a question during the beginning of the question period in regards to Steve Jobs’ health. Oppenheimer said that Jobs does not have any plans to leave Apple and that his health is a private matter.

Wow! Lots of stuff to dig into there. What I am really jumpy about is the “hinted new product”. Other than that, Apple looks to be striving! Hopefully the iPhone will catch up to its brother and sisters. Long live Apple! If you wish to listen to the conference call, please go here (link will not be updated until 5 P.M. [PDT]). Feel free to comment.