New iPhones to premiere only after WWDC?

Apple may not expose any new iPhones at this year’s WWDC keynote, claims Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. Although an announcement of new hardware is anticipated by most analysts and the media, Munster argues that wording in Apple’s keynote press release may have been deliberately geared to alter expectations. The company may instead focus on Mac OS X Snow Leopard at WWDC, despite the operating system’s distance from release.

This from Appleinsider:

While all eyes are on Apple’s annual developers conference as a likely forum for new iPhone hardware announcements, one Wall Street analyst is advising clients that better bets may be placed on an event a few weeks later that may also mark the return of Steve Jobs.

In a note to clients, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said he believes a press release from Apple on Wednesday regarding its WWDC keynote plans suggests the event will largely focus around software and may have even been drafted as such to reset expectations for the conference.

“As indicated in today’s press release, we believe Apple will focus on the new version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard at WWDC,” he wrote. “While some investors may be expecting Apple to launch redesigned iPhones at WWDC, we do not anticipate the launch in early June.”

Instead, Munster is placing his money on a surprise media event that would take place sometime in late June or early July following Jobs’ return. He believes the event will be used to usher in a new “family” of iPhones, including a cheaper model that he sees playing into Apple’s strategy for the Chinese cell phone market which could materialize by September.

source:appleinsider|macnn