Apple in Asian iPhone deals; device sold out online

By Scott Hillis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc has signed deals to bring the iPhone to Singapore, India, Australia and the Philippines this year, which should help the company surpass its sales goal of 10 million units by the end of 2008.

Also on Monday, Apple's online store listed the iPhone as "unavailable", a possible sign that the company is reducing inventory before the unveiling of an updated version of the device, expected next month.

"I do believe it's a sign of potential product change, but also on a more basic level, Apple clearly underestimated demand for the iPhone," said American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu, who raised his profit estimates for Apple.

Expectations are high that Apple will unveil a faster model of the iPhone next month, a year after the product first went on sale in the United States with wireless partner AT&T Inc.

Furthering its push abroad, Apple said deals with Singapore Telecommunications Ltd and three of its affiliates to expand the reach of the iPhone in Asia.

Bharti Airtel Ltd, India's top mobile operator, will carry the iPhone in the world's fastest-growing wireless market, which already has more than 260 million mobile users. SingTel owns more than 30 percent of Bharti Airtel.

SingTel unit Optus will offer the iPhone in Australia, and Globe Telecom will be the Philippine partner. Globe Telecom is owned by SingTel and domestic conglomerate Ayala Corp.

An Apple spokeswoman said the iPhone would make its debut in those countries "later this year," and declined to comment on plans to bring the iPhone to Japan and China.