Is Apple Moving to a Semi-Annual Release Cycle for the iPhone, iPad?

It's being speculated that Apple may be moving to a semi-annual release cycle for its products which would see the iPhone and iPad receive one major and one minor update each year.

Former Apple CEO John Sculley tells CNBC:

"I think they're going through a very significant change now in terms of product cycles," Sculley explains. "Traditionally Apple introduces products once a year; now it's really introducing products twice a year. The complexity of that from a supply chain is immense, and Apple seems to be doing it well. So, I think that people are underestimating just how well Apple is run, and just how successful the company can be when it gets to that twice-a-year product introduction cycle."


Asymco analyst Horace Dediu follows up with a list of circumstantial evidence supporting the idea.

● All of the major products which Apple sells have been updated in the Fall.
● Launch ramp for iPhone steeper than ever.
● Consumer anticipation.
● Hon Hai production has shifted to locations closer to the sources of labor.
● Capital Expenditures de-coupled from volumes.
● Rumors of 5S products in pre-production.

Dediu notes that if Apple is not switching to a six month cycle "then there seems to be a lot of stress for no benefit." His more detailed analysis can be found at the link below.

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