iPhone

A record 7.4 million iPhones were sold in the third quarter of 2009. Analyst Brian Marshall is betting the fourth quarter will surpass everyone's expectations and predicts that Apple will see iPhone sales of 11.3 million units.

Marshall also raised his target for Apple shares to $260 each, making Broadpoint.AmTech's predictions the most optimistic on Wall Street. He believes that Apple is currently the best technology company on the planet.

For the first time, iPhones have taken a solid 50% share of global AdMob traffic. This means that iPhone users generate more requests more often than any other smartphone in the world.

This has been the case for some time, as the iPhone has consistently outperformed its actual hardware market share. Although iPhone users demand more bandwidth than average smartphone users, the platform also offers many apps with plenty of room for advertising.

Fans of other wireless carriers can rejoice. The end is near for AT&T's exclusive deal with Apple to offer the iPhone in the US. Broadpoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall claims the expiration date is June 2010.

AT&T is said to be in negotiations to extend the deal through 2011. The iPhone deal could be of even greater importance to the carrier since Verizon will have LTE (4G) technology up and running in 20-30 markets in 2010.

Watching some of the incredible videos posted on Vimeo is now possible using your iPhone. The video sharing site is working on H.264 encoding its content for mobile viewers. Until now, watching Vimeo content required a web browser with Flash.

For the time being a selection of staff picks and HD showcase videos are available using iPhone and Android devices, with more videos on the way. Vimeo is known for offering streaming video in 720p HD quality and banning commercial content.

Apple's offerings next summer will include a Verizon-only iPhone compatible with the carrier's CDMA network technology. Dual-mode chips, announced this week by Qualcomm, might not be ready for prime time in 2010. Neither will LTE network technology, which is expected to enter widespread service in 2011.

This leaves Apple with only one option to expand to the largest US carrier after their exclusive contract with AT&T ends next year. Build a Verizon Wireless compatible iPhone.