Additional evidence of an 8GB iPhone 3GS unit replacing the US$99 8GB iPhone 3G has emerged.
Per Electronista, a German customer who purchased a refurbished 8GB iPhone 3G found a label on the back that said “iPhone 3GS v2.2, 8GB.” The model number, A1241, and part number, MB490DN/A, are identical to the existing iPhone 3G, but other materials on the packaging reference an 8GB iPhone 3GS.
Apple currently offers its lowest capacity 16GB iPhone 3GS model for US$199 with a two-year AT&T contract. The unit sports a fast PowerVR SGX GPU core that supports Open GL ES 2.0, which the existing $99 iPhone 3G cannot do.
Recent reports have said Apple has scheduled a special media event for Jan. 26, 2010. New products are expected to be announced at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Calif.
During the company’s earnings report in October, Chief Operations Officer Tim Cook noted that the $99 iPhone 3G did not impact sales of the high-end iPhone 3GS. In fact, he said, that demand for the iPhone 3GS exceeded the company’s expectations. The average selling price of iPhones last quarter stood at over US$600, demonstrating gravitation towards the iPhone 3GS.