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iPhone analysts apparently just woke up yesterday.

With the glut of media coverage leading up to the iPhone release, some media outlets are just publishing "anything about the iPhone."

I just came across this iPhone analyst story and it got so many things wrong, I just had to pick it apart. Granted I'm looking at it from the long view and these people are probably just spouting off at the mouth. But that won't make this any less fun.

Apple Inc. [portion snipped] faces a crowded and competitive market in taking on established cell phone makers. Global phone makers such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson and LG Electronics Inc. already sell music phones that the iPhone will challenge, while Research In Motion Ltd.'s Blackberry e-mail device is loved by professionals.

Right, except none of them offer a music player/e-mail device that does both well, with a lot of storage to boot and a web browser that works.

"The iPhone has Harry Potter consumer interest, but it's not going to have Harry Potter sales because it's a premium device," said Strategy Analytics analyst David Kerr, referring to author J.K. Rowling's blockbuster series about a boy wizard.

But Dave, the iPhone is Windows ready and what about all the premium devices that are already selling well? Blackberrys, Nokia's Nseries, and others are all doing well, which means a premium priced, multi-function phone is in demand. If you look at how Blackberrys started out. First as something businesses bought for their executives and sales teams, then did very well selling direct to consumers. The slick iPhone is surely enticing both these markets already. The first 2 million iPhones may not sellout on Friday, but expect well over 3 million units out there before we ring in 2008.

"If Apple was to come out with a $150 device, that's what would scare the heck out of Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung (Electronics Co. Ltd.) and LG," said Kerr.

I'm guessing that'll happen around July 2009 (when the exclusive deal with AT&T ends).

"The Sony marketing dollars and their touch-screen approach will be a strong competitor to the iPhone on the multimedia side," said Kerr.

Wow. Not only has someone not been paying attention to the iPhone, they've also been totally ignoring the downhill side that Sony has been taking. If Sony's recent shake up works, then sure, they have a chance to come out with something to rival the iPhone. But they'd have to turn their back on their ages old practice of proprietary software, hardware, cords, plugs, discs, memory cards, etc. I'm thinking the Devil will be making snowballs before that happens.

Ah, that was fun. I wonder where they dig up these people.