• Deutsche Bank’s Chris Whitmore said that despite a weaker economy, recent checks with over 30 Apple retail stores found “continued strong Mac demand,” with iPod demand “tracking roughly in line with expectations.” Combined with favorable NAND pricing, he thinks the company will deliver “modest near-term earnings upside.” Demand for the iPhone “remains healthy,” with five of the stores he checked stocked out. (Those stores were in New York, New Jersey, California and Minnesota.) He sees a 3G phone this summer, and thinks the 10 million unit forecast for calendar 2008 is conservative.
  • Friedman, Billings Ramsey’s Craig Berger says iPod build in the current quarter is “skewing more heavily to Shuffles.” Berger says March quarter iPhone build volumes “improved slightly versus prior checks, with June quarter volumes likely to “grow meaningfully” as the 3G iPhone ramps. He says Mac build volumes are improved versus previous checks. But he sees Mac production slowing in the June quarter following March quarter inventory replenishment. He says Apple has ordered over 11 million 3G iPhones, although he notes that Apple’s forecast to its suppliers is likely to be reduced over time.
  • Piper Jaffray’s Apple uber-bull Gene Munster today repeated his view that Apple can sell 45 million iPhones in calendar 2009. He sees a 3G iPhone in 3-6 months; and “an entire family of iPhones,” with 2-3 models, by January 2009. That group should include phones priced in the $200-$300 range, he says. He also says the international roll-out of the iPhone will double the addressable market every year for the next two years. He sees a roll-out in Japan in calendar 2008, possibly along with Canada, Mexico, Italy and Australia - with China rolling out in mid-2009.

Apple on Monday rose 49 cents, to $143.50.