Apple Has Sold 100 Million iPod Touch Units Since 2007

Apple AAPL has told Mac and technology blog The Loop that it has sold more than 100 million iPod Touch units since the device was released in 2007. This announcement comes at a time when Apple has decided to quietly update the older and cheaper, 3.5-inch iPod Touch with a wider screen and a better processor. Retailing for $229, the "new" iPod Touch features 16GB of storage, a four-inch Retina Display, a dual-core A5 chip and a pair of Apple's popular earbuds replacement, known as EarPods. The product debuted today without a single press release. Oddly, Apple is barely promoting the fact that the cheaper iPod Touch comes with a front-facing camera. Instead, the company makes it crystal clear that customers will not receive the rear-facing 5MP iSight camera, nor will they receive the wrist lanyard that comes with the more expensive $299 model. In fact, when customers click on the product page for the new model, they will instantly notice that the company is also promoting the more expensive iteration. "Looking for iPod touch with iSight camera and loop?" the site asks with a link to "buy now." A Sign of Things to Come? Now that the iPod Touch has been refined for consumers with less cash, many investors are bound to wonder: is Apple finally ready to release a low-cost iPhone? Don't ask Tim Cook, the company's chief executive. As the leader of one of the most powerful tech companies in the world, Cook has many talents. He also happens to be an expert at avoiding tough questions. When AllThingsD's Walt Mossberg asked Cook about the possibility of multiple iPhone models being produced, he beat around the bush until Mossberg moved on to another topic. Nonetheless, DigiTimes reported yesterday that Apple is making a low-cost iPhone. While that publication is frequently wrong (its supply chain sources are often intriguing but their accuracy is below 50 percent), it is one of many reports claiming that Apple will sell a cheaper iPhone. Today's quiet announcement indicates that Apple is willing to explore the possibility, but that does not mean it will happen anytime soon. Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at 248-636-1322 or louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ