Supply chain report: 15 million iPhone 3Gs forecast for 2008

It was mid-May the last time FBR Capital Market analyst Craig Berger checked with his contacts in Apple's supply chain, and what he heard then was bad news: orders for iPhones for the second quarter had just been been cut 25%.

But FBR went back to those same sources earlier this month, and on Thursday he and Robert Pikover reported "big positive revisions" in Apple's so-called build forecast.

"Our latest checks show forecasted calendar 3Q and 2008 iPhone build volumes have been revised significantly higher, with more than 15 million 3G iPhones plus two million old 2G iPhones forecast for 2008," they wrote in a note to clients.

Apple's official target is to sell 10 million iPhones in 2008.

In other Apple (AAPL) supply chain news, Berger and Pikover report:

• More iPods: iPod builds were revised up 15% since their last report, with strong Classic and Nano builds offsetting slighly lower iPod touch builds -- a surprise given the number of iPod touches being given away this summer in back-to-school sales.
• New iPods: "We hear a new, lower priced Nano may be coming, as well as refreshed versions of the Touch and Classic," they write.
• More Macs: Apple's 3Q notebook and desktop build volumes were revised up by 10% and 20%, respectively.

In summary, they like what they hear:

"For Apple, the firm continues to knock the cover off the ball in terms of product innovation, sleek designs, attractive price points, and effective global deployment plans. These checks confirm Apple's product cycle momentum continues to gain steam."

Via Seeking Alpha and Silicon Alley Insider.