REPORT: NEWEST IPHONE MODEL COSTS $179 TO MAKE

(AP) --  Research firm iSuppli says Apple Inc.'s latest iPhone costs just a few dollars more to make than the previous model.
That analysis comes despite the new iPhone 3GS having new features like a better camera and video-recording capabilities. 

ISuppli said Wednesday that its breakdown of the 3GS indicates the smaller 16-gigabyte model costs $178.96, mostly for parts, including $24 for flash memory. ISuppli estimates manufacturing is $6.50 of that amount. 

The new iPhone costs $199 or $299, depending on its storage capacity, when purchased with a new two-year service contract from AT&T Inc. 

An earlier teardown by iSuppli estimated that the 8-gigabyte iPhone 3G cost $174.33 to build. At the time, it cost $199 with a new two-year contract. It now costs $99. 

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