Apple iPhone may be on the way

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Apple may release an iPhone within the first six months of next year, according to a published report.

Foxconn Electronics will make the music handset, said DigiTimes.com, which covers Taiwan IT companies, citing the Chinese-language newspaper Commercial Times.

The first shipment of 12 million units is reportedly to be released in the first half of 2007.

Apple was not immediately available for comment.

Apple launched a co-branded music phone with Motorola last year, but the phone, called the ROKR, didn't live up to expectations.

Many analysts have been expecting Apple (Charts) to launch its own iPhone next year, which would position the company against handset makers like Motorola (Charts) and Nokia (Charts).

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