Low iPhone supply may signal upgrade

SAN FRANCISCO. Apple Inc. says its online stores in the U.S. and U.K. are sold out of the iPhone, a sign supplies are being winnowed ahead of the launch of the device’s next generation that will feature faster Internet surfing speeds.

The company has confirmed that the iPhone is out of stock online, but added that brick-and-mortar stores run by Apple and iPhone carriers including AT&T Inc. might still have units available.

Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined to comment on reasons for the shortage and on Apple’s plans for an update to the device, which is widely expected to be unveiled in June at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

The news came on the same day Research In Motion introduced its first major new BlackBerry model in more than a year: the Bold, a high-end model that further demonstrates the company’s desire to make tools for both work and play.

The Bold, or 9000, has twice the screen resolution of the current Curve model, making for a very sharp display. It matches the resolution, but not the size, of the screen on Apple’s iPhone, which has emerged as a potent competitor in the “smart phone” category.

AT&T Inc. yesterday said it would be the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Bold.