After both AT&T and Apple reported strong performance in 2007, you'd think it would be a time of celebrations for market-weary analysts.  However, discrepancies in the figures each company has presented are leading to head-scratching and an increasing number of questions.  Apple has announced total iPhone sales of 3.7 million across the US and their European carrier partners; AT&T revealed yesterday that they sold 2 million of the handsets in 2007.  With estimated European sales - likely something of a sore point at Cupertino - figured to be between 300,000 and 400,000, that leaves 1.3 million iPhones unaccounted for.

Analysts are sceptical that so many iPhones will have been sold and subsequently unlocked, and so the current opinion leans toward the idea of retailers maintaining stockpiles of unsold handsets.  Apple has reportedly downgraded their manufacturing demands in light of underwhelming European sales, and many users believe a 3G version of the iPhone is relatively imminent and as such are holding off signing a new two-year contract.

Neither Apple nor AT&T have commented on the matter.

[via PHONE Mag]