Apple (AAPL) shares have been on a steady uphill climb recently, after hitting a low of $150 earlier in November. The holiday season is definitely one of the best times of year for this personal electronics company, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday proved to be a success for its hot products -- sales were above expectations and inventories weren't overtaxed. The iPhone made its debut in France with a bang the other week, as Apple hosted lavish parties at mobile carrier Orange's new store on the Champs Elysees. Apple is still struggling with French consumer law, which doesn't allow the phone to be sold through one carrier exclusively, but the strong demand shown by Parisians is a good indicator that sales will be big in the country. In the United States, a next-generation iPhone with 3G capabilities is likely to be released in 2008. The hip phone is already high on Santa's lists, and after the holiday season an upgrade will be one more reason for Apple enthusiasts to trade in their basic cell-phones and start surfing the net in style.