Do 188 Mysteriously Labeled Shipping Containers = 3G iPhones?

Import Genius is a site that gives "you instant access to real-time information on all the goods entering the United States each day." The idea is that by tracking what your competitors ship, you can get the drop on them.

Of course, you do have to pay for all this goodness (or get a free trial).

At any rate, Import Genius seems to think that some mysteriously labeled containers may be the first evidence of shipments of the 3G iPhone into the U.S. According to Import Genius, it's seen a "major spike" since mid March in ocean containers marked with a mysterious new label: "electric computers."

I must admit that's strange terminology, and as Import Genius notes,

“They have never before reported this product on their customs declarations. The fact that they are importing millions of units, combined with dwindling stocks of the first generation of iPhones, clearly supports the Citi analysts predictions.”

Of course, it doesn't take a genius, import or not, to see the signs of a new product launch. Steve Jobs' keynote at WWDC on June 9th, current-gen iPhones in short supply, restrictions on AT&T vacations ... it seems pretty likely we're going to get the launch withing the June - July timeframe.

And, as Import Genius says, it's seen 188 containers labeled "electric computers" shipped to Apple from two Asian suppliers, Hon Hai Precision Corp. and Quanta Computer, since March 19th, with no corresponding drop-off in deliveries using standard labels (such as "desktop computers.")

Or this could be 188 containers of party favors for WWDC; you decide.