iPhone Sales Numbers Confusing Investors
Papers are reporting that Apple's stock took a beating yesterday, thanks to reports that AT&T says they only signed up 146,000 iPhones to eager Apple fans. That's a far cry from the expected demand for the thing, and less than half the figure many analysts said had been sold. Some had indicated Apple sold a massive 500,000 phones, but it seems those numbers were from the first few days to a week of iPhone sales. Meanwhile, today's earning report is said to only include the first two days of the iPhone being on sale. It seems people are comparing numbers from different periods and comparing AT&T sign-ups with overall sales.
Investors expect that iPhone demand will gradually build up over time, similar to how the iPod started as a curiosity and eventually turned into a must-have accessory. Also, AT&T is reporting that 40% of all new subscribers during that quarter were signing up just to get an iPhone, and that they're likely to spend a lot on data access fees (and potentially roaming fees), perhaps indicating AT&T's costly five-year exclusivity deal was in fact a good idea.
So, iPhone: huge or hype? The jury's still out ...
What do you think?
From 'The New York Times'
Related Links:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
IckyShuffle @ Jul 25th 2007 1:22PM
Note that AT&T had massive activation issues on the opening weekend, so their numbers aren't reliable as far as iPhone SALES are concerned. Just like everyone else, you've jumped on the first fact that comes along, even though news like this is in AT&T's best interests; their other phones have higher margins. If they can steal buzz from the iPhone (which really is the best phone on the market. Period.) then they can sell more Suckberries.
Bob @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:14PM
146,000 units verified versus the 1/2- to 1-million hyped.
We are supposed to believe that after a year of Apple iHype, AT&T is "iPhone activation-challenged" as reason why there's 354,000 to 854,000 AWOL units still trying to activate.
Sure, iBelieve.....
uhmazing @ Aug 8th 2007 6:47PM
the iphone is nothing but a large ipod. horrible phone.