An iPhone launch is goldmine for pundits. If they weren’t satisfied with predictions and rumors about upcoming iPhone design and specs, they now have the sales figures to play with. Apple has already gone on record to claim that 1 million iPhone 4S were pre-ordered during the first 24 hours and that’s 400,000 more than what iPhone 4 did last year. Apple is surely happy, but analysts seem happier.
Apparently the claim is that Apple is all set to sell as many as 3 million iPhones in the opening weekend and thats with only a handful of countries selling the iPhone 4S to begin with. 22 more countries, including some in Asia would get the iPhone 4S shortly and the unlocked version would also go on sale soon (yes in US as well). So as the eagle eyed iPhone fans hunting for unlocked 4S in India eye the Singapore launch, we can rest assured that the momentum for 4S would be high throughout the quarter leading up to the holiday season. But here is another important bit.
An analyst T. Michael Walkley claims that Apple is doing well with the iPhone 4 and 3GS as well. Apple announced an 8GB version of iPhone 4 at the 4th October keynote and the same is priced at $99. The 16GB iPhone 4 sells at $150 and 32GB at $200 now. The 3GS on the other hand has gone free (all with a 2 yr contract)! Apple is offering iOS 5 upgrade for 3GS as well, thus keeping alive a 2 year old iPhone model. In India, the 3GS was recently lowered to Rs 19000 and the same is still considered a good buy by many.
Apple sold over 20 million iPhones last quarter and they appear on track to do over 25 million in the current quarter. While Android is selling more than every before, has Apple managed enough lead to hold on till the iPhone 5 becomes reality?