Only two Apple iPhone models i.e. the 3GS and iPhone 4 were being sold by carriers in the US in Q3 2011. While iPhone 3GS was being sold by one, the iPhone 4 was being sold by two of the four major carriers in the United States. Although Apple sold lesser iPhone’s than predicted by analysts in Q3, it still managed to comprise almost 50% of the combined sales of Verizon Wireless and AT&T, two of the top carriers in the US, no mean feat considering the increasingly stiff competition posed by other leading manufacturers especially from the Android camp.
Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T had good third quarters with Verizon generating a revenue of $27.91 billion and AT&T garnering beyond 100 million subscribers, their first ever. Both Verizon and AT&T recorded impressive Smartphone sales as well at 5.6 and 4.8 million units respectively; of which Apple’s iPhone accounted for 2 million out of 5.6 million at Verizon and 2.7 million out of 4.8 million at AT&T; an average of just over 45% in sales of both the carriers, which is more than decent numbers to show off.
In Q4 both Verizon and AT&T are joined by Sprint and the three will combine to sell three iPhone models which includes the iPhone 3GS for free and the iPhone 4 on contract at $99 with all the three carriers and the iPhone 4S at $399.
The iPhone 4S has already managed to sell more than 4 million units in a mere week in just the seven markets it was made available at that time. The Siri laden iPhone 4S gave Sprint the best ever sales day on October 14th and AT&T has already managed to activate more than 1 million iPhone’s in its first week of sales. Though these stats are really good, they become even better when you consider that the iPhone 4S was termed as a disappointment.
Thus the fact remains that from here on, even if Apple iPhone sales decline it is likely to sell at least more than half of all the smartphones to be sold in the fourth quarter.
Source: BGR