One Million iPhone 3Gs in First Weekend; Is That Good or Bad?
This morning Apple press released the fact that the one millionth iPhone 3G was sold on Sunday. One million, hmm. This is a pretty big number indeed and it certainly is quite an amazing feat. If we stop to think for a moment, was this really an accomplishment that Apple should be bragging about? According to Apple dictator Steve Jobs, it took 74 days to sell the first million units when the gen1 iPhone was released so clearly the iPhone 3G is selling faster. About a year ago however, Apple and AT&T combined to push a reported 700,000 first generation iPhones during its premier weekend. Oh by the way, the original iPhone was launched in the US only. Also if you recall, last year the iPhone was released at 6:00 pm as opposed to the iPhone 3G which was made available at 8:00 am this past Friday. Let’s look at the reported numbers side by side:
- 2007: iPhone launches Friday evening in the US only, sells around 700,000 units by COB Sunday
- 2008: iPhone 3G launches Friday morning in 21 countries, sells 1,000,000 units by COB Sunday
So basically Apple launched the iPhone 3G in 20 additional countries this time around, added about 12 daytime hours to their ‘opening weekend’ and saw a total approximate sales boost of only around 43%. Hmm. Some might say that’s not so great. No, it’s not an “epic fail” but these numbers are nowhere near impressive when compared to last year considering the hype and additional global availability of the iPhone 3G. Clearly activation difficulties made a huge dent in this weekend’s sales and we wouldn’t be surprised if these numbers are well below Apple’s internal projections.
UPDATE: Sorry, fellas. We had wrong numbers for the 2007 launch. Apple sold around 250,000 units in the launch weekend last year.
It’s a SUPPLY and Distribution issue. If they had the stock they could have sold 2, 3, 4 Million this weekend. Every AT$T store in the county was sold out in less than 2 hours on Friday. Apple’s not stupid. They’re trying to optimize the profit per phone. They get an extra $100 for each phone they activate. Why give AT$T (or other carriers) more than a token amount when you can sell all that you have at the Apple stores? Same probably holds true for the overseas carriers. Let’s watch how quickly the Apple stores get resupplied (and the quantities) compared to the carriers.
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I think many are missing the point. It took 74 days for Apple to sell 1 million iPhones last year. It now only took them 3 days. But heres the kicker, they could a sold a whole lot more than that if they had the supply. Alot of folks in the U.K. said that they were only 20 iPhones available at launch. That’s peanuts. Wait till Apples ramps it’s shipments.
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How on earth can they sell so many (even globally) when it takes 4 hours to get one in New York’s “Flagship” store? AT&T stores are sold out and the process of buying at an Apple store is a farce. The beauty of the Apple store is you can waltz in any other time and buy an item on the spot with any employee on the floor. Then they email you a receipt. Now its like going to the post office the day before xmas.
I would love one but who has 4 hours?
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@ PatrickC
Forget pushing out a low price. Rim needs to push out a freakin’ phone. They are leaking stuff like crazy trying to keep people from defecting to the iphone but sooner or later they need to put phones on the shelves. Preferably sooner, as my old 8700 has a cracked screen and is ready to be put out to pasture.
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TheGrey wrote: “No. they only sold 250k the first weekend in 07.”
BGR, what happened to this site? There used to be intelligent tech writing here. Now it’s a 2 digit, MacSux T-Shirt wearing gamer/hater site.
As theGrey said, they sold 250K gen-1 phones in the first weekend. Where did you get 700,000?? You’ve been around long enough to know that number is BS.
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i calk that claim up to zach you can tell his post reek of apple fanboyism an clearly he dosn’t do his homework
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Charlie said:
The real number to look at is when does the iphone stop being “cool”. 20% of the market? 30% 80%
Charile: I understand what your saying here but think about it. The iPhone isn’t another Blackberry or feature phone that goes obsolete with the release of another. The first gen iPhones got the same kick ass software upgrade that the 3G device got. It’s like a whole new device. The iPhone isn’t like a Razor or other gimmicky feature phone. It’s nearly a tablet PC in your pocket.
If 80% of the world carried this phone, it would not become “uncool”. That’s like saying that the MacBook Pro is not cool because so many people have it now. It’s not about “cool”. It’s about a truly functional, usefual, stable device that you can use for years to come for a multitude of tasks. It’s a corporate work tool, a gaming platform, and a social networking device all in one. How could that not be cool no matter how many people carry it.
If 80% of the world carried it, you don’t have to worry about it going obsolete. There will be tons of apps and accessories for a sucessful device. We’ll still be using our iPhones when the Instinks and Dare’s are gathering dust in a junk drawer somewhere, replaced by the latest Treo or Crapberry device.
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Should be “boydipshitreport.com”
Get your numbers right you retard. lol
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I got mine. It’s hard to get use to typing on it. BTW my Peral sim card works on the Iphone :). I guess I’ll be paying the $175 to cancel the contract and use the BB and the Devil phone.
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And I want my BOLD now!!
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yeah talk the bold over the ibrick anyday
@ evil homer theres better umpc”s out there the iphone doesn’t even count as a umpc let alone a smartphone and odds are you won’t see 80% marketshare it’s a PC/windows/linux world as long as apple refuses to have the word “interoperability” in their vocabulary that will never be the case.
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I want my iPhone NOW. Waiting for AT&T to ship me one. Anyone have a guess when it will come in? Ordered if on 7/11.
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Anonymous,
Did Apple not add in 3G, GPS as well as enabling applications for V2? Show me a phone that has EVERY single solitary feature EVERYONE on the planet wants. Hrm? How about one that has a multi-touch capable screen? Thought so…
Furthermore, I am not a fanboy. I too will be purchasing the blackberry bold. A phone lasts me about 6 months before I’m bored of it.
Also, did you know that before last year, Apple never made a phone before? WOW, stunning revelation, I know.
You are probably just callous because you can’t afford one, or mommy and daddy won’t buy it for your 12th birthday. Life sucks kid.
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like someone mentioned before each iphone sold is not a blackberry and not using a blackberry plan. it can only get worse for RIM. Unless the Bold is 200 after rebate there wont be much left. The longer the iphone sits on our self with no remote competition the more customers look at the iphone as a legit phone opportunity. After this phone expect the nano version to be 100 or maybe even free, all we can do is speculate. God forbid apple turns out a Pay as you go version of the iphone. The phone is always the gimmick the real sale is going to be the data plans thats where ATT makes the most money the easiest
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Well, to me it’s good because the consumers aren’t as stupid everywhere else and actually give a shit about what they’re spending they’re money on.
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@ jeff bthis is true not every consumer is not an isheep zombie apples jedi mind tricks don’t work on everybody
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@dig dog
I second everything you said! Thanks man…
And the drinks are on me!!
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@Evilhomer
lmfao…you think that Apple has a “gaming platform”? Wow…that’s probably the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.
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WHY IS IT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE SAMSUNG OMNIA? IT APPEARS TO ME THAT IT IS MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED THAN THE I-PHONE.
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JUST CHECKING YOU OUT
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@Michaele
They distributed numbers based on buying trend per location. Some stores got more units than others because some stores are higher volume. Lots of people I know went to a store completely out of their way just to get to a smaller line. The smaller stores get smaller numbers. How are they to predict demand accurately for EACH location in the US in a situation where the demand for the phone is high? Over stocking a store is no good because it leaves others short. There is no magical “produce this” button when it comes to business they try to distribute well. People saying Jobs BLEW it for their area are people who know absolutely nothing of business.
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BTW who won the fracking iphone giveaway?
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ONLY 1 million? wtf! Its not like we’re talking about $12 Lil Wayne CDs.
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Another gem from Zach..
Apple sold 400k 3g iPhones in the US according to Piper Jaffray.. From 250k to 400k with a clusterfuxed release.. Good IMO.
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oh so only of an increasd of 150k units thats not even close to half a mil id say the numbers are seriously exagerated zach dose your old man trade oil on the comodities market?
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