A post today at iLounge suggests that a close analysis of Apple's sales numbers for iPhone, contrasted with AT&T activation stats, leads to a somewhat surprising conclusion: somewhere between 30 and 35 percent of all iPhones sold worldwide are being sold to users who intend to unlock them, or possibly to middlemen who are shipping the phones to countries not yet serviced by Apple and its carrier partners.While there wasn't a hard number on the most recent results conference call, the Q4 call indicated that 250,000 phones had already been sold to unlockers, by Apple's estimate. Clearly, there's demand out there for iPhone outside the exclusive carrier relationships.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-24-2008 @ 2:14PM
fooyork said...
Where is the 1.1.3 unlock? I want to buy an iPhone to use on Orange (UK)...
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 5:24PM
Frankie said...
Yeah I want to buy an iPhone but there not available in the U.S. for purchase thru T-Mobile. SO yes I would be one of this 1.3 million customer to buy a iPhone unlock it to work on T-mobile Network. Apple needs to hurry up the process to make it at least usable for T-mobile customers at well as T-mobile uses a Sim card as well...
1-24-2008 @ 2:44PM
Russell said...
Who is this surprising to? Is this any different than the numbers that people have been going on about for the last few months?
The stats I want to see are how many are jailbroken. Since its basically a shiny overpriced cell phone until you do that. Not to say that people have a history of making rational decisions when it comes to shiny things...
I'm just back from checking out this Microsoft truck thing that was supposed to be demoing all of their "new technology". They have this one really neat looking new technology (although I would swear I read about it somewhere once) called Windows Vista that makes windows shiny, and has a special feature called a "crash" built in that keeps people from spending too much time using their computers. It also runs really slow so that people can keep up with what the computer is doing. I just wish Apple could innovate like that.
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 2:45PM
cashmonee said...
So this is considered news? Some guy doing some math without all of the real numbers?
First, no one really knows what the European numbers actually are, they could be much lower or higher. Second, if I remember correctly, when Apple says 3.7 million sold, they are referring to units shipped, not units in consumer hands. Finally, there is no mention of how Apple counts defective phones/returned phones.
The point is that while the 35% number may be right, we have no way of really knowing since the numbers given don't show the whole picture.
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 2:53PM
Phil said...
well thats an unrealistic number
its looking at WORLDWIDE sales and only looking at AT&T (and therefore US) activation
what about o2, orange and tmobile activations?
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 3:12PM
Billy K said...
Specious. Doubtful. Unlikely.
In other news, someone once said it was highly likely I will become King of Pangea and marry a beautiful Snow Princess.
It was on the internets! It has to be true!
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 3:18PM
mvan said...
Well they are all sales for apple, pity apple did not wake up to the fact that not everybody wants to enter a poor contract deal just to get an iphone. Hope the next version is offically sold outside the networks, then watch sales soar........
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 4:46PM
Marlon said...
You think like a consumer and not a businessman. What's better, continual revenue or a one time purchase? Apple gets a kickback for each data plan someone has on their AT&T iPhone. If I invented a product, you bet your patent I'd want as much out of it as possible. Wouldn't you?
The majority of people trying to unlock their iPhones are people who want to be cheap. I hardly believe some people love T-Mobile/Verizon/Boost/etc. so much that they are dying to use their phone on their networks.
I don't see why people constantly get butt hurt about cell-phone contracts. It's not like a gym membership where you might just stop going for months at a time. You're GOING to use your phone almost every day. If you're going to be using it, who cares whether or not your in a contract? Price? All the leading carriers are VERY similar in price points. The only time not wanting to be locked in with a carrier, is if they have bad service in your area.
However, I don't think that's the case for most unlockers.
1-24-2008 @ 4:42PM
Pete from Switzerland said...
Could well be. In Switzerland media report 10'000 iPhones in use already - although it isn't even available here. And Switzerland has only 7 million inhabitants...
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 5:09PM
mvan said...
@Marlon, "...I don't see why people constantly get butt hurt about cell-phone contracts....",
Well its not quite the same in the UK, the min deal we can get for an iphone is 900 pounds! Thats 270 for the phone and 35 pounds per month for 18 months. Plus the O2 deal has below average text msgs and voice mins included compared to other deals. I would love an iphone but its difficult to justify these costs, on another network I get a well known Nokia for free along with above avg voice mins/texts & unlimited data on 3.5G rates. This works out about 500 pounds cheaper! So bought an ipod touch instead....So roll on iphone rev 2 on 3.5G unlocked...
Reply
1-24-2008 @ 7:41PM
Jason G said...
From now on I expect 60% of iPhone stories to be unrelated to jailbreak/ unlocking. Can TUAW deliver...
Reply
1-26-2008 @ 11:10AM
David D said...
For thos of us in Canada, there is absolutely no alternative. It's a good thing that the SDK is due out soon, as it will make unlocking much easier (no Jailbreak needed to install the unlock patch). In fact, after the SDK ships, I bet the 30% will climb even higher. I'd be thrilled to have a 'legal' iPhone, but there's no sign of that any time soon.
Reply