AT&T activates 3.2 million iPhones in 3Q

Reports of trouble for AT&T's 3G network have done nothing to keep people from the iPhone in the U.S.

The nation's second largest wireless carrier announced third-quarter earnings Thursday morning that were full of iPhone goodness. AT&T (T) activated a record 3.2 million iPhones in 3Q, 40% of which went to people new to the company.

Wireless data was the supporting star of the show. Services such as messaging, Internet access and the like were up 33.6% from 3Q of 2008 to $3.6 billion. Data sales now account for 29.4% of AT&T's wireless revenue.

The company's earnings were relatively flat, having posted a profit of $3.2 billion, or 54 cents a share for 3Q '09 versus $3.23 billion or 55 cents a share for 3Q of '08. AT&T did, however, bring in enough to beat analyst expectations. The street was only looking for earnings of 50 cents a share.

[via MediaPost, Marketwatch]
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