AfterDawn: News

AT&T cleans up on the iPhone 4S

It appears AT&T may be have been the biggest beneficiary of a record iPhone launch last weekend. Sales of the new Apple smartphone topped 4 million units in the first 3 days.

Yesterday AT&T said they had already activated more than 1 million iPhone 4Ses already. The announcement came during their quarterly earnings call.



Although they haven't released specific numbers, Sprint reported record sales less than half way through the day the new iPhone went on sale.

Verizon also hasn't released sales figures, but we should know more after their earnings call which is scheduled for today. Don't be surprised if those numbers are less impressive.

Unlike AT&T, who was the exclusive US iPhone carrier until last February, Verizon sold their first iPhones earlier this year. That should translate into fewer immediate upgrades from the iPhone 4, and obviously none from earlier iPhones.

That may, however, be a good thing for Apple. It could mean steadier US iPhone sales through next year, with Verizon customers upgrading later.

Since the iPhone 4S lacks LTE capability, which means it won't be able to take full advantage of Verizon's 4G data network, some Verizon customers may even wait for the next iPhone upgrade in the hopes LTE support will be added.

But if previous iPhone launches are any indication, those people will likely be in the minority.

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 21 Oct 2011 3:52

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• 6 comments

• KillerBug

  They say a sucker is born every minute...that is 1440 suckers a day, 381,600 suckers a year...based on that, there should be 12,211,200 suckers between the ages of 18 and 50...so they still have 8 million more people to sell one of these things to.
  

  
  

  21.10.2011 04:53 #1

• robertmro

  Originally posted by KillerBug: They say a sucker is born every minute...that is 1440 suckers a day, 381,600 suckers a year...based on that, there should be 12,211,200 suckers between the ages of 18 and 50...so they still have 8 million more people to sell one of these things to. You reek of pointless hate.
  I pity you.
  

  21.10.2011 09:19 #2

• plutonash

  yeah its just a phone, not something that defines you. Unlike a lot of my friends who have gone through a good number of android replacements. I've had the same iphone for a good 2 years with no problems at all. There's a reason why they have a such a strong fan base even though specs wise a there not always up to par. I appreciate android and I like the freedom of it but I'm not gonna worship them over it.
  

  "Cable thief is a victimless crime."

  21.10.2011 10:32 #3

• Notcow

  Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by KillerBug: They say a sucker is born every minute...that is 1440 suckers a day, 381,600 suckers a year...based on that, there should be 12,211,200 suckers between the ages of 18 and 50...so they still have 8 million more people to sell one of these things to. You reek of pointless hate.
  I pity you. I only see very well-placed hate, my iPhone 4S owning friend.
  

  21.10.2011 22:38 #4

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by plutonash: yeah its just a phone, not something that defines you. Unlike a lot of my friends who have gone through a good number of android replacements. I've had the same iphone for a good 2 years with no problems at all. There's a reason why they have a such a strong fan base even though specs wise a there not always up to par. I appreciate android and I like the freedom of it but I'm not gonna worship them over it. You must define problems different than others...and you must be very careful...everyone I know who has had any version of iPhone has had screen problems and issues with iTunes. One of my coworkers dropped his phone less than 3 feet off of a desk (right in front of me...I saw it happen) and the screen shattered into a million tiny pieces...I dropped my 1st-gen droid from ear level (about 6 feet) and the only problem was a small scuff on the case (and it landed face down). I don't know anyone who has had their android phone drop a call because they were, "Holding it wrong" either.
  
  I don't hate apple...it might sound like I do because I bash most of their products, but I just hate their products, and some of the policies applied to them. Don't get me wrong...if an iPhone4S was $50 with contract, it might be worth it...for that price you expect to sacrifice 4G, a good screen, a fast processor, and maybe even basic software like Flash...but for $300 with contract it is a scam, especially with the iPhone5 right around the corner.
  

  
  

  22.10.2011 00:22 #5

• plutonash

  In a lot of ways I agree with you. IMO unless you need a smartphone any superphone this year isn't really worth it especially now with quad core phones and 2nd gen battery efficient LTE chips around the corner. There is always TMobile which have a great selection of phones. I'm not blind that there is a design flaw, but AT&T coverage is actually so good in my area I don't drop calls when "holding it wrong" I realize this isn't the case for everyone. I don't really deal with iTunes, I have mine jailbroken so I use dtunes and other apps.
  
  I also wouldn't justify getting the 4S at all. Cuz apple is rushing to get the 5 out and what's the point? Not only does it show I'm a die hard apple fanboy but one that can't even show it off to my peers bc it looks like the 4. I have a very thorough list of things that need to be in the 5 for me to stay with apple. If not I'll be happy to finally transition to android now that's matured even further.
  

  "Cable thief is a victimless crime."

  22.10.2011 01:20 #6