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iPhone 3G switchers not as prevalent as with first

updated 04:50 pm EDT, Tue July 22, 2008

iPhone 3G switchers


While Apple claims to have sold 1 million iPhone 3Gs during the device's opening weekend, metrics appear to show that AT&T did not earn as many switchers as the first time around, and even indicate that the company may have lost as many customers as it gained. Engadget reveals that it obtained data regarding the number of ports in and out from T-Mobile in the US, as it was observed by a national wholesaler, which indicates out that T-Mobile gained as many customers as it lost to and from AT&T during the 3G launch.

In addition, of 1000 ports, T-Mobile saw only 40-percent of the lost users go to AT&T, versus 70-percent on the release date of the original iPhone. While the numbers give insight into market trends, the results of one retailer are hardly conclusive as an overall view of the issue.


by MacNN Staff

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 iPhone, industry, 3G, T-Mobile, AT&T

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  1. Ashari

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2003

    -15
    07/22, 05:05pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Disaster!

    This whole iPhone 3G release has been an unmitigated disaster!

    I live in the Charlotte, NC area, which is a big metropolitan area where a lot of people have a lot of money. 2nd largest banking center in the US, yadda yadda yadda. You'd think that Apple would flood the AT&T stores and the local Apple store with so many phones that they couldn't possibly sell out.

    Well, they didn't. All AT&T stores in the area were sold out of the iPhone 3G on Saturday, the day after the release. They were willing to help me "order one", but I didn't bother, thinking that I could just go the Apple store to buy one.

    Nope, wrong. The Apple Store is now sold out. I tried TWICE to wait in line to get it, but they rang out of stock before I made it to the door.

    Apple has totally botched this release, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

  1. njfuzzy

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2001

    +6
    07/22, 05:13pm | report spam | Reply |

    Ashari

    Your whole reaction sounds like sour grapes. If this was botched, they wouldn't have sold enough. Instead, they sold as many as they could produce. That's a good release!

  1. eldarkus

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2004

    +4
    07/22, 05:17pm | report spam | Reply |

    Ashari

    And it's not like they only released it in the US... Like njfuzzy said - they sold as many as they could produce!

  1. fletcher

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2005

    +2
    07/22, 05:32pm | report spam | Reply |

    Switchers

    It wouldn't be too surprising that most people who wanted to switch to AT&T for the iPhone had already done so. I know several people who are waiting out their contracts before switching to AT&T. The launch of the 3G iPhone renews their interest, but doesn't shorten their contract period.

    As for botching the launch. I find that buying Apple's products is easier if you just wait until you see a big stack of them when you visit the store. Give it a few weeks and you'll probably be able to walk in and buy an iPhone without any hassle.

    However, i thought the same thing about the Wii :) Sometimes waiting in line is worth it.

  1. itguy05

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Apr 2005

    +1
    07/22, 05:41pm | report spam | Reply |

    T-Blobile?

    So? The more interesting metric would be the NOTWork (Verizon) and those ports.

    As a result of Verizon's brainwashing many corporations are on the NOTwork. So it will be interesting to see how many of those accounts will look at AT&T now that the best phone is there. None of the poor rip-off LG or Samsungs.

  1. cmoney

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Sep 2000

    +4
    07/22, 06:01pm | report spam | Reply |

    "Interesting" analysis

    I wonder how they can take numbers as general as "people porting AT&T->T-Mobile"="people porting into T-Mobile->AT&T" and say the iPhone 3G was not as successful for AT&T as the last model. The only conclusion I can come up with is this: AT&T did not draw as many T-MOBILE customers away from T-MOBILE at this time period as compared to last year.

    The numbers say nothing of: other phones sold during that time and other carriers thus to take those numbers and infer iPhone 3G conclusions is ridiculous.

    Another good point raised in the engadget thread: those incoming T-Mobile customers could be unlocked iPhones sold by iPhone 3G users.

    Myself, while waiting in line, I counted many Blackberry users switching to iPhone. Can I go and say RIM should be worried?

  1. slider

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Oct 1999

    +2
    07/22, 07:31pm | report spam | Reply |

    Build it and they will...

    So how about this: People who would have switch b/c of the iPhone, already did. I have verizon, I want the iPhone, I live in Vermont, no iPhone for me (not yet, but soon if rumors are to be believed). I work with 2 co-workers that also have verizon and are waiting for ATT to come to town so we can get the iPhone (there's only five of us in the office). I don't have a problem with Verizon's network, it's actually pretty good here in New England, the problem I have with Verizon is instead of just focusing on the network and service they cripple their phones and try to force you to burn minutes using their services to rape you hand over fist. Based on my personal experience with Verizon, that's the reason they said no to Apple.
    Apple: .... so to fully realize the user experience with the iPhone.....
    Verizon: User experience, what's that. Hey, can you disable half of these features so we can charge the customer to have to send photos via the network.
    I've heard about enough horri stories from the other networks to know none of them are perfect, but ATT is the only one with the iPhone.
    Anyways, I'm willing to bet that ATT will gain users from the markets they move into, and when I say gain I don't mean the users they just bought into, I mean people like me, ready and willing to switch from a competitor as soon as they open the doors.

  1. anthology123

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Nov 2000

    +7
    07/22, 07:40pm | report spam | Reply |

    satisfied customers?

    Another point not mentioned is that maybe many of the 2.5G iphone users are happy with what they have and see no reason to upgrade to the 3G version?

  1. Stogieman

    Professional Poster

    Joined: May 2000

    +7
    07/22, 08:37pm | report spam | Reply |

    Data plans are too high

    I think you nailed it anthology123. I was going to upgrade my iPhone to the 3G until I saw the specs. There isn't that big a difference hardware wise between the 2 phones. But I think the biggest factor is AT&T's price increase on the data plans. I knew 6 people that were going to get an iPhone 3G but then backed out when they saw the data plans. Now they're scrambling to find a 2.5G iPhone on eBay.

  1. horvatic

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2002

    +1
    07/23, 01:49am | report spam | Reply |

    Total Success!

    3G has constantly had lines the minute it was available, and sold out . There has been constant demand, unlike the first rev which died out the next day. I disagree, the 3G has been a bigger success than the original. Apple has sold more phones in 3 days than it did in some 76 days. Sorry the numbers don't add up to a drop in interest, not one bit.

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