UK, Swiss iPhone sales

UK sales of the iPhone have diminished in recent weeks, sources claim. Regional carrier O2 is said to be selling between 18,000 and 20,000 phones per week, down from recently-quoted levels of about 27,000, and an early high of 50,000. The reason for the decline is uncertain, but is said to be attributable to the Android-based T-Mobile G1, and Research in Motion's BlackBerry Storm, both of which have been highly anticipated and are due to release soon in the UK.

Despite this, the sources have dismissed rumors that O2 wants to boost prepaid iPhone sales through a price cut. It had been suggested that a cut could take effect before Christmas, dropping the minimum cost of an iPhone by £50 to £299.

Switzerland's Swisscom has meanwhile announced that the iPhone produced a 44 percent growth in new subscribers during its most recent quarter, as compared to results from the prior two quarters in its financial year. As with other iPhone carriers in Canada, the US and elsewhere, however, this came at the expense of profits; core profits fell 3.6 percent to 1.19 billion Swiss francs, or $1.03 billion. The drop has been blamed on subsidy payments and dealer commissions.

Swisscom claims, however, that it sold approximately 100,000 iPhones in two and a half months, and that this has not only increased revenues, but contributed to an "investment in the future." The company has not elaborated, but many cellular carriers make the bulk of their profit from monthly fees rather than device sales.

by MacNN Staff