iPhone4S a hit…with Apple lovers only?
Piper Jaffray reported 73 percent of those lining up in front of the tills across the US were existing iPhone owners – roughly equivalent to the number picking up iPhone 4 at launch in 2010.
Now the non-iOS owners on staff here at Mobility Digest thought as much but to see it from an external source just solidifies this. So the iPhone 4S is setting marks and Android is concurrently expanding its dominance in the smartphone race. In fact this morning I was in AT&T store surveying store employees and found iPhone 4S 64GB models in stock in both black and white.
While conducting the survey there were approximately 7 phones purchased. Of the seven phones 1 was a Windows Phone (Samsung Focus free on contract), 5 Androids of varying models and 1 iPhone 4. Yes that’s correct, not the 4S but the iPhone 4. Basically cheap was winning out and one thing Android phones are becoming synonymous with is being cheaper.
No doubt the iPhone4S is a great phone. The thing is that there is so many very good to great phones in the market now that its harder to amaze without innovating on the software side. iOS5 might be a great update for iOS users but the notable features are almost entirely taken from competing platforms.
Source: Pocketgamer
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Yep, whatever you heard is right. I just had been to one of the local AT&T store, and I enquired about the same. Initially I didn’t get any response from the reps, but after insisting for a while I found most of the people who are just getting iPhone 4S are existing iPhone 3GS (eligible for upgrade) and iPhone 4 (eligible for early upgrade).
I think it’s more an issue that if people haven’t already bought an iPhone then they’re clearly not the kind of person who would stand in line to get one. They may be casually interested, but more than willing to just order it and let it get here when it gets here. The sales figures are going to be huge, but I have no fear there will be plenty of articles written at mobility digest about how much better Android is, because if you just tweak about 20 different things it can do anything you want it to 😉
I can see why I think most people who were going to switch have by now. I am actually due a full upgrade ($199, $299, $399) price somehow. AT&T must be feeling generous but I am not going for it. I think I am finally going to take the plunge and get a company phone this summer after my contract expires now the question is will it be an android phone or another iPhone? Thinking about buying an android phone unlocked this Christmas to give a go.
I’m kind of lost here… what’s the point of this? The iPhone 4S sold to existing iPhone owners? Isn’t that a good thing?
I bought one. Yep. Gave my 32GB iPhone 4 to my wife and secured a 64GB version on AT&T yesterday. Is it a good phone? Yep. Do I like it more than the previous version? Yep. Will I buy the iPhone 5 in 12-15 months? Yep.
Again, not sure what the purpose of this article truly is, but I guess I’m looking at this in a positive way. Brand loyalty is huge in mobility IMO.
Another angle on the iPhone 4S story would be the sales figures of the iPhone 4 and 3GS. The iPhone 4S is the best selling phone in the US right now. Before it launched, the iPhone 4 was #1, and the iPhone 3GS was #2. If the iPhone line up is STILL #1, 2, and 3 after this week, and the iPhone 4S keeps up its sales… wait.. again, I’m lost… what’s the point of this post?
Features taken from other platforms which took features from iOS… sooooo.. they’re even right?
ugh… I still have no idea what’s going on here.
You’re not doing Pocketgamer any favors by citing them as your inspiration for … this.
@Chris Leiter: Fairly simple reason behind article. The sales of the iPhone 4S is due to great brand loyalty from existing iphone users more than anything else. Every company would indeed love to have this level of brand loyalty, no argument there.
If the iPhone 3GS is still being sold at any significant rate that tells me two possible things are occuring. First, salesman failed at letting customer know of much better options at the same price. The Samsung Focus, HTC HD7S, numerous Android phones (Simmons help me out here) that are either free or under $50 bucks. Second, there has to be some crazy incentive kickbacks for Apple sales.
I will also say that in one of the local AT&T corporate store the 4S has barely any marketing footprint in the store. Its just kind of off to the side in the iPhone section and a couple posters (24″x18″). Best Buy in town was the same way.
More people looking at Android phones today than anything else from my experience.
@Chris Leiter:
But if you see at almost every store (AT&T, Verizon or Sprint), they all have 32GB, 64GB on hand not the 16GB. And most of the 16GBs were sold to 3GS and 3G upgrades, but 32GB or 64GB are to the iPhone 4 upgrades. And iPhone 4 sold mostly to the current feature phone upgraders. And the article here is talking about those in addition to the existing iPhone owners who either ordered online or bought in store standing up in the lines on the day it was released..
Nice to some numbers. But I don’t see any surprises here. My last phone was a Windows Mobile, my current is a Windows Phone, my next will definitely be a Windows Phone as well.
I “love” my current phone and can’t really blame anyone else for doing the same.
The only “surprise” here is – why don’t they like WP as much as I do? 🙂