Over One Million iPhone 3G S Models Sold on Launch Weekend

[Romanesq]

awesome...

My wife and I are very fortunate that our existing cell contract expires this week. AND that Apple brought out a great product. AND we go pick ours up Wednesday (SS hits the bank that morning).

I'm a retired life long IBM'er. The day I retired I bought my first Mac, an LC. 17 years and 7 Macs later I get my first portable handheld computer, the iPhone 3GS...

I went to the local Apple Store late Friday afternoon (my wife works in the same mall) and was amazed how fast the thing is. No wonder AT&T hasn't enabled tethering and MMS yet... if they did their networks would crash from people making and sending videos...

Anyway as a first post here: I've been lurking and reading on this forum for some time. Nice meeting all you folks, a great bunch of people.

Michael

It's pretty great that a long time Big Blue guy like yourself can go beyond and take up the next wave.

And you are probably right about the AT&T system getting hit. Each year on iPhone weekend their system struggles mightily just to handle the activations.

A big hello and welcome from Hoboken.

 

[Goona]

Remember - it took about 70 days for the original iPhone to sell a million.

I wouldn't count the Pre out by any means, but these numbers are impressive.

Right and the original iPhone was 600 dollars, how much is the Pre? The sales are pathetic, no wonder they don't want to release sales.

 

[thogs_cave]

Yep, I can't resist Apple's "Digital Crack"

Spousal unit and I wandered into the AT&T store (where we got our original iPhones) Sunday afternoon, missed the rush, and ordered ours to replace her 1st-gen and my 3G.

It's even worth it - we both find ourselves using our iPhones more than our "main" machines. Having everything right at hand is addictive, in a good way. Plus, since I'm legally blind and have a very restricted field of vision, the small screen and decent interface make it easier for me.

Which means I'll have to find a way to sell off a couple of iPhones. I'm sure I'll find a way.

 

[diamond.g]

I certainly understand that there is going to be a segment of the iphone user population that is not tech-savvy and not ever going to upgrade the phone in their life. There is probably also a segment who will never install a single app on their phone. I am just saying that I am surprised that that segment of the population would be so large.

Still, it is probably still early. There has been no SMS notification from AT&T like there was with the 2.0 like the other commenter mentioned, and many people who do sync with iTunes on a regular basis, it may not have checked yet for updates ( I think it only does it automatically every 7 days). I know if I hadn't hit the check for updates button it wouldn't have checked until the 25th I think.

Not to say that 6 million is anything to sneeze at, I am just remarking that to my admittedly ignorant assumptions, I expected a larger percentage that what they are announcing.

I think the bold part is some of why AT&T hasn't enabled MMS and Tethering. You have to have 3.0 to get the feature and if they want to do it right, they will try to enable it for as many phones as possible all at once. That requires more 3G users to upgrade.

 

[khunsanook]

I understand that not everyone would upgrade to the new software as soon as it comes out, but 6 million out of 40 million phones sounds extremely low to me. I would have expected the majority of iphone users to be early adopters and technologically progressive enough to have upgraded by now, but maybe it is still a little too soon.

Guess that just goes to show you though that on a macro scale, the majority of iphone users really weren't missing copy/paste functionality all that much.

I spoke with a friend yesterday who is a long-time mac user with a completely Mac, multi-computer/media center network at home. When I mentioned the new 3.0 iPhone update he said "huh? what iphone update?" He's an on-call doctor and a bit busy, but it goes to show that Apple's updates can take a week or so to filter through their user base. I think there are a lot of people who use their Apple products all day, every day without caring about the next software update, beta build, or Woz sighting.

Also, not everyone wants to be a software update guinea pig. My Touch's wifi reception is much worse after the update, and 3.0 is a little choppy, but I love a lot of the new features. Hopefully Apple will issue an update soon to fix some of the bugs.

 

[Romanesq]

bigger than that

Wow, I was not expecting that. By all rights this was a smaller type of upgrade then the 3G was and reports of shorter lines also fed the perception that it was going to be a smaller event, but I suppose those folks (like me) purchased their phones online helped bump up the numbers and yet kept the lines short.

When Apple met AT&T's demand for in store activation, it made the process long and arduous for everyone.

Since it's thought that 58% of buyers were iPhone upgraders, it's clear that not everyone bought into the media suggestions that the 3Gs was only a nominal improvement.

There's little doubt that the online purchases drove this figure. And AT&T did very well this time with a real allotment from Apple.

Several factors worked in Apple's favor here. Upgrading an existing model made it easier to make and distribute and AT&T was able to add substantial numbers in sales by getting a real inventory mostly for preorders.

Apple clearly did several times that, probably most of it was home delivery. And then the late rally was a big help pretty sure when the early upgrade option came up late last week for July, August and September upgraders.

When that happened, I couldn't sell my 3g fast enough. Sold it on Thursday and even managed to snag a 32GB from my local AT&T on Friday. That AT&T had even a handful of inventory after preorders was a shock. I'm glad they did.

Now with the early users all giving great reports on the speed and new features, the momentum is clearly in Apple's favor.

Steve's statement was perfect IMHO too. He emphasized the 50,000 applications as being a huge advantage. And it clearly is.

 

[Goona]

I read somewhere (I think it was Engadget) that it was around 50.000..

Those are just guesses by analyst just like anoter analyst said Apple will only sell 500 000 iPhones this weekend. Palm won't release the numbers. I guess we have to wait.

 

[gdeusthewhizkid]

My wife was patiently enthusiastic in January. Two weeks ago I was glued to my computer following the WWDC address... I showed her videos of the phone's capabilities and she was very impressed. Over this weekend I scrounged up APPs I knew she would like and now she can't wait. It's not merely the phone, but what you can do on it and with it...

Like I said it will be my first handheld computer.


PS I need some feedback, sorry for any possible threadjack. We live in the sticks in Central Jersey, nice area. Our Verizon coverage is pretty lousy. Knowing the bad rep that AT&T Network has I am concerned about coverage being good enough I can make use of what the iPhone can do on our property. We have cable internet. I was considering getting an Airport Extreme - which if I read the specs right makes my home a WiFi hotspot - so I know my home signal will be pretty strong... Anyone techie enough to help me on this I would appreciate the advice...

Im in union county nj. and i use a apple extreme. It's very easy to set up and it will transmit wifi internet thru your whole house. Don't worry it will easlily set up a password for u to lock ya internet down so you and ya household can use the internet only. And if you ever forget ya password. Just hold the reset button on the back. Easy as pie. At&T has some pretty spotty coverage in nj but central jersey i believe gets good reception.

 

[wizard]

Smaller, how so?

Wow, I was not expecting that. By all rights this was a smaller type of upgrade then the 3G was and reports of shorter lines also fed the perception that it was going to be a smaller event, but I suppose those folks (like me) purchased their phones online helped bump up the numbers and yet kept the lines short.

I've heard this line of thought before, that is this is a minor update. From my standpoint it is a bigger update than the move from the original to 3G. With the "S" you are getting considerable improvements.


Dave

 

[jrob]

PS I need some feedback, sorry for any possible threadjack. We live in the sticks in Central Jersey, nice area. Our Verizon coverage is pretty lousy. Knowing the bad rep that AT&T Network has I am concerned about coverage being good enough I can make use of what the iPhone can do on our property.

I should add, on top of the good Apple Airport advice, that AT&T has a pretty detailed coverage map on their website:

http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/

 

[needthephone]

Good news for apple but I was hoping that when they launch in Australia this Friday I could stroll in and pick myself up a 32 GB White just like that.

My wife needs a phone as hers is on its last legs so she is having my 3G.

I was thinking I was the only person who wanted one too...I like the fact that it's so understated like a Q car. It looks the same but its compleatly new.

I really want the camera and video- All the examples Iv'e seen have just totally sold.

I hope no one else wants one though, not in Sydney.

 

[samac92]

What's the point of having an iPhone if you don't connect it to your PC/MAC?

Do they have/used to have iPods too?

Many people will very rarely or even never connect their iPhone to their computer, for example my sister who owns an iPod, synced it once an never since, and why would she? She has all her music on there and rarely buys any more.

 

[Thex1138]

5 million by months end....expected with sales in more than 72 countries

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

So much for the so-called "minor update"

 

[AdeFowler]

This can't be right. Gene Munster said they'd sold 750k and he's an analyst!

 

[Hattig]

Right and the original iPhone was 600 dollars, how much is the Pre? The sales are pathetic, no wonder they don't want to release sales.

It's sad really, because the Pre's software looks promising and it incorporates some nice ideas and is ahead in some places - well, that's the impression I got from the AnandTech review.

Of course it looks fat, has a pointless hard keyboard, and is stuck on a third rate network within one country.

 

[nfl46]

TAKE that PALM!

I guess a lot of people LOVE the 3G S!

 

[tivoboy]

honestly

I'm not selling below 150, that's for sure.

oh well, I'm not selling at all.

honestly, I'm short to 110$ before end July, but 120$ is a good rebuy target.

 

[peterdevries]

Last year Apple would have sold far more in the first week, if supply would have been greater (in Europe at least). The iPhones in The Netherlands were sold out within 5 minutes everywhere.

Couldn't it be the case that supply of Pre's at this moment is just too low, or are they already readily available everywhere without having to be put on a waiting list?

 

[DougB541]

TAKE that PALM!

I guess a lot of people LOVE the 3G S!

Anyway, not downplaying the numbers but I think a lot of people who got a 3GS were former iPhone owners.

At least when I passed the line in NYC EVERYONE had an iPhone out.

Still good nonetheless.

 

[planethitsradio]

Count me in as the one in a million sold on the launch weekend.

I was #2 in line at my city (Ottawa, ON) - Rogers didn't let us pre-order the device. Got a 32GB white model, nice and slick.

I had so many problems with the activation of the unit (The demand brought Rogers upgrade servers down) and I got 50 different answers from customer service about hardware eligibility.

I got a call from the office of the president, after all is said and done, the price was $699 when I bought it outright, not $799 as it should of been, and I get a $620.00 refund for all of my troubles. I am also going to sell my old 3G, so I MADE money upgrading, and Rogers kept a customer happy.

Thank you Rogers! I love tethering, MMS, and the swanky new 3GS!

 

[spazzcat]

Last year Apple would have sold far more in the first week, if supply would have been greater (in Europe at least). The iPhones in The Netherlands were sold out within 5 minutes everywhere.

Couldn't it be the case that supply of Pre's at this moment is just too low, or are they already readily available everywhere without having to be put on a waiting list?

I haven't heard anyone talk about the Pre being hard to find???

 

[DougB541]

Last year Apple would have sold far more in the first week, if supply would have been greater (in Europe at least). The iPhones in The Netherlands were sold out within 5 minutes everywhere.

Couldn't it be the case that supply of Pre's at this moment is just too low, or are they already readily available everywhere without having to be put on a waiting list?

THe Pre has been extremely suppl constrained since launch. Its pretty much waiting list at all sprint stores.

The same issue the iPhone 2.5G had....it would've sold more its opening weekend if they had the supply (it sold 150k if i remember correctly).

Clearly Apple made sure they had inventory this time around haha.

 

[DougB541]

I haven't heard anyone talk about the Pre being hard to find???

Read the news then. Its been supply constrained.

 

[peterdevries]

Clearly Apple made sure they had inventory this time around haha.

Exactly, why else the phased roll-out in only 8 countries?

Here in the Netherlands pre-ordering was opened on friday last week, making it easier to predict sales and estimate supply. They obviously learned something from last year.