iPhone tops AT&T sales

Stephen Withers
Monday, 22 October 2007 02:52

Your IT - Mobility

Apple's iPhone became AT&T's top selling phone in its first full quarter, and the number four handset in the overall US market. According to the research firm behind the numbers, that's just the start.

"The sales trajectory we are observing with the iPhone could make it the top selling device in the US over the next 1-2 quarters," said Barry Gilbert, vice president of BuyerTRAX programs at Strategy Analytics.

The company's data puts third quarter iPhone sales by AT&T and Apple at nearly 1.1 million. AT&T's share accounts for 13 percent of its handset sales.

The top selling handset in the US is still the Motorola RAZR V3. This phone can be purchased outright for less than half the price of an iPhone and is available as a '$0' phone on some carriers' plans.

"The typical iPhone buyer is upwardly mobile, college educated with a six-figure household income," according to David Kerr, vice president of Strategy Analytics' global wireless practice.

"While the largest percentage of iPhone buyers is between 20-30 years old, the fact that nearly 25 percent were between 50-60 years old demonstrates that the device attracts buyers across a broad age spectrum."

It's not all good news for Apple and AT&T, with Strategy Analytics research showing customers are not completely satisfied with the iPhone's reliability, battery life, documentation and customer support.