Over one third of iPhone inquirers not AT&T subscribers
AT&T, which has an exclusive agreement to sell the Apple handset in the U.S., has received over 1 million inquiries from people seeking more information on the combined cellphone, iPod and Internet device.
Since the carrier's deal with Apple will reportedly span 5 years, people planning to purchase an iPhone will need to join AT&T's wireless network. In some cases, that will mean jumping ship from their existing wireless providers.
The unusually large number of non-AT&T customers expressing interest in purchasing the Apple device "speaks volumes," Stephenson said during a speech at the NXTcomm communications conference in Chicago.
"I really believe this is going to be game changer," he added. "Not only for us but the industry at large."
While it's too early to tell how many of those consumers expressing interest in iPhone will actually go out and purchase one, a recent analysis by investment bankers at Bear Stearns estimates the Apple device will add nearly 1 million new subscribers to AT&T's wireless network during the second half of 2007.
An additional 3.5 million are likely to follow next year, the firm said.
47 Comments
The sad thing is....a lot of these folks don't even care about the iPhone. They are just going to buy the phone and sell it on ebay.
What's most fascinating to me is the phrase "... on Apple's overly hyped iPhone handset ...". I've tried to to a quick review of what Apple has put out, and overall, it very little. They do use the words "revolutionary mobile phone" occasionally but overall their direct efforts on this seems to have been minimal. The "... on Apple's overly hyped iPhone handset ..." seems to be due entirely to the people saying " ...on Apple's overly hyped iPhone handset ..." (not just referring to Appleinsider, but the press)
About 40 percent of people seeking information on Apple's overly hyped iPhone handset are not presently AT&T wireless customers,
That doesn't surprise me since many Apple users are generally willing to spend a bit more to get better quality. Likewise potential iPhone buyers are likely to be using a premium phone service - not AT&T. Cingular/AT&T is not my phone service provider but they will now get some of my business.
About 40 percent of people seeking information on Apple's overly hyped iPhone handset are not presently AT&T wireless customers, the mobile carrier's chief executive Randall Stephenson said Tuesday.
Even AT&T's chief thinks it's overly hyped!
The sad thing is....a lot of these folks don't even care about the iPhone. They are just going to buy the phone and sell it on ebay.
What is the situation with phones with SIM cards? Is it simply a matter of switching the SIM card to switch to a different provider? Verizon doesn't have 'em so I don't have a clue.
Is there any precedence for phones being locked so that they will only accept SIM cards from a certain provider?