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Apple’s Missing IPhones
By News Desk | August 29, 2008
There’s a mystery at Apple Inc. In Apples report of 2007 they claimed about 3.7 million iPhone sales but AT&T states they have only activated about 2 million of them, not including the 300,000 to 400,000 activated in Europe.
This discrepancy means that there are roughly 1.4 million Apple iPhones unaccounted for. Where did they go? Being the Sherlock Holmes that I am I did a little digging on this and have come up with two possible explanations that can account for this: 1. People have bought iPhones and are keeping them in their closet to age or 2. People are “unlocking” their new iPhone to be used in other networks. While I’m sure there are some people out there with a few extra iPhones sitting around, if you check eBay you’ll find a great number of them have been unlocked and are in the process of being resold.
The unlocked iPhone isn’t only a problem between individual traders on eBay; there is an estimated 600,000 unlocked 3gb iPhones in Russia and 1 million in China. By the time Apple makes it over there the market may have already been satisfied.
With consumer discretionary spending on the decline my opinion is Apple shot itself in the foot locking itself into one network but only time will tell.
Joe Hofler
Topics: Discuss Amongst Yourselves |
August 30th, 2008 at 1:32 am
I cant imagine what could have happened to the ones that arent activated. The only probable explanation is that they are being resold like Joe said.
very funny by the way!
keep up the good work!
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I think this article is well thought out. It could have been more detailed but I loved how the writer wasnt afraid to speak ones own opinion. It gave the article strength in my opinion. Very well spoken. It flowed nicely, almost as if it was being spoken to me. Good job!