AppleInsider StaffAccording to RegHardware, the recent move by UK wireless provider O2 and its retail partner Carephone Warehouse to offer the 8GB iPhone at a 100 pound discount has resulted in a near sellout of the device, with O2 indicating that restocking is unlikely.
Carphone Warehouse's website currently lists the 8GB handset as "out of stock" while O2's own site claims the model is "no longer available." In addition, O2 is said to have issued a memo to its stores and partners stating that it "will not be replenishing stock of this product as it has now gone to end of life."
In its own report issued Friday, research firm Strategy Analytics said that despite Apple having shipped 1.7 million iPhones during the first quarter of the year, tight supply of the touch-screen handsets resulted in the company's global market share falling for the first time, from 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 to 0.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008.
"Motorola and Sony Ericsson lost marketshare to rivals with stronger handset portfolios, such as LG and Samsung, while Apple has been hit by stock-outs in North America and lackluster demand for its overpriced iPhone in Western Europe," said analyst Neil Mawston.
Amber Neely
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
34 Comments
The 3G iPhone will be here soon! I expect a release before WWDC in June.
The 3G iPhone will be here soon! I expect a release before WWDC in June.
At this rate it would seem so. It would not be good business for Apple to have 9 weeks without any iPhone sales.
That is 17.3% of the first year of iPhone sales wasted to a lack or inventory. Not exactly what I expect from and successful company, much less Apple. Even waiting until the WWDC would a major blow to unit sales.
At this rate it would seem so. It would not be good business for Apple to have 9 weeks without any iPhone sales.
That is 17.3% of the first year of iPhone sales wasted to a lack or inventory. Not exactly what I expect from and successful company, much less Apple. Even waiting until the WWDC would a major blow to unit sales.
The 8Gb is gone, the 16GB remains at £329.
I don't expect to see a 3G phone till after June or even later. If they were trying to clear the decks of non 3G handsets the 16GB would have also dropped in price, which it hasn't.
Think about it, the 16GB unit would be WAY more costly to be left with on shelves once a 3G iPhone hits.
Unless, as indicated in the Apple earnings conference call, the networks will discount the hardware. e.g. £99 16GB iPhone, £200 for a 3G version. Although I can't see this happening unless they start doing contract sign ups in-store. For example, you sign up in store for the £75 deal and you get the phone for free (as long as you stay on that tariff for 6 months minimum before changing it).
Maybe £200 for the 16GB on PAYG (no 3G)
Interesting times..
At this rate it would seem so. It would not be good business for Apple to have 9 weeks without any iPhone sales.
That is 17.3% of the first year of iPhone sales wasted to a lack or inventory. Not exactly what I expect from and successful company, much less Apple. Even waiting until the WWDC would a major blow to unit sales.
I think they are ramping up for sales that will go through the roof, once the 3G model comes out (and yes, sooner the WWDC)
Not having something sooner, will kill Apple, as many folks WILL NOT wait forever for something they know nothing about.
Yes, it will likely bo cool ?
Yes, it will likely kick some serious butt on the competition, but they will have already purchased, so it won't matter how cool how good, how neat, how fast, how slick or anything - because the mass market folks, don't have a spare "X" number of dollars to through away, waiting for the latest and greatest Apple product.
Apple didn't get where they are because they are dumb or slow, but ?
Skip
Steve Jobs announced that Apple had sold 4 million iPhones by January 2008 and with 1.7 million sold in Q1 2008, Apple is easily on target to hit its January 2009 target of 10 million.
While European iPhones sales have so far been somewhat sluggish, it is fair to say that this has been primarily due to the fact that existing 3G smart phones created a perception that the 2.5G iPhone would be vastly inferior to existing offerings. We now know that the opposite is true. But it is only really since Christmas that Europeans have discovered that the IPhone's functionality more than compensates for slower 2.5G download speeds. A 3G iPhone that also has Wifi is keenly anticipated. I know so many people who are holding off purchase until the 3G model arrives. In the light of this pent-up demand, the question is no longer: will Apple surpass Blackberry, but when?
What will be interesting to see is whether Apple will adopt an unlocked iPhone business model, which it has adopted for the italian launch, elsewhere. A different revenue model may be the key to exponential growth as much as a 3G model.
I can't wait to see how Apple has changed the 3G iPhone. I wonder if it'll have a radically different form factor or just incorporate 3G technology into the existing design. Either way, it will be excellent and either way shall replace my 8Gb iPhone with a 16Gb 3G one.