AppleInsider Staff
The results represent the third quarter of 2011, before the iPhone 4S became available. The new data, from the NPD Group, shows domestic sales of both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS beat out rivals like the HTC EVO 4G, Motorola Droid 3 and Samsung Intensity II.
NPD also found that prices of smartphones are falling even though consumers originally considered playing more for their handset. For example, among those who planned to buy a smartphone in the $200 to $250 range, 64 percent made their final purchase a handset under $200.
The average selling prices for smartphones have now declined for four consecutive quarters. In the third quarter of calendar 2011, the average smartphone cost consumers $135.
Based on this, NPD said that smartphone makers and carriers are "leaving money on the table," as consumers express interest in paying more for a better handset.
The new "Smartphone Track" service from NPD also found that mobile accessories had a strong quarter, with the market led by Zagg, followed by Otter Products, Just Wireless, Motorola, and Incase Designs.
"Even as smartphone prices continue to decline, the accessory attachment rates for smartphones in Q3 was unchanged since last year," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD. "This indicates further opportunity for retailers to improve revenue numbers by focusing marketing efforts on selling more accessories."
NPD's data is based on U.S. consumers age 18 and older who reported purchasing a mobile phone or smartphone. The data does not represent corporate or enterprise mobile phone purchases.
The new data is the latest to show the strong performance that Apple's iPhone 3GS, first released in 2009, continues to experience in the market. Various reports have reaffirmed that Apple's previous-generation models routinely outsell newer Android-powered devices.
Rather than discontinue the iPhone 3GS following the launch of the iPhone 4S, Apple opted to keep the smartphone in its lineup, and offer it for free with a new service contract, compared to $99 for an 8GB iPhone 4, and $199 for the entry-level 16GB iPhone 4S. Early reports have indicated that Apple's legacy models have seen strong sales at reduced prices since the launch of the iPhone 4S.
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29 Comments
that seems odd to me - if I went to the store expecting to pay $99 for a 3GS only to find that I could get it for $0 instead - how does that mean the sellers are leaving money on the table?
an expectation that I would have to spend $100 to get what I want only to discover that it is available for $0 is a benefit to the consumer that the sellers are providing better value.
that does not necessarily mean that had there been a more attractive option for $100 that I would have bought that instead. of course with iPhones now you can get the iPhone 4 for $100, right, only with 8GB.
seems to me that $0, $99, $199, $299, and $399 for the current range of iPhones covers every potential customer budget and at least Apple is not leaving any money on the table.
companies whom only offer more expensive options these days may be leaving money on the table since their over priced products are not capturing the money of folks who are still likely very concerned about financial matters.
Yes, and the stock keeps plummeting off of baseless opinion and 'business' reporting. Apple is the only stock that I know of that can outsell every competitor in its class and still get bashed on stock price. This stock really needs to be investigated, as the manipulation has gone completely off the charts, especially over the last 8 weeks. Really sick of it.
that seems odd to me - if I went to the store expecting to pay $99 for a 3GS only to find that I could get it for $0 instead - how does that mean the sellers are leaving money on the table?
an expectation that I would have to spend $100 to get what I want only to discover that it is available for $0 is a benefit to the consumer that the sellers are providing better value.
that does not necessarily mean that had there been a more attractive option for $100 that I would have bought that instead. of course with iPhones now you can get the iPhone 4 for $100, right, only with 8GB.
seems to me that $0, $99, $199, $299, and $399 for the current range of iPhones covers every potential customer budget and at least Apple is not leaving any money on the table.
companies whom only offer more expensive options these days may be leaving money on the table since their over priced products are not capturing the money of folks who are still likely very concerned about financial matters.
This was Q3 2011, before the price drop and iPhone 4S
that seems odd to me - if I went to the store expecting to pay $99 for a 3GS only to find that I could get it for $0 instead - how does that mean the sellers are leaving money on the table?
How could it mean anything else? You're right that it's a great deal for the consumer, but you just repeated several times a case study in leaving money on the table.
Yes, and the stock keeps plummeting off of baseless opinion and 'business' reporting. Apple is the only stock that I know of that can outsell every competitor in its class and still get bashed on stock price. This stock really needs to be investigated, as the manipulation has gone completely off the charts, especially over the last 8 weeks. Really sick of it.
Clueless