So Apple has just reported. We heard that iPhone sales were 8.74M units vs 8.7M in the Christmas period. Most analysts had expected around 7.1 - 7.4 M unit sales of iPhones which would have been in line with iPhone previous after-Christmas sales pattern from 2008 and 2009. But this is the best-ever after-Christmas iPhone quarter, where sales did not decline at all from what usually is the best quarter of the year.
First, some humble pie - this totally surprised me, and I now feel that my blog 'iPhone annual market share has peaked' may have been premature. Certainly this data does not support my hypothesis. So we will monitor the iPhone, but its sales were far stronger than most expected.
Now, what does that tell us about iPhone market share. It means iPhone market share is in the 16%-18% range (depending on how big is the final smartphone sales numbers for the quarter for the rest of the industry, which we will know very closely after Nokia has reported in a few days, as Nokia counts for about 40% of global smartphone sales). But it seems clear that iPhone market share is more-or-less flat, may have picked up a percentage point in fact, very strong performance.
Still, this is yet another sign that the current quarter smartphone sales are super-hot. Already we've heard that HTC, Google and RIM have reported stronger smartphone sales this quarter than last, and Samsung is so bullish of their smartphone performance, they upped their annual sales target from 18M to 24M (a 33% growth rate annually, which would suggest quarterly growth rate of about 8%). But there are other players who have reported declines - Palm, and expected to report declines - Microsoft; and still others who have not reported huge smartphone growth who could have, such as SonyEricsson last week and expected also to be similar for Motorola.
I will come back to the overall 'bloodbath' smartphone quarter as we get these news coming in and do a full round-up of the quarterly situation at the end of April. But Apple, very VERY strong performance, excellent bounce-back from what was a disappointing iPhone quarter for Christmas. Remember the new iPhone is coming in June and that will again boost Apple's overall sales and its market share. So Apple's annual sales pattern is different from all major smartphone maker rivals, with only one new model released in June. That has previously meant good Autumn sales of iPhones and bad Spring sales of iPhones. Now Apple has apparently busted that patttern.
UPDATE - I have now done some analysis and concluded that the surprise bonus 1M unit sales of iPhones was generated in China, and its mostly due to the biggest gift-giving season of China which is the Lunar New Year which happened in February 2010. Full explanation here Apple to thank Year of Tiger for iPhone sales
UPDATE 2 - We now know (April 22, 2010) the actual smartphone market size globally for Q1. It was 52.6 million actual smartphone handsets. So now we can calculate the market share - and would you know it, even after yet another stellar quarter, Apple is stuck in a rut, can't break its 17% market share. Its stuck at that level for the third quarter in a row. It really does seem like Apple has peaked. Remember you heard it here first.
I was reading something else about this on another blog. Interesting. Your position on it is diametrically contradicted to what I read earlier. I am still contemplating over the opposite points of view, but I'm tipped heavily toward yours. And no matter, that's what is so great about modernized democracy and the marketplace of thoughts on-line.
Posted by: white iphone 4 | December 17, 2010 at 08:19 AM
The white iphone 4 hardware design hasn't changed from the one we already knew about. It uses the same materials as the prototype: Black glass and stainless steel rim.
Posted by: Henry Peise | December 23, 2010 at 02:04 AM
This blog is certainly excellent. Excellent work. For this reason I enjoy of keeping returning to the weblog.
Posted by: iPhone 3g Cases | January 14, 2011 at 02:06 AM
You had some nice points here. I done a research on the topic and got most peoples will agree with you
Posted by: wedding plan | March 04, 2011 at 08:53 AM
Very interesting and informative article. Read very easily. Such quality articles really very little now.
Posted by: Retin A Without A Prescription | March 07, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Palm, and expected to report declines - Microsoft; and still others who have not reported huge smartphone growth who could have, such as SonyEricsson last week and expected also to be similar for Motorola.
Posted by: devlet hastaneleri | March 16, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Best of all its the most secure mobile phone system so it can't be easily hacked by criminals and the Baltimore police department can instantly disable any of its Blackberries remotely if one is stolen etc. All good.
Posted by: devlet hastaneleri | March 17, 2011 at 07:13 AM
what does that tell us about iPhone market share. It means iPhone market share is in the 16%-18% range (depending on how big is the final smartphone sales numbers for the quarter for the rest of th
Posted by: banka rehberi | March 31, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Ground for workers in small diligent in thinking smaller than the memory...
Posted by: Cheap Jordan shoes | April 03, 2011 at 04:23 AM
some humble pie - this totally surprised me, and I now feel that my blog 'iPhone annual market share has peaked' may have
Posted by: kimya | April 05, 2011 at 01:03 PM
t there are other players who have reported declines and expected to report declines - Microsoft; and still others who have not reported huge
Posted by: devlet vergisi | April 07, 2011 at 01:55 PM
But this is the best-ever after-Christmas iPhone quarter, where sales did not decline at all from what usually is the best qua
Posted by: office chairs | April 12, 2011 at 02:15 PM
20 million inhabitants just in those metro areas - are as wealthy as Taipei or Hong Kong. But nonetheless, these are important
Posted by: evden eve nakliyat | April 25, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Microsoft; and still others who have not reported huge smartphone growth who could have, such as SonyEricsson last week and expected also to be similar for Motorola.
Posted by: bad accessoires | May 02, 2011 at 02:55 PM
This information is really good and That will really help us all. And this might bring some good repute to you.
Posted by: mantolama izolasyon | May 04, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Actually, if you are geeky enough to want to check them all out, here is a link with all four of them to date.
Posted by: prefabrik | May 06, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Actually, if you are geeky enough to want to check them all out, here is a link with all four of them to date.
Posted by: aluminyum | May 06, 2011 at 02:17 PM
But this is the best-ever after-Christmas iPhone quarter, where sales did not decline at all from what usually is the best quarter of the year.
Posted by: doğal taş | May 08, 2011 at 12:09 PM
where sales did not decline at all from what usually is the best quarter of the year.
Posted by: prefabrik | May 08, 2011 at 12:10 PM
sales would hit the same level as Christmas 2009 quarter sales oof course I am very interested to try to figure out what happened. Where did the surprise sales come from, of about a bonus million unit sales in
Posted by: mobilya | May 12, 2011 at 08:40 AM