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iPhone Represents 73% of Smartphone Sales, 55% of All Postpaid Phone Sales at AT&T in 2Q 2012

Tuesday July 24, 2012 6:23 am PDT by Eric Slivka
AT&T today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2012, revealing that the carrier activated 3.7 million iPhones during the quarter, down from 4.3 million in the previous quarter as customers begin to slow their purchases ahead of the next-generation iPhone launch.


Notably, AT&T's 3.7 million iPhone activations accounts for roughly 73% of the carriers 5.1 million total smartphone sales during the quarter, down slightly from last quarter's share. With smartphones now accounting for 77% of AT&T's total postpaid device sales, the iPhone represents approximately 55% of the carrier's total phone sales to contract customers, down slightly from last quarter's 60% share.
AT&T sold 5.1 million smartphones in the second quarter. Smartphones represented 77 percent of postpaid device sales. At the end of the quarter, 61.9 percent, or 43.1 million, of AT&T's postpaid subscribers had smartphones, up from 49.9 percent, or 34.1 million, a year earlier. AT&T's ARPU for smartphones is twice that of non-smartphone subscribers, and about 88 percent of smartphone subscribers are on FamilyTalk® or business plans. Churn levels for these subscribers are significantly lower than for other postpaid subscribers. More than one-third of AT&T's postpaid smartphone customers use a 4G-capable device.

Android, iPhone and Windows device sales were supported by AT&T's 4G network. Only AT&T's 4G network lets iPhone 4S download three-times faster than any other U.S. carrier's network. In the quarter, the company activated 3.7 million iPhones, with 22 percent new to AT&T.
Although Verizon reported a 16% quarter-over-quarter drop in iPhone sales and AT&T's numbers reveal a similar 14% decline, the performances are generally being viewed as a positive for Apple, which will report its earnings after the close of trading today. Analysts were already expecting Apple's overall iPhone sales to decline this quarter ahead of the next iPhone launch, and with the company's domestic sales holding up relatively well and international sales likely still booming, the company is likely to post solid results for its primary revenue generator.

[ 66 comments ]


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Rogifan
89 months ago

AT&T sucks.

They took advantage of my grandpa just because he's old..........they added BS fees on his bills.

Also they have BS customer support.

Verizon is much better.

Not sticking up for AT&T but just curious what these fees were that got added to his bill? I wasn't aware AT&T could add fees to people's bills because they're old...
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
miles01110
89 months ago
Err... nowhere in the earnings statement does it say that the iPhone represents 77% of AT&T's smartphone sales. Also, 3.7 million iPhones is approximately 72.5% of 5.1 million smartphones, not 77%, but iPhone sales figures aren't in the earnings statement either.

edit: Sorry, italics above are incorrect. Reading fail.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
iCaleb
89 months ago
AT&T sucks.

They took advantage of my grandpa just because he's old..........they added BS fees on his bills.

Also they have BS customer support.

Verizon is much better.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
ayala421
89 months ago
And now they want to penalize their customers by charging extra for FaceTime data...screw them.
Rating: 3 Votes
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IPlayFair
89 months ago
AT&T Got a Head Start on the Other Telecoms

AT&T was given the original exclusive contract by Apple. AT&T had three years to cultivate a customer base before any of the other telecoms got the opportunity to sale Iphones. That is the reason 73% of AT&T sales are Iphones. Its not because AT&T is doing anything special.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Macboy Pro
89 months ago
He we go with the weekly, thoughtless, unintelligent AT&T Haters thread.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Xenomorph
89 months ago

AT&T was given the original exclusive contract by Apple. AT&T had three years to cultivate a customer base before any of the other telecoms got the opportunity to sale Iphones. That is the reason 73% of AT&T sales are Iphones. Its not because AT&T is doing anything special.


AT&T still offers the BEST network for iPhones, at least in the US.

- They've been GSM out of the box, since 2007. Tons of AT&T iPhones have been unlocked and are used all over the world, and that helps with resale value or if you decide to switch networks (it makes the AT&T phone worth more).
- They've been able to do Voice & Data at the same time. This isn't a huge deal, but it helps greatly if you're on speakerphone and want to look something up.
- They have the fastest download speeds. Even if iPhones on other networks were getting 100% speed, the AT&T iPhone would still be twice as fast as them.
Rating: 3 Votes
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rjohnstone
89 months ago
I like how AT&T list iPhone "activations" instead of actual sales.
We all know a chunk of those activations are not new iPhone sales, but new activations for a used device.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Macboy Pro
89 months ago

Go back and research. They only started upgrading after they were loosing exclusive. Here in NYC att use to be horrendous with dropped calls and slow data. Then they started their grand upgrade plan which still sucks but better than it was before.

I actually did find dumbest post - its the one i replied to :)


You can't be serious. You think that AT&T did no upgrades or buildout of their network for 3 years. I don't need to research anything, that statement is as stupid as the day is long. This isn't a mom and pop shop on the corner. Its the one of the biggest telecom companies ever. LOL
Rating: 2 Votes
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Macboy Pro
89 months ago

Again no facts just outbursts. No point of arguing


DUDE, you claimed AT&T was static for 3 years. Its absurd! But since you want to be embarrassed, here is a link that indicates the $95 BILLION, yes BILLION AT&T has spend in the last 5 years building out their network.

Quote is here: "Donovan says that the mobile operator has spent $95 billion over the last 5 years trying to expand the wireless infrastructure. $20 billion was spent in 2011 alone and led to over 150,000 improvements in its wireless pipeline. Another $20 billion has been budgeted for spending on wireless infrastructure this year."

Notice only $20 BILLION in 2011, which means $75 Billion in 2007-10. Hardly nothing...

Link is here: http://www.phonearena.com/news/AT-T-data-usage-doubles-every-year_id26896

Next time get your statement somewhere in the galaxy of the truth and people won't challenge it.
Rating: 2 Votes

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