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iPhone 3G Nets Fewer Switchers Than Last Year, Not As Successful?

Submitted by Edward Kirk on July 22, 2008 - 5:50pm.
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Despite claiming to sell over 1 million iPhone 3G's during it's opening weekend alone, it appears that they did not attract as many switchers from other handsets as they did the first time around, and possibly indicates losing as many customers as they gained with the first launch.

Engadget notes that while it took 74 days after the first launch to sell the same number of iPhones as it took the 3G to sell in it's first weekend, the iPhone 3G went on sale in 20 times the number of locations. Accounting for this, the launch is less impressive.

Additionally, they also have information about how T-Mobile USA fared during the 3G launch in comparison to the first launch. 40% of their total outflow went to AT&T during the launch, but at the same time took on the same number of ports from AT&T, effectively loosing now ground as a result of the iPhone 3G's launch. The first launch saw them lose 70% of ports to AT&T.

[via Engadget]

Submitted by Eddy (not verified) on July 22, 2008 - 7:10pm.
OF COURSE the iPhone 3g netted fewer "switchers" from other handsets than the iPhone "classic" did. Before the iPhone "classic" came out, there were no other iPhones. i.e. 100% of the original buyers were "switchers".

I imagine you meant something completely different than what was written down there...so maybe you should clarify?

Submitted by RobbPell (not verified) on July 22, 2008 - 7:56pm.
With at&t raising data prices and cutting out the 5$ for unlimited at&t sms's i could understand most users see why switching to at&t is less attractive!

Submitted by xxx on July 22, 2008 - 8:38pm.
Like said, with higher plan prices and our crappy economy, I would imagine a net of fewer switchers. Also with all the problems the 3G is having, people are delaying switching who thought they would.

LIke me.

Not worth switiching to At& T

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 22, 2008 - 9:58pm.
If At & T would not act soooooo greedy and basically screw anyone who wants to switch, then maybe people would. I didn't switch b/c they jacked up their plans, took away the (free)text messaging and made it ridiculous for me to spend money on them.
Apple is also ridiculous in allowing only At & T the rights for the phone usage in the USA. If you ask me, they could've sold 100x more the phones if they added a network like Verizon who has more loyal customers. I seriously thought of switching. At & T turned me off forever. I at this point, unless they change their attitude (and service b/c I heard it sucks), am staying w/Verizon. I hope Apple realizes their mistakes and lets more people in on the action. I mean why would Apple only allow a small sector buy the phones? Don't they realize that Verizon (for example) is superior? It seems like they didn't do their research or they made a hasty decision.

More complaints

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 22, 2008 - 10:02pm.
What about taking video!? This amazing phone that has everything (and don't say "its just a phone, because it isn't "just a phone") doesn't have what a cheap free cell phone has? No video taking!? Once again, Apple is not really thinking of customers, b/c if they had, they would've added at least video and the OPTION FOR OTHER NETWORKS! BAD APPLE, NO DONUT !

Mistake Apple made:

Submitted by Remnants 2007 on July 22, 2008 - 11:06pm.
The big mistake apple made was to make you sign up
@ the apple store when you buy the iphone.
It turn off lots of people.
Apple could've sold more of it than 1 milliion ....

Cdma

Submitted by carter (not verified) on July 23, 2008 - 2:03am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
If At & T would not act soooooo greedy and basically screw anyone who wants to switch, then maybe people would. I didn't switch b/c they jacked up their plans, took away the (free)text messaging and made it ridiculous for me to spend money on them.
Apple is also ridiculous in allowing only At & T the rights for the phone usage in the USA. If you ask me, they could've sold 100x more the phones if they added a network like Verizon who has more loyal customers. I seriously thought of switching. At & T turned me off forever. I at this point, unless they change their attitude (and service b/c I heard it sucks), am staying w/Verizon. I hope Apple realizes their mistakes and lets more people in on the action. I mean why would Apple only allow a small sector buy the phones? Don't they realize that Verizon (for example) is superior? It seems like they didn't do their research or they made a hasty decision.
They've choosen AT&T because it gets a GSM network.... There's no CDMA technology in the iPhone.

Submitted by jwardell on July 23, 2008 - 6:54am.
Regular Joe switchers are much less likely to wait in lines...you won't see nearly as many until supply catches up.

Switchers are waiting...

Submitted by exbusfish on July 23, 2008 - 8:21am.
Remember last year... the early adopters had some problems with the early phone and there was a price drop after a short time. They do not want to get burned again. So they are waiting for things to shake out.

Off-Topic, but I spent $600 last year and cannot afford to spend an additional $300. So, I am waiting for a bit. Saving my pennies.

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 23, 2008 - 9:08am.
I am just saying that if it didn't cost a switcher the money to terminate service w/their current provider (175$ in most cases); a new sign up fee; the fee to keep the same phone #,; an INCREASE in monthly fees; a DECREASE in text messages and the cost to buy the phone (which I would buy if those other things were more reasonable) then they would have more buyers.
It is simply not worth 1,000 $$ (for 2 phones since I have a family plan and if one person switches then we both have to switch) for a phone in which the carrier doesn't care at all about us. We are meat, not customers. We are suckers, not people. Until they treat people fairly, they will not have many more new customers that are willing to sacrifice their hard earned money.

I thought...

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 23, 2008 - 9:23am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
If At & T would not act soooooo greedy and basically screw anyone who wants to switch, then maybe people would. I didn't switch b/c they jacked up their plans, took away the (free)text messaging and made it ridiculous for me to spend money on them.
Apple is also ridiculous in allowing only At & T the rights for the phone usage in the USA. If you ask me, they could've sold 100x more the phones if they added a network like Verizon who has more loyal customers. I seriously thought of switching. At & T turned me off forever. I at this point, unless they change their attitude (and service b/c I heard it sucks), am staying w/Verizon. I hope Apple realizes their mistakes and lets more people in on the action. I mean why would Apple only allow a small sector buy the phones? Don't they realize that Verizon (for example) is superior? It seems like they didn't do their research or they made a hasty decision.
Didn't Verizon rebuff Apple's attempt at securing a contract with them? It seems like Apple did do their research and that GREEDY Verizon made a hasty decision! Hindsight is 20/20, but I wonder what Verizon would have done if they had the chance to do it all over again?

Check out this link...

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 23, 2008 - 9:32am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Didn't Verizon rebuff Apple's attempt at securing a contract with them? It seems like Apple did do their research and that GREEDY Verizon made a hasty decision! Hindsight is 20/20, but I wonder what Verizon would have done if they had the chance to do it all over again?
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...n-iphone_x.htm

Verizon big wig says Steve Jobs will get old and Verizon (paraphrasing) "will still be here"! Yeah, Verizon sound like a company I want to give my money to. NOT! At least not while the current Verizon CEO is there.

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/v...s-retires-soon

Finally, some say Verizon will have the iPhone yet by replacing the GSM to CDMA - "As Dave points out, iPhone is based on GSM whereas Verizon uses CDMA, But if Apple really wanted to, they could, as Dave correctly notes, accomplish iPhone capability by “using off the shelf chips to replace the GSM radio with the CDMA version.”"

http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=2761