Backman
27-11-2007, 11:02 AM
Leaked figures from O2 suggest the phone might have sold fewer than 30,000 units in the first fortnight on sale - a long way short of O2's stated target.
Matthew Key, chief executive of the UK's exclusive official network carrier for Apple's smartphone, told the Financial Times earlier this month that he expected "a couple of hundred thousand" to be sold in the first two months after it went on sale three weeks ago. Apple reportedly gave analysts the same figure.
But according to channel sources, just 26,500 have been activated. Of course sales may be higher than that - since figures for activations do not include phones bought as Christmas presents or those unlocked for use on other networks.
Industry watchers claim the iPhone's price tag - £269 plus a minimum £35 per month contract - may have put off British buyers.
"I suspect a number of users went into
ADVERTISEMENT
O2 stores knowing the device was £269, and thought there was an opportunity to do a deal," says Geoff Blaber, director of devices at research firm, CCS Insight. "I think that's been a big shock."
More (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/buyer/news/141849/iphone-activations-point-to-slow-uk-takeup.html)
Matthew Key, chief executive of the UK's exclusive official network carrier for Apple's smartphone, told the Financial Times earlier this month that he expected "a couple of hundred thousand" to be sold in the first two months after it went on sale three weeks ago. Apple reportedly gave analysts the same figure.
But according to channel sources, just 26,500 have been activated. Of course sales may be higher than that - since figures for activations do not include phones bought as Christmas presents or those unlocked for use on other networks.
Industry watchers claim the iPhone's price tag - £269 plus a minimum £35 per month contract - may have put off British buyers.
"I suspect a number of users went into
ADVERTISEMENT
O2 stores knowing the device was £269, and thought there was an opportunity to do a deal," says Geoff Blaber, director of devices at research firm, CCS Insight. "I think that's been a big shock."
More (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/buyer/news/141849/iphone-activations-point-to-slow-uk-takeup.html)