Comments on: Fuzzy Math: How many iPhones did Europeans buy?

By: drx1, Washington, DC

drx1, Washington, DC — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:05:29 +0000

1) I'm sure Apple is aware of locked iPhones. They did try to remove a few of those.

2) Because of Apple's exclusive agreements, they not necessarily going to be talking about unlocked iPhones- because this undermines the contract and revenues (for both AT&T and Apple), since they are both getting a piece of the monthly phone plan $$.

It will be interesting to see if Apple can maintain their momentum. I dont think 3G is important right now, but now that the iPhone is going to be a real development platform, the enterprise support should follow soon.

3G before September would be nice though…

O yeah, people who play the stock market will typically buy on the rumor and sell on the news. Part of the issue is that the expectations are so high, anything less means the stocks will decline. Since Apple's fundamentals are so strong, this should only create buying opportunities.

By: Hugo van der Vlist, Ommeren, Netherlands

Hugo van der Vlist, Ommeren, Netherlands — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:27:04 +0000

Of course Apple sold 4 million iPhones, no doubt at all. It is so easy to unlock an iPhone, so people do that. Also, you can only buy iPhone contracts in 4 countries of this world. Apple will be introducing the iPhone in many more countries in 2008. This will accelerate the sales of iPhone, especially if 3G phones are introduced. This will surely happen before Summer.

By: kirasaw Marietta OH

kirasaw Marietta OH — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:31:14 +0000

All these numbers are meaningless. Apple says it sold 4 million – nobody is going to break that number down for you. Apple does not what any number but the 4 million number. WHY? not because of poor sales but because it would give away timing if future countries coming into the iPhone family. Apple will natural push extra units into the existing phone company's channel so that when a new country starts selling the iPhone Apple can ship iPhones there quickly and not short existing sellers.

By: Preston, Providence, R.I.

Preston, Providence, R.I. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:01:05 +0000

Fact is, Apple had a blowout quarter with record earnings from record sales. Corporate guidance is lower for the traditionally slower 2nd quarter. SEC reports show that as of Dec,31, 2007, Apple had $18.4 billion in cash in the bank and cash equivalents, and basically no debt. Over the past year, cash accumulated at an average of nearly $8.5 million per DAY, from profits on sales of iPod, iPhone, iMac, and software, and interest income. The iPhone phenomenon is just starting. IPhones are still not sold in most of the countries of the world !

Don't hold your breath for a cash dividend paid by Apple. I think that a major acquisition is more likely.

By: Jigs, Anaheim, CA

Jigs, Anaheim, CA — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:39:25 +0000

“Nobody is going to spend that much money on a cell phone.”

- You kidding me. Wait till it gets in India and China. I have sold B/W Ericcson & Motorola phones back in 1995-96 for Rs 50,000+ ($1200+). Phones are like style icon in India. Basic phones in India currently sell for $150-$300 and everybody have to buy them, carriers do not give them for free. Premium Nokia phones sell for $500+. iPhone can easily fetch north of $600 AND @ $600, they will disappear in 1 day.

I am not sure why $400 is expensive for people in the US !

By: Joop deBruin, Scottsdale, AZ

Joop deBruin, Scottsdale, AZ — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:44:42 +0000

Good column and makes good points toward reality. The real story here is that Apple has been less than perfectly straightforward about its "sales." They could have prevented the predictable guessing about their true sales if they would have been more forthcoming.

I think they are trying to get away fuzzy numbers and now their knickers are in a twist.

FanBoyz can't help this company's market cap, especially when they back in "deny Jobs' options actions" mode.

By: Nodack Phx, AZ

Nodack Phx, AZ — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:12:19 +0000

"The iPhone will never sell".

"Nobody is going to spend that much money on a cell phone."

(Unless you count all the other smart phones priced that high).

4,000,000 iPhones sold in its first six months.

"Oh yeah, they aren't all activated so there."

Apple posted a record quarter showing a 58% increase in sales over last years record.

"Yeah, but they gave conservative expectations for the next quarter so that must mean iPhone sales are drying up."

Sure they are and Apple has been going out of business any day now for over 20 years now.

By: Dan, Portland, OR

Dan, Portland, OR — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:51:15 +0000

AAPL is taking its traditional post-December swoon, made worse by issuing their usual conservative forecast while everyone has recession jitters. But the iPhone's customer satisfaction rate is 90%. It is AT&T's top-selling phone. Other manufacturers are trying to copy it. And the 3G version will be even better and more coveted. All this from a company that never made a cell phone before. The iPhone is right on track, and so is Apple, don't worry about bizarre and groundless allegations that they're falsifying iPhone sales numbers.

By: Dan, Boston, MA

Dan, Boston, MA — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:39:41 +0000

So message board yahoos know more about AAPL than professional analysts whose job it is to talk to suppliers and customers and figure these things out. Right. My favorite post is the one claiming that these stories about the attempts to ascertain the real number of iPhones sold are "stock manipulation" and should be considered criminal acts. You people aren't investors, you're gamblers. Stocks don't rise forever, and we don't just take CEO's at their word, especially since the tech bubble and Enron. Get a grip fanboys.

By: John Florida

John Florida — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:55:52 +0000

Most of these analysts don't know crap from crisco. There a bunch of talking heads trying to make a name for themselves. I can't figure it out. Why is it that the nay sayers of Apple just love to tear down a company sitting on 15 billion in cash. Where do they think it came from? Certainly not weak sales. No company can have a steller blowout quarter and a line of world changing products every year. However, given the track record of Apple, the best is yet to come. Don't listen to most of thees analysts. If there so great, then why didn't they see this market going down the tubes long ago?