Comments on: Apple's $300 million gray market dilemma

By: Joe, Syracuse, NY

Joe, Syracuse, NY — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:30:26 +0000

The iPhone is only selling in just a few markets right now, and yet it has already sold 4 million units. With Canada, Spain, Italy, and the rest of Europe, and some Asian countries coming on board as early as this spring, it shouldn't be difficult for Apple to reach that 10 million sales goal by the end of 2008.

By: Josh, Pittsburgh: Pa

Josh, Pittsburgh: Pa — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:57:33 +0000

iPhone should continue to reach their goal even if it means lowering the price but the cost of people buy them and not activating them righ away is the problem. Open up options maybe look to verizon or another company to sell your phones to.

By: Ismo, Dubai

Ismo, Dubai — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:37:57 +0000

Steve …

I am an Apple shareholder and user.

The iPhone is by far an impressive phone. Free it from AT&T and you will exceed your 10 million sales forecast for 2008.

By: jim slim...canada

jim slim...canada — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:58:35 +0000

the phones are not missing…they are sold….people in canada paying a premium for unlocked phones…seen them there missing phones….find another topic ….

By: Jon, NYC, NY

Jon, NYC, NY — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:59:26 +0000

Pay off AT&T to sever the deal..it will hurt in the short term.

Stop doing exclusive deals. Make it open, so who ever the user partners with, revenue can come in from what ever mobile provider the user goes with.

And then it's up to the mobile phone companies to market there own deals.

I have no idea why a company that built it self on being user friendly, is actually not being user friendly.

Steve may have better luck stopping the tide then controling hacked phones.

By: Alan, Kokomo, IN

Alan, Kokomo, IN — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:53:41 +0000

"ex ped: Not sure where you are getting your numbers or your assumptions,…"

He's getting them from the Bernstein Research numbers on your blog. 1455 "Unlocked Units" out of 3750 "Total Sold" is about 39 percent.

Sacconaghi guesses that the 1455 is actually 1000. That guess is better than his earlier one of closer to zero, but not a lot better.

ex ped: You misread the chart. The 1,455 refers to "Unlocked Units + Channel." In other words, both iPhones that were unlocked and iPhones still on the shelves.

By: macdisser,bronx new york

macdisser,bronx new york — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:36:06 +0000

you guys are completely missing the point. either you guys are blind or dumb. these apple heads are mad that they cant keep bilking the providers and the users after the phones are sold. they are loosing $.99 per song,$3 per movie and $70 a month per subscriber. and O.B.R. you must not be paying attention. just how many firmware updates has apple released?

By: J-P, Helsinki, Finland

J-P, Helsinki, Finland — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:39:51 +0000

I think Apple has to reconsider its business models – basicly where it gets its revenue from…

Charging monthly fees to users of the iPhone is partly good business partly highway robbery; the iPhone is also an iPod and paying monthly charges on top of what they make of your iTunes Store purchases is just too much!

By: Pat Las Vegas, NV.

Pat Las Vegas, NV. — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:02:50 +0000

For the iphone to be of any use to anyone it needs to be activated. Other wise it's just an ipod. Even for email you have to have an internet provider and thus activation. But what Apple can and should do to stem the tide of lost revenue, and to bring many lost phones back into the stream. Is to offer a wide variety of cost effective incentives to "legitimate" users. Contests with prize, sweepstakes type events and offering credits or a rewards programs. Like many retailers do to get and maintain customer loyalty. The alternative would be to continue restricting software upgrades that might limit or restrict device interactive ability. But the legality of such action might be challengable. Personally I prefer the carot approach.

By: Albert, Atlanta, GA

Albert, Atlanta, GA — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:30:24 +0000

What is the scale in the chart?? Am I supposed to think that Apple only sold 3,750 units?? Please tell the chart maker to add some sort of footnote with the scale of the numbers.