Survey: iPhone will be a 'monster'
updated 11:45 am EDT, Wed April 25, 2007
Survey: 'Monster' iPhone
Apple's forthcoming cellular handset, internet browser, and widescreen iPod dubbed 'iPhone' which the company unveiled in January is likely to explode onto the scene, according to a new survey. ChangeWave Research conducted a study of tech-savvy professionals which points to high demand for the device, with about one in 10 respondents (or 9 percent) saying they are likely to purchase the iPhone once it becomes available. Another 7 percent said they will likely purchase the device as a gift for someone else. "That's huge," ChangeWave founder Tobin Smith said. "This is going to be a monster." The survey points to a far faster adoption rate than the industry average for consumer electronics products, and Smith suspects that Apple will exceed its sales goals if the iPhone's performance lives up to consumer expectations.
The survey further suggests that Apple will experience a surge in demand once the iPhone comes down in price, with 10 percent of consumers who weren't interested in obtaining an iPhone immediately saying they would consider purchasing a 4GB model and 20 percent saying they would consider purchasing the 8GB model if the price fell to between $200-$299.
ChangeWave surveyed almost 3,500 people between April 4-10th, and most respondents were members of a 10,000-strong group of business, technology, and medical professionals known as the ChangeWave Alliance who work on the front line of technological change.
Likely iPhone buyers cited overall integration of iPod, cellular phone functionality, the built-in 2-megapixel digital camera, and email/internet capability as the device's top selling point. Other respondents mentioned innovative features like the 3.5-inch touch-screen display and Apple's brand reputation as primary selling points.
Some 79 percent of likely buyers said they would abandon their existing wireless carrier to adopt the iPhone, switching to AT&T in order to use the new device. Roughly 9 percent said they would use the iPhone in addition to their current phone, with the rest of respondents reporting uncertainty.
Among respondents not likely to purchase Apple's cellular handset, satisfaction with current cellular devices ranked as the primary reason cited for staying put. About 55 percent of respondents saw no need to switch as their existing cellular phone is sufficient for their usage, and another 28 percent believe the new device is too pricey.
Apple is expected to ship the iPhone in late June, and has diverted much of its resources toward meeting that goal which resulted in delaying the launch of its Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system.
That's me...
04/25, 12:14pm reply
I'm literally taping my Moto / Verizon phone together to keep it going until November until my Verizon contract expires. Barring any intro. disasters, I'll be switching to AT&T for the sole purpose of getting my hands on an iPhone.
loudpedal
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
silly me
04/25, 12:18pm reply
"..with about one in 10 respondents (or 9 percent)"
And here I was thinking 1 in 10 was 10%, and not 9%. Guess I need to go back to school.
koolkid1976
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
re: sillly me
04/25, 12:23pm reply
"And here I was thinking 1 in 10 was 10%, and not 9%. Guess I need to go back to school."
the word you missed was "about"...
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
re: silly me
04/25, 12:26pm reply
if you're getting nitpicky, "about one in 10" is "about 10%".
trevj
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 1999
saddle up
04/25, 12:28pm reply
saddle up and grab those reigns tight, stock holders.. this is gonna be a fun ride!!!
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
ihear results...
04/25, 01:56pm reply
the iphone is a curious piece of hardware. It's loaded with OS X, gadgets, gizmos, and the like - so isn't it more than a phone? isn't it an ipod? i think they will be bring the two together when the market realizes all of this. Hope so!
ThunkDifferent.com
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Joined: Apr 2007
I hope they are right
04/25, 03:34pm reply
In these comments I've bagged on the iPhone hype - too expensive and too bleeding edge, at least for the 1st gen.
I do hope I am wrong and I will happily eat crow if it is indeed a monster. After all I bought AAPL before it exploded, about 1/10th what a share costs now.
Still, I won't buy an iPhone until it comes down to about half the price and I can use it unlocked. My previous carrier was Cingular/AT+T and I hated them with the intensity of a thousand suns. I am with T-Mobile now and I'm very happy with them. Plus I can use it in Europe by just swapping out SIM cards if they sell it unlocked.
I guess I will have to wait a couple of years for my iPhone...
climacs
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Joined: Sep 2001
zune is a monster
04/25, 03:34pm reply
OBVIOUSLY that 9% will change their mind in expectation for the fabulous new Zune that will run on Windows; have phone calls, camera, touch-screen, Internet, Bluetooth, email, texting; sync seamlessly with any Windows PC; and have a more elegant, breathtaking, beautiful design than anything out there now. Obviously :)
cblackmo
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Joined: Nov 2006
I'm going for it...
04/25, 03:57pm reply
...even though my wife seems to think that other expenses are more important, such as the mortgage and diapers for the baby. It would be nice, though, if AT&T took a big chunk out of the price in exchange for, say, a 2-year contract.
notehead
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Joined: Aug 2001
go into a cingular store
06/10, 08:06am reply
Ask them if they plan to carry the iPhone. They don't know c***. Most will tell you that you will need to go to an Apple store. I haven't met anyone who knows they will have a SECTION OF THEIR OWN STORE dedicated to the iPhone. I know more than THEY do. It doesn't make sense, unless the just don't want to loose a sale in the meantime.
ColorOnDemand.com
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Joined: Jun 2007