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10/06/2008, 10:50am, EDT

Monday, October 6th

iPhone 3G sales hugely surpassing expectations?

Apple may have dramatically exceeded predictions for iPhone sales during its fourth financial quarter, writes Bullish Cross. The site quotes an unofficial tracking of IMEI numbers for the iPhone 3G, which it says suggests that some 7 to 7.5 million phones were shipped in the quarter. In particular, it is noted that Apple is already in the eight iteration of the TAC code found within each IMEI ID, each modification of it indicating 1 million phones.

Although IMEI numbers can only strictly indicate the amount of iPhones produced, rather than sold, the Cross estimate may in fact be pessimistic, as it assumes that 1.5 million phones were unsold -- whether defective, sitting in stock or in use as demonstration models.

If accurate the figure would easily put Apple over its sales target for the year, 10 million, and beat out predictions from industry analysts. Consensus views have generally forecast 4 million phones for Q4, while Piper Jaffray has suggested as much as 5 million. A definite figure may only become available later this month, when Apple formally announces its Q4 results.


Filed under: iPhone, Investor, Apple
Other story tags: iPhone 3G

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Oh ... ,

2
10/06, 11:48am, EDT

So this explains why AAPL is down $70 over the past month ... !?

I will never understand the fscking stock market.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2007
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In before the drop

4
10/06, 12:40pm, EDT

Well, depending on how bad it gets before it gets better, ATT might find themselves with a whole pile of turned in iPhones b/c people couldn't afford the plans. Hopefully the vast majority of the iPhone users could afford the plan and will be able to weather the economic downturn well. I'm sure we'll soon see a report indicating that Apple has drastically reduced iPhone output soon. I myself have been pining an iPhone and have just been waiting for ATT to move into VT, but I find myself questioning the purchase more and more. I haven't talked myself out of it, but I'm sure my consideration is not atypical of soon-to-be-purchasers. Good for Apple that they sold so many in the short about of time that they did. Their bank account of $10 billion will definitely allow them to get through this downturn. Heh, Apple actually "has" a savings account.

Mac Elite
Joined Oct 1999
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Re: oh

5
10/06, 12:53pm, EDT

Apple isn't just the iPhone, and since iPhone sales are 'subscribed', they only add a small amount to the bottom line per quarter, vs. a huge hunk.

And since EVERYTHING is down in this market correction, trying to figure out why any one stock is down is useless.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
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Wonderful

2
10/06, 1:59pm, EDT

Great, I can expect to take another 20 % hit based on my investment.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2006
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I knew it...

2
10/06, 6:30pm, EDT

It doesn't matter how many iPhones are sold this quarter, Apple is still screwed along with it's investors. I figured it would be a waste of time counting serial numbers when the whole U.S. economy is being flushed down the toilet due to irresponsible loan officers and criminal lending practices.

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Joined Aug 2007
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