iPods surprise, iPhones disappoint in Q109
updated 05:20 pm EST, Wed January 21, 2009
iPods up, iPhones down
In announcing the results of its fiscal first quarter, Apple has revealed that it sold a record 22,727,000 iPods during the period, a 3 percent growth year-over-year. The number is particularly unusual in light of estimates from analysts, which suggested that even 20 million units would be a positive and optimistic number. Many observers called for figures between 18 and 20 million.
iPhone sales slipped below the Street consensus of 5 million however, amounting to only 4,363,000. The number may prove especially disappointing to research firms like Piper Jaffray, which at one point called for shipments as high as 6.4 million phones; regardless, Apple notes that the figure represents an 88 percent growth year-over-year, a factor most likely attributable to the increased global distribution of the iPhone 3G.
Mac shipments have proven to be roughly on par with consensus, listed at 2,524,000 compared to projections between 2.5 and 2.6 million. The official tally is a 9 percent growth year-over-year.
In terms of revenue distribution, Apple figures claim approximately $3.37 billion derived from iPods, and $3.55 billion derived from Macs, the latter total being split into $1.04 billion from desktops and $2.51 billion from MacBooks. iPhone revenue is listed at just $1.25 billion, but Apple has chosen to defer full figures under GAAP accounting rules.
Wow.
01/21, 06:21pm (1 reply) reply
iPods and iPhones generate more revenue for apple than all of their CPUs combined. That's quite impressive.
bjojade
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Joined: Jun 2007
Count me as one (1)
01/21, 06:25pm (2 replies) reply
I'm a recent iPod purchaser (actually two) and they would have been iPhones if the iPhone wasn't slaved to AT&T and generally, overall, costly. I know if compared to other "smartphone" packages it might appear not in excess; but, being slaved is being slaved. Apple, if you're listening, figure out how I can switch to iPhone free to choose my carrier!
Stuke
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Joined: Feb 2005
Not quite
01/21, 07:01pm reply
Being slaved would imply that AT&T is somehow abusing Apple and not giving anything in return. If anything, AT&T is slaved to Apple.
Whichever, you are always free to get an unlocked iPhone anywhere where they're legally sold (many countries around the world; Belgium and Italy come to mind). You can then stick any SIM card in it and use it on any plan (or without one), in US or elsewhere. Obviously, Sprint and Verizon are out of the question.
vasic
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Joined: May 2005
Re: count me
01/21, 10:47pm (3 replies) reply
Then again, if he could get an iPhone from any carrier, then maybe he wouldn't be stuck with a minimum $70 contract per month, but could get what he wants for how he intends to use it.
Oh, right, that would imply choice, and we can't have choice.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
iPhones disappoint?
01/22, 06:50am reply
The only people the iPhone sales disappoint are stupid ANALysts. Take a look at what's happening to Sony Ericsson and Motorola and you can see what the market is like for cellphones and you will appreciate how the iPhones did.
chefpastry
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2005
Re: iPhones disappoint
01/22, 09:30am reply
If you don't think Apple is disappointed in the iPhone sales, you're smoking something. They're just not going to admit it.
Just like they won't admit they're disappointed in AppleTV sales, which so far have been neglible as best as anyone can discern (based partly on the fact that Apple hides the sales numbers...)
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
Make 'em Pay as U Go...
01/22, 09:38am reply
... and watch sales skyrocket.
Monstermind
Junior Member
Joined: May 2000
Re: testudo
01/22, 10:53am reply
First of all, almost every other carrier released their version of the "Jesus" phone here in the states last quarter. I'm sure Apple figured that it would impact their sales somewhat. If you don't think Apple was aware of that, you must be smoking something.
Apple also doesn't break-out iPod touch sales from the rest of the iPods, I seriously doubt you would or could draw a disappointing conclusion from that. Apple has stated they consider the AppleTV to be a "hobby", which clearly means, to anyone with more than half a brain, that they aren't currently making a ton of money from it, but that they do see interest continuing to build.
Apple was disappointed with the G4 Cube sales, and guess what? They admitted it and discontinued it. Apple was disappointed in that iPod speaker system sales, and guess what? They discontinued it as well. As well a dozen other products. Your argument that Apple cannot admit to failures has absolutely no merit.
mjtomlin
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Joined: Oct 1999
In A Nutshell...
01/23, 12:12pm reply
iPods up, iPhones down, Mac Pros MISSING.
Monstermind
Junior Member
Joined: May 2000
Mac growth slowdown
01/26, 10:59am reply
Here's a nice analysis of the growth slowdown, note how Apple desktop sales have fallen for 3 of the past 4 quarters
http://switchtoamac.com/site/mac-growth-slowdown-2-consecutive-quarters-of-growth-deceleration.html
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999