“AT&T Inc. stands a good chance of stealing customers away from other wireless operators by carrying Apple Inc.’s highly-anticipated iPhone, two new consumer surveys show,” Amol Sharma and Nick WIngfield report for The Wall Street Journal. “Two-thirds of mobile-phone users who are interested in purchasing the iPhone aren’t AT&T customers but would be willing to switch carriers to obtain the device, according to a survey in May of about 11,000 cellphone users by M:Metrics Inc., which tracks wireless industry trends.”
“The carrier with the most to be concerned about is T-Mobile USA, according to the survey, with 12.5% of its customers expressing a high interest in the phone; followed by 8.1% for Sprint Nextel Corp.; and 6.7% for Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile is seen as especially vulnerable because it has a high share of users in the 18-to-24 age group,” Sharma and WIngfield report. “Overall demand for the device is massive. About 19 million people in the U.S., or roughly 9% of cellphone users, are highly interested in purchasing the iPhone, even when armed with the knowledge they’ll need to pay $499 or $599 to snatch up one of the two versions, and will need to be an AT&T subscriber, according to M:Metrics.”
In a separate online survey of 680 people who were shopping for iPods on the Internet, Compete Inc. polled consumers [and found that] 12% of respondents said they have postponed their wireless-phone purchases to wait for the release of the iPhone and an equal percentage said they had postponed their purchase of an MP3 player… [The research consulting firm] said 15% of its respondents were either likely or extremely likely to purchase an iPhone [and] a quarter of the people interviewed said they were either very likely or extremely likely to switch cellular carrier to AT&T to get the iPhone,” Sharma and WIngfield report.
Full article (subscription required) here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “LinuxGuy and Mac Prodigal Son” for the heads up.]
And I’m one of those folks ready and willing to switch to AT&T so that I can get an iPhone.
The very moment I have $499…
I want to know the monthly charges. I’m hoping that AT&T has decided to go aggressive with the plan and undercut current prices. If the iPhone is intended to be a 3-in-1 device, using the internet on it shouldn’t be financially prohibitive. It should be always available without nickel-and-diming users.
Me too, JadisOne. I have heard horror stories of AT&T but I am willing to put up with it for the iPhone (I don’t know how horrible they are, if at all, but I will deal with it regardless to get me the iPhone!).
I wish I could afford it… Too bad I bought an 80Gb iPod a month before they announced the iPhone in January. I love my iPod but I’d sell it to trade up to the iPhone, and I’d be more than happy to put up with Cingular/AT&T (though I know they suck from past experience) – but it’s just too expensive 🙁
I wonder if Verizon is beginning to regret not playing ball with Apple. Seems their pride is going to come at a price.
yessireebob my verizon plan expires 8/4/07 !!!!
YEEEEHAAAAA
Actually, I was hoping for some more FUD. I have transferred some 401Ks into a rollover IRA and most of that money is finally cleared for trading. I am just hoping the bears take down AAPL today — it’s options expiry day — so I can get a few thousand more shares at a lower price.
@whyme
Poverty can be such a good thing when it comes to technology becuase it keeps you from being the beta tester of anything new that comes into the market. By the time you can afford it, they have ironed out most of the bugs.
@ R i dont think ATT will leave its customers on release day without letting them know of the charges ahead of time. i am predicting by this sunday or the next that they will bring out some more info regarding that.
i wanted to share something else with u all…check this out
http://www.iphonenewyorkcity.com
its got an unofficial ad which looks pretty interesting.
i want an iphone too and i am Waiting for one,
but i really hope it has flash, java, and embedded quicktime/media players in the “REAL” web safari browser. Otherwise, steve is misleading us. The REAL web is all that it has to offer, not just a full text and graphic web page.
I am hoping the shares gradually climb, as I don’t play my retirement on Apple…I invest long term.
hell, I am tryin to sell my:
60Gb iPod
Powerbook 1400
Airport Extremem Basestation
need to raise a few more hun.
I had A,T&T from 2000-2004 and had good luck with them in Texas, Arknasas, SW Oklahoma and NW Louisiana.. I went back to them in 2006 under a corporate plan and prefer them over my Alltel personal phone. Will be going completely A,T&T when I get my iPhone……in a few months.
I’ve gotta wait 1 year (7/8/08) for my Verizon plan to expire, god I hope Apple has released a 2g iPhone by then.
A 2G with 3G? That would make it a G whiz.
@VeriZune
That is a very slick ad. Being a former NYC boy, I think an Ad like that will definitely resonate with my peeps.
4 years ago I got rid of my wired voice and fax lines and over time, managed to get everyone in my family, plus a few friends, to switch to T-Mobile in order to get free calls between all of us.
Now I’m kicking myself because I’d love an iPhone… I could finally retire my Sony Ericsson phone and Palm TX!!! NOT my 80GB iPod… but I’d rather not stir up familial ire over a phone service provider switch.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
On one hand the survey confirming such a huge demand for iPhone, on the other hand there seems to be some news from europe where it is rumored that Apple is Unable to Find iPhone Partner in Europe.
You can find the full story at
http://iprodreviews.blogspot.com/2007/06/apple-unable-to-find-iphone-partner-in.html
Sorry, I am sure you all know this, but:
This is SO SWEET!!! Apple announces 6 months in advance and people are holding off renewing in droves so they can switch, some are considering switching even with fees. SWEET.
PS, I thought that plans could only change you a prorated fee to change plans depending on the length of time the plan has been in place???>
Hey, personally, I am a slow mover. I just got my first iPod, a first get nano refurbished at that. The rest of the family beat me to the punch.
Ouch.
But thats cool. …….Slow and steady . . . . . . means . . . . . . . that everyone gets there before me . . . . . er . . . . . . . darn. 🙁
en
VeriZune…
Now THAT is a fantastic ad!
It actually gave me goosebumps.
Its’ kinda like walking around town where you see, hear and interact with people from everywhere. I’ve heard 4, 5, 6 different languages walking along ONE block (1/10th mile).
Now there’s some Wow!
@VeriZune
Great vid!
I’ve been reading about how european providers are reluctant to take it because of Apple’s demands. They better pray it doesn’t do as well as it looks like it’s going to otherwise it’s gonna cost them a hell of a lot more.
I also like that unofficial ad in which people are spelling out the name in sign language – presumably they’re deaf – which would imply they wouldn’t get the full benefit of the portion of the device after which it’s named. People even want it without the phone.
Oooh ChrissyONE, I love you so much I’m naming myself after you, too. Maybe you can be a brand. Hell you practically are around here. Sell anything? I know Christopher and Jadis, your disciples would buy.
MW: “get” some self-respect people. And your own identity.
Excuse me?