Survey: many want, few will buy iPhone
updated 11:15 am EDT, Tue May 1, 2007
Markitecture iPhone Survey
Despite a clear level of interest, few are actually willing to buy the iPhone when it launches, say the results of a newly published Markitecture survey. A study of 1,300 people who both own and pay for their cellphones has shown that 77 percent of survey takers were at least partly aware of the iPhone -- a feat before the actual launch, the researchers say -- only 6 percent of those who responded said they were likely to commit to buying the device within the next year. Two thirds of respondents were even certain that they wouldn't buy the phone with what they knew.
The response wasn't due to strictly negative feedback, according to Markitecture. Of those who had heard the most about the handset, a full 83 percent said they came away with a strongly favorable impression of the device. The factors listed for declining to buy the iPhone were familiar issues, particularly the minimum $499 price for the touchscreen device and the necessity of switching away from an existing carrier or contract.
However, the seemingly low adoption rate may actually bode well for the device, te research firm claims. The sheer size and fractured nature of the market means that few cellphone manufacturers can hold an especially large share of sales, especially with individual phone models. A literal translation of the intent shown in the survey to actual sales could be very beneficial for Apple.
"While 6% may appear low for a
high-profile product launch, it actually may actually be very strong," Markitecture said. "The highly successful Motorola RAZR after its launch in 2004 achieved a 6% market share at its peak."
Still, the research suggested that much could be done to improve the appeal of the phone in the long run, such as creating a lower-priced model. A long-term contract with AT&T may have also been a mistake that unnecessarily limited the number of customers, the firm said.
60 Million is "few"?
05/01, 11:33am reply
Taking that 6% figure and applying it to the one billion cell phones sold each year comes to 60,000,000 people willing to part with their money to buy one. That's only SIX TIMES MORE than what Apple is anticipating.
Why would you call that "few", unless your intent is to just make sensational headlines (and negatively biased against Apple, of course) to get a good hit count for today?
wings_rfs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2002
Re: 60 million
05/01, 12:10pm reply
Redo the math. The poll was most likely done with US residents, not the world, while that billion number you're using is world sales. Where and when the iPhone will be available in other parts of the world is unknown.
Then you need to take into account the providers involved (cingular in the US, who knows who elsewhere). Will it be an open phone in Europe? How about when it will appear in asia (most likely where a huge hunk of that billion number comes from). And, of course, how much do the 6% know about the phone to make their decision on?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Deal Killer
05/01, 12:21pm reply
The deal killer is likely to be the subscription fees. The cost of the phone can be spread out over several years, but if ATT/Apple gets greedy with the monthly fees, especially for the data downloads, that will be the poison in the apple. If they bundle voice with sky-high data monthlies, it will undermine the adoption for most non-business users.
debohun
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 1999
Singular
05/01, 12:36pm reply
I'm actually a bit tired of all the news about this silly phone. A cingular service is a bad idea. I won't buy Nike shoes either.
However, I will buy a new laptop and a new OS if they come.
dmsimmer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2005
I want one :)
05/01, 01:21pm reply
Even if you look at the US market, which is approx 120,000,000, that is approx 7.2 million potential sales. If the buzz is good, then that will be more.
Now this number will be less since you are limited to cingular users and people who need a new phone...etc...but there is interest.
dynsight
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
dmsimmer
05/01, 03:27pm reply
dmsimmer says: > A cingular service is a bad idea. > I won't buy Nike shoes either.
That's nice, but if you backed those statements up with REASONS why those are bad products, or ideas, maybe then people would actually lend credence to your opinion.
ZinkDifferent
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
So what?
05/01, 03:32pm reply
I can't buy a mansion or a Mercedes either, but yet I own a house and a car. They should sample those who would spend $500 on a phone.
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
enough will buy at 500
05/01, 11:45pm reply
and then the price will drop, deals will be offered, rebates and all that. given enough time, expanded network options, etc., the iphone will do just fine
slur
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
Oh no.
05/19, 08:54pm reply
I've had cingular since august 2005, and i can tell you right now i've dropped no calls, and i've never had a problem unresolved be it with a device issue or something to do with billing. All of the people i know with other carriers in this area despise their service and can't wait to get an iPhone, early termination fees or not. One other thing that most people don't think about when they hear the term "smart phone". You don't need a data plan if you use the wifi feature. Wifi is way way faster than anything a cell network can currently do, plus yahoo email is free and so on. If this phone is as good as i think it will be, i may sell my laptop and just use the iPhone for day to day stuff.
Fast iBook
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2003
Look people this is APPLE
06/10, 07:54am reply
The phones will be plentiful, the service will be exemplary and the pricing for service should be in line with what you would expect for what you get. We Mac users have always been willing to pay a little extra to have the BEST. Get ready folks this is going to be BIG, worth the wait, and worth every FRACKING penny.
ColorOnDemand.com
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007