Missing iPhones, Mr. Gary Lee Cries, and Beta Testers.
Gary is an apple fanboy so I just figured I’d throw that in there for fun. This isn’t really something to cry about…lol
As of the end of December, Apple has stated that they have sold 3.7 Million iPhones, and over 4 Million by mid-January. The only problem is that AT&T has only activated approximately 2 Million of those phones. Half of the total sold!
So a few places have been throwing theories out there as to where all the iPhones have gone. Have they just been unlocked at a massive rate and spread around the globe by many a travelpro? Did they just miss the last quarter and not register yet? It was Christmas after all. Many of the phones could have been purchased before the end of the year, but not activated until January.
Another theory is this one from CNET:
Apparently, they’re on a shelf somewhere. “Excluding Apple’s own stores, there are about 4,400 total iPhone distribution points worldwide, suggesting each had more than 150 units of channel inventory at the beginning of this year. We believe channel inventory likely built even more in the first few weeks of 2008, given Apple continued to ship iPhones at a high run rate,” Sacconaghi wrote.
Fears that Americans aren’t as pumped about the iPhone as they once were? Possibly. Maybe people are just getting sick of being BETA TESTERS for every new piece of technology that gets released now. I know I am. Every major product that I have wanted in the past few years from the tech standpoint has been crap upon its initial release. Video Game consoles, cell phones, and other portable media products. Not to mention the long history of the computer operating systems that are always in Beta.
I don’t care where you look now, but everything on the internet is in Beta. Products are released as if they were still in Beta because many people end up having to ship them back for replacements after they have purchased them due to the original product not functioning properly. Why am I rambling about this? Well..I used to be one of those guys that bought everything I wanted the day it came out. I learned my lesson several…dozen times. Now I just don;t bother trying to be on the cutting edge. Screw it. When your product actually works correctly then I will buy it.
Spread the Word
Filed under: Apple, Portable Media by JMH
Enjoy this post? Subscribe to the RSS Feed
Well I see them a bunch over here in Shanghai. I know a guy (who knows a guy) that was getting them for people here, unlocked, back in late September, early October.
hahaha . . i’m not crying too badly . . . still got apple stock below $90 to pay for my iphone
. . . you best go get some stock now too . . .$135 today . . it’s gonna hit $200 in 2 months