iPhone 3G lures Mobile-Carrier Defections
The NPD Group, a market-research firm, reports that 30 percent of the U.S. consumers who bought Apple’s iPhone 3G from its release on July 11 through August shifted mobile carriers for AT&T, which holds sole U.S. sales rights for the sizzling device.
Noted by Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD, about half of AT&T’s new iPhone 3G buyers elected to change from Verizon Wireless, while 24 percent came from T-Mobile defections, and 19 percent deserted Sprint.
The launch of the lower-priced iPhone 3G was a blessing to total consumer smartphone sales while the original iPhone also aided win customers for AT&T, the faster network speeds of the iPhone 3G have tested more attractive to customers that already had access to a 3G network.
The prevailing economic environment goes on to negatively affect the market, restricting consumer spending and replacement purchases in general.