NPD says 30% of iPhone 3G buyers switched carriers, Google Street View and more said to be in 2.2 firmware

The NPD Group offered a bit of insight into the carrier-jumping habits of original iPhone buyers way back when and, as you might expect, it's now back at it and taking a stab at determining exactly where the iPhone 3G's users are coming from. According to the group, between July and August of this year, 30 percent of iPhone 3G buyers ditched their existing carrier to buy the phone, which is a somewhat significant uptick from the 23 percent of consumers overall that switched carriers during the same time period. Of that 30 percent, 34 percent of 'em switched from Verizon, 24 percent came from T-Mobile, and 19 percent came from Sprint. That same report also pegs the BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Pearl, and the Palm Centro as the next best selling smartphones. In related news, the 2.2 firmware beta floating about has apparently turned up a few more hidden surprises -- namely, support for Japanese emoji icons, an off setting for the auto-correction feature and, purportedly, support for Google Street View in the Google Maps application, although there's unfortunately no screenshot evidence of the latter feature just yet.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - CNET News, "30 percent of iPhone 3G buyers dump existing carriers"
Read - Mac Rumors, "iPhone 2.2 Hidden Features: Google Street View, Emoji, Auto-Correction Off"

[Kris @ Oct 6th 2008 1:23PM]

If only Apple would open the platform to developers more.

[rock99rock @ Oct 6th 2008 2:00PM]

If only engadget would include Installer and Cydia on every picture of the iphone they post.

[X-Blade™ @ Oct 6th 2008 2:08PM]

Can we have a proper functional bluetooth?

A file system? like files/folders?

[Bobby @ Oct 6th 2008 2:26PM]

video content in itunes store, voice dialing, call recording ....

[Bob @ Oct 6th 2008 2:52PM]

Cut & paste
MMS
more keyboard options

The funny thing is the next gen iPhone will have cut & paste. Every iPhanatic will think Apple is a company of geniuses for adding this feature & that is all they will talk about for the next 6 months. A feature every other smart phone has had for over half a decade. Apple's form over function is getting annoying... Apple please give us usable function.

[tealfixie @ Oct 6th 2008 3:08PM]

didnt apple kill the NDA?

[Veraxus @ Oct 6th 2008 4:22PM]

File system? Like the one you get with the AirSharing app?

I'm stoked that I'll finally be able to disable the autocorrect "feature" - but I'd be even happier if they just let me add my own words to their library. Nothing is as frustrating as trying to swear on a ducking iPhone.

Sent from my iPhone

[rob @ Oct 6th 2008 4:31PM]

No. File system that doesn't need wifi. Just like with normal iPods. you can drag and drop files after simply connecting via usb cable. With AirSharing, you actually have to have a wireless router and bother with finding out wireless security credentials and such. Nice option, but not ideal in many situations.

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 6th 2008 10:32PM]

Meaning what exactly? The SDK is a free download, and $99 gets you in to the appstore. If you want to break free from any of the SDK limitations, jail breaking is only a click away...

[Hold McGroin @ Oct 6th 2008 1:25PM]

30% of people switched to NSA/AT&T for a fancy dumbphone and a huge bill. Go America!!

[Corey @ Oct 6th 2008 1:29PM]

Okay but whos to say what they were switching from? Coulda been $50 Verizon plans for LG Chocolates......in which case its really not a big deal. I Switched from Verizon for the original iPhone and I dont regret it at all.

People buy what they want. Go America!

[CraigJ @ Oct 6th 2008 1:34PM]

Congratulations, you're a troll, but with a name like Hold McGroin, I wouldn't expect much better. Your momma must be so proud of you.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 6th 2008 1:34PM]

Cory,

Ditto. I was happy to ditch Verizon's craptacular service, and I didn't have any kind of smartphone before. Well, I had a Q for about a week, but even a 'dumbphone' is better than Windows Mobile so I switched back to my cheap Samsung before the iPhone pricedrop made it too attractive to pass up.

Absolutely no regrets, the iPhone does exactly what I want, and works exactly as it should. Well, except the dark days of 2.0.x firmware slowness.

[tyler @ Oct 6th 2008 1:35PM]

Go America is right.

The nice thing is, if you have the financial freedom to afford something, you have the freedom to purchase whatever you want. If I want to pay AT&T for an iPhone, so be it.

[KarlW @ Oct 6th 2008 2:42PM]

You may criticise it, but the figures above say that you're opinion isn't representative.

As do I. The bill isn't huge (£35/mo is pretty good in the UK), and the phone is pretty good. Like it or not, nobody can deny that the iPhone is the one to beat. That's why most recently released smartphones are trying to copy the iPhone (it's not bad. It's natural in any market to copy the market leader. It inspires innovation. First you match, then you beat).

I still think the iPhone is the best smartphone around. Numbers like the above are unparalleled in the industry.

[Jack Storm @ Oct 6th 2008 3:00PM]

@unixsystemengineer

Are you dumb?

Well i know my Windows Mobile phone isnt because as of right now it can do way more than what your iPhone can, but thats not saying much.

Im not even a fanboy, i own a macbook and a 16gig touch, so i will admit i love my windows mobile phone.

[Cooter @ Oct 6th 2008 5:30PM]

In Soviet Russia, a fancy dumbphone switches off 30% of people. Go Imperialists!!

[Miike @ Oct 6th 2008 1:29PM]

You can see Russia from Alaska with Street View.

[Nick @ Oct 6th 2008 1:31PM]

You can see stupid from anywhere if you look at yourself in the mirror.

[brandon @ Oct 6th 2008 1:32PM]

You can also see Sarah Palin from Russia in street view with her big head....

[who? @ Oct 6th 2008 1:33PM]

@Nick

I can see your comment from right here.

[CraigJ @ Oct 6th 2008 1:37PM]

Can we please leave off the topics of politics and religion? There really is no reason to bring it up on a gadget blog, unless the politics are directly related, regardless of your political perspective.

[Frankie @ Oct 6th 2008 2:32PM]

@Miike: Best comment ever!

[baef @ Oct 6th 2008 2:34PM]

No

[Nick @ Oct 6th 2008 1:29PM]

I bet a good majority of those are complaining about the ATT network switched from superior carriers.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 6th 2008 1:30PM]

In related news, water is wet.

[Nick @ Oct 6th 2008 1:33PM]

We know you could give a hoot about network reliability.

Just look at your avatar. Form over function

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 6th 2008 1:40PM]

You seem to have missed the point, again. Congrats.

Let me explain it to you. Obviously people who switched from *worse* carriers wouldn't be complaining, and those who switched from better carriers would.

Good point, though. Clearly Apple and BMW don't have a strong history of innovative, solid, functional products. Just have you have a history of well-informed, educational posts.

[Frankie @ Oct 6th 2008 1:47PM]

@Nick, Love: Your Avatar. Hate: Your comments.

[nerdtalker @ Oct 6th 2008 1:52PM]

I agree, I'm more interested in knowing:

1. What % of the subscribed base suffers appreciable 3G network degradation and dropped calls out of the norm (they can and DO track this)
2. What % of the subscribed base has switched back, or away from the iPhone?
3. What is the average data use/cost incurred from data?
4. What % of the base has upgraded to the latest firmware? (This is important since the previously noted signal/radio transmit power issues affect everyone in the parent pilot, so there is some critical mass of customers that must update before everyone feels a difference)

[Dan @ Oct 6th 2008 1:54PM]

AT&T has great 3G coverage in the Twin Cities, I couldn't be happier and don't regret switching one bit.

[brian @ Oct 6th 2008 2:17PM]

@Dan

O ryry? I need to pick up a 3g before I break my first gen any further :D St Paul here.

[Valicore @ Oct 6th 2008 2:22PM]

What don't people get?! EVERY carrier has its good and bad spots. I get coverage from T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, and MetroPCS. Verizon is terrible. For my money, Sprint is better for data and voice in the SF Bay Area. I KNOW there are places where T-Mobile is the best. It just depends.

[Michael @ Oct 6th 2008 2:26PM]

Meanwhile, typing this on my iPhone, I notices that AT&T's coverage here in Iowa is nothing short of lacklus

[Nick @ Oct 6th 2008 2:48PM]

@unix
Thanks for informing me but you did nothing but rehash what I was pointing out. Folks who are already on AT&T know it has poor 3G coverage.

While I disagree with BMW making solid products (based off of their motorcycle lineup which needs frequent expensive tune ups) I have to say that my 2.2 MBP is a good product (just got it back from apple I'm on my 3rd logic board).

@frankie
I love their clothing what can I say.
www.astyle.it

@Dan
When I'm in the downtown area my AT&T service is great too (not an iphone). Anyway I'm happy for ya! PS thanks for the team GO STARS

[Frankie @ Oct 6th 2008 1:29PM]

Street View in 2.2 firmware? That's one less thing I can boast about to iPhone users when I get my G1. Hopefully the 2.2 firmware doesn't utilize the accelorometer for the "compass" function, like the G1.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 6th 2008 1:31PM]

Whatever happened to buying a device because you liked how it worked and the features it has, rather than using it as a poor excuse to (try to) impress people?

[who? @ Oct 6th 2008 1:34PM]

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284735786&mt=8
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=288420566&mt=8
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=286550480&mt=8

[James @ Oct 6th 2008 1:40PM]

I think it's all about competition, man. I don't think that's a killer app, anyway. More like a novelty that will wear off after a few uses. I think the normal map view will work best for me.

The beauty about the G1 is that it offers an alternative platform than the iPhone. There are others like s60, RIM, and Palm, but none of them seem to have the potential that Google's does. Also, unlike the App Store, Google isn't strangling the developers. Yes, yes, of course that means possibility for foul play, but at the same time, think about all those iPhone users who went through the trouble of possibly bricking their phones and voiding warranties to install apps that should be available to use. That alone tells you that there are iPhone users that would probably appreciate to open environment of the Android Market.

And I think Google's integration with its services and Android will be second to none. I'm a big fan of them already, so this will just make my life easier.

I really can't wait for the G1 to arrive at my doorstep.

[Dan @ Oct 6th 2008 1:58PM]

Street View has been in the BlackBerry google maps application for a little while now. it'll be nice to see it on the iPhone finally.

[jfeirstein @ Oct 6th 2008 2:06PM]

@UnixSystemsEngineer. Oh but I do purchase products for functionality opposed to "wow factor". I'd just much rather keep the tone of the discussions light and fun. Which is why did not completely bash the iPhone with a point by point comparison of the G1; inevitably spawning an iPhone versus the World discussion. For what is worth; I own the underrated XDA Flame, dishing out over 1k dollars when it was first released and painstakeingly tweaking the OS. Not a "a poor excuse to (try to) impress people" like you so eloquently put/judged it.

But we all know everyone with the G1 will be approached by someon who either: A- thinks it's the iPhone, or B - Think it's the iphone knock-off. And, wether we like it or not, it will be compared to the iPhone. Just a means of explaing defending your purchase is all.

And, for what it's worth, I'm pretty sure my 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass would whoop your Beamer. As would my Windows PC versus your Mac.

Capeech.

[Zak @ Oct 6th 2008 2:19PM]

jfeirstein: Yes your e-peen is huge, we get it. "Everything I have is better than yours" is a pretty lame and defensive argument. You claim you're not trying to impress people, but then you spout that BS. Contradict yourself much?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 6th 2008 2:59PM]

Jeez jfeirstein, who pissed in your cereal?

I was just saying that it seems lame to be down on the G1 just because Apple might introduce a new feature to the iPhone that adds something that was lacking. Added features on the iPhone in no way take away from one's enjoyment of the G1, just as your enjoyment of your massive Oldsmobile penis in no way takes away from my enjoyment of my little sports car.

[Frankie @ Oct 6th 2008 3:06PM]

@Zack, sorry about the rant I can toatally see where your coming from. In my defense: I'm an enthusiast and can get quite passionate about these devices at time, especially when people assume things based off of a sentence-long post.

I was trying to say that I'm not aiming towards impressing anyone, going out of my way to purchase products that are, to me, functional.
Most people my age think my cutlss is butt-ugly (but i bought it because it has withstood the test of time)
Most people think my XDA Flame is also ugly and clunky (but at the time it was a beastly device, spec wise)

But I can see where you're coming from.

[Frankie @ Oct 6th 2008 3:15PM]

Not to mention that I live a South Florida with a bunch of upity douche-bags driving around in BMW's, sipping Vanilla-Mocha Frapachinos, on there way to Startbucks to let the world see that they're using a MAC. I shouldn't have took it out on UnixSystems guy

[CraigJ @ Oct 6th 2008 3:22PM]

@Unix; I believe the proper phrase is "who shit in your Cherrios"

[CraigJ @ Oct 6th 2008 3:28PM]

@jfeirstein, possibly, in a straight line. maybe. Like they say, any asshole can drive fast on the freeway. No way in hell on a road with any curves. Also I'm pretty sure my Mac with XP AND Mac OS AND Linux would kick your Windows PC ass. Sorry to deflate your e-penis.

[Frankie @ Oct 6th 2008 3:51PM]

@CraigJ, no e-penis; I usually, simply unjoy reading as much engadget comments as possible; rarely replying, unless it's something I think I can add value to. And yeah, your computer is probably better than mine. I'm not into PCs that much. Mobile Devices, are definitely my thing though. Hence my XDA Flame.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 6th 2008 8:33PM]

It's "Who pissed in your Wheaties?".

[who? @ Oct 6th 2008 1:29PM]

iPhone FTW!!! iPod Touch FTBW!!!