Survey finds iPhone demand still strong in North America
The iPhone 4S launched several months ago, and demand remains strong says a new survey from ChangeWave. The December 2011 survey asked customers if they were buying a new smartphone in the next 90 days and which handset they would choose. Similar to previous surveys, the iPhone was the top choice, chosen by a majority (54%) of the respondents. The runner-ups were Samsung and Motorola which grabbed 13% and 7% of shoppers, respectively.
The iPhone has slipped a bit, and Samsung has gained some ground since the September 2011 survey. This isn't a sign that Apple is losing its appeal; it's just the natural flow of product launches. ChangeWave surveyed customers in September, just before the launch of the iPhone 4S. People were eager for Apple's new phone and waiting to buy it. In December, the fervor died down and demand dropped slightly. Samsung, however, launched its flagship phone, the Galaxy Nexus in the US in mid-December. Demand climbed because the phone was brand new.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months. Apple will continue to provide the 4S, while Samsung will likely reveal a range of handsets at both CES in January and Mobile World Congress in February. Samsung won't surpass Apple in the coming months, but its string of phones could take another percentage point or two from Apple. Of course, Apple will recoup these points when it introduces the iPhone 5.
[Via GigaOM]
