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iPhone 4S accounts for 89 percent of iPhone sales
Despite multiple media outlets painting it as a "disappointing" update immediately after its debut, the iPhone 4S is Apple's most popular iPhone by far. A consumer survey by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (via AllThingsD) suggests that the new iPhone 4S accounted for 89 percent of all iPhones sold in Apple's most recent quarter. The US$99 iPhone 4 and free iPhone 3GS were both barely blips on the radar, with 7 percent and 4 percent of overall sales, respectively. iPhone 4S unit sales follow a predictable pattern, with the lowest-priced model being most popular: 16 GB: 45 percent of sales 32 GB: 34 percent of sales 64 GB: 21 percent of sales Some other metrics found in CIRP's research give some further insight into demand for the iPhone 4S: 19 percent of iPhone 4 owners upgraded 42 percent of iPhone 4S buyers broke their existing contract for an early upgrade 19 percent of iPhone 4S buyers sold their old device I've inputted CIRP's results into a spreadsheet and compared them against the iPhone unit sales and revenues in Apple's own earnings. The numbers I got for total revenues when going by CIRP's survey results are only about 6 percent higher than Apple's actual reported revenues, so CIRP's numbers look to be quite close to what actually took place. Keeping that margin of error in mind, unit sales of the iPhone break down approximately as follows: iPhone 3GS: 1.48 million iPhone 4: 2.59 million iPhone 4S 16 GB: 14.8 million iPhone 4S 32 GB: 11.2 million iPhone 4S 64 GB: 6.9 million This distribution of unit sales hews very closely to my own analysis of Apple's iPhone sales. Of note, the iPhone 3GS is still the third-most popular smartphone overall, and with just under 1.5 million units sold it outsold all competing Android handsets (considered individually, obviously not in total). The iPhone 4S is also eating the iPod touch's breakfast and stealing its lunch money; with approximately 10 million iPod touch units sold last quarter, the 16 and 32 GB iPhone 4S models each outsold the iPod touch all by themselves. Siri, define "blockbuster."
Chris Rawson01.26.2012
Good Technology report shows Apple still dominates enterprise activations
Good Technology's quarterly report on device activation statistics among its Fortune 500 clients has been released. Just like previous quarters, the results show a marked dominance of iOS device activations in enterprise environments. In the consumer arena, Android has been running away with the marketshare lead for most of the past couple of years, but iOS continues to rule the enterprise roost. According to Good's analysis, the relative percentage of Android device activations decreased over the quarter. iOS devices made up 71 percent of net activations in Q4 2011, while Android dropped to 29 percent; these numbers compare to 68 percent for iOS vs. 32 percent for Android in Q3. The iPhone 4S was a major factor in Apple's smartphone gains for the quarter, accounting for 31 percent of all device activations -- the single most popular device for the quarter. During September and October, Android smartphone activations were steadily closing in on iPhone activations, but that trend sharply reversed in November. By December, iPhone activations were crushing Android phone activations; in fact, during December the number of iPad activations exceeded the number of Android smartphone activations, something not seen since July. The iPad accounted for 94.7 percent of total tablet activations for Q4, a negligible decline from its 96 percent statistic in Q3. Android tablets accounted for no more than 1 percent of overall device activations in the enterprise, with a 5.2 percent share of overall tablet activations. "For now, the iPad and iPad 2 remain the de facto enterprise tablet standard -- especially when it comes to the large company-driven deployments in verticals such as Financial Services, Business and Professional Services, Life Sciences, and Healthcare," GT reports. The Financial Services sector in particular had an iPad adoption rate four times higher than any other industry. Together, Apple's iPhone and iPad models accounted for the top five out of ten most popular devices activated in the enterprise, with the device breakdown as follows: iPhone 4S iPhone 4 iPad 2 iPad iPhone 3GS Android smartphones rounded out the top 10. The most popular Android-powered device, the Samsung Galaxy S II, accounted for 1.7 percent of overall device activations. GT's summary of 2011 as a whole shows a marked lead in iPhone activations over Android smartphone activations, especially in the last quarter. Meanwhile, the iPad is stomping Android's tablets in the enterprise; Android's tablets barely show up at all on Good's graph of 2011. It's worth noting, as Good itself does, that the numbers for Q4 do not reflect holiday sales. Good Technology expects yet more gains for iOS devices in the enterprise once workers bring their newly-acquired Christmas gifts back to work with them over the first quarter of 2012. Good does not report on BlackBerry or Windows Phone 7 device activations. However, given what we know about RIM's increasingly dismal performance and Windows Phone 7's lack of traction in the consumer market, it's unlikely that either platform is making a meaningful contribution to the overall trend in device activations.
Chris Rawson01.26.2012
iPad has become a big factor in African business
Here's an interesting stat: As compared to the global average, professionals in Africa are actually twice as likely to get offered an iPad by their employers. Forty-seven percent of respondents to IDG's latest survey revealed that they own an iPad issued to them by their employer. The global average, according to the survey, is 24 percent. That sounds high to me, but then again it just means that IDG likely interviewed people already in corporations more likely to give out iPads. It doesn't mean the African number is entirely unfounded, however. It makes perfect sense that many employees working remotely in Africa (for example, outside big cities) would find good use for Apple's iPads. In addition, 83 percent of respondents report using their iPads at work, while only 43 percent report using their iPad at home. That work number is much higher than the global average of 51 precent, and that home number is lower than the global average of 54 percent. IDG says the discrepancy is likely the consequence of spotty Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity on the African continent. Keep in mind that the iPad could serve as a low-cost, powerful Internet-connected computer, which means that it's used for plenty of reasons, not just because it's supplied by an employer. IDG also notes that even globally, the iPad's users remain extremely loyal to Apple: Only 17 percent of those surveyed said they would consider purchasing another non-Apple tablet in the future.
Mike Schramm01.24.2012
Study shows iPhone 4S customers' buying habits
If you recently bought an iPhone 4S, chances are you sold an older model iPhone to fund that purchase. You also probably stayed on your current carrier and purchased the lower capacity models. These trends are gleaned from a Consumer Intelligence Research Partners survey conducted in October, November and December of 2011. According to CIRP, 21 percent of iPhone 4S owners bought the 64 GB iPhone 4S, which means most 4S owners (79 percent) opted for the lower capacity.CIRP also found that 36 percent of 4S owners migrated from another platform, which is up from the 18 percent reported in earlier surveys. This increase is impressive and shows the 4S is gaining traction among Android, BlackBerry or Palm users. It also shows that most customers (64 percent) stick with the iPhone once they make the switch. It's not just customers who benefit from the iPhone. The CIRP survey suggests the iPhone is good for carriers that carry the handset, bad for those that don't. The results show that AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have maintained their iPhone user base and customers are not switching among the big three just to get the iPhone. New customers come at the expense of T-Mobile and other smaller carriers like US Cellular, which don't carry the iPhone.Though I wasn't one of the 365 people who participated in the questionnaire, it describes me perfectly. I'm a 4S owner who sold my iPhone 4 on Craigslist. I stayed with my current carrier Verizon Wireless and purchased the lower capacity 16 GB model. How about you, do you fit into this survey?
Kelly Hodgkins01.24.2012
Pew: Tablet, e-reader ownership nearly doubled over the holiday season
The number crunchers over at the Pew Research Center have released another batch of market statistics today, this time, with a focus on tablets. According to the Center's latest survey, 19 percent of all adult Americans now own some form of tablet, marking a nearly twofold increase over figures from a poll conducted in mid-December. E-reader ownership, meanwhile, increased by exactly the same margin over this period, jumping from 10 percent to 19 percent. These numbers also signal a healthy acceleration from the middle of this year, when the slate and reader markets apparently stagnated, ahead of the holiday shopping rush. Overall, about 29 percent of US adults own either a tablet or an e-reader, up from 18 percent last month. You can find more stats and breakdowns at the source link below.
Amar Toor01.23.2012
Nielsen: iPhone 4S launch was "enormous"
With all the lines here in the US and overseas, we knew the iPhone 4S was going to be a tremendous hit. Now, a Nielsen survey from December gives us some numbers to support this observation. According to the survey, 44.5 percent of smartphone buyers bought an iPhone in December. This number is up from the 25.1 percent who bought an iPhone in the pre-4S month of October. It's also remarkably close to the 46.9 percent who bought an Android device. The majority of buyers (57 percent) chose the iPhone 4S over the iPhone 4 or the 3GS. This surge in iPhone 4S sales had a profound impact on Android. Google's mobile OS still edges out iOS (46.9 percent versus 44.5 percent), but its share of new phone sales has fallen from 61.6 percent in October. As pointed out by Phillip Elmer De-Witt of Fortune's Apple 2.0 blog, these Nielsen results are not unique; a similar trend was recorded by NPD last month. Though the single iPhone 4S couldn't overtake the plethora of Android handsets, it did grab a substantial chunk when Android had a strong profile of available handsets. All the carriers have more than one Android handset, and Samsung launched the flagship Galaxy Nexus with Verizon during the month. Despite this high profile launch, Android numbers slid, while iOS gained. [Via Apple 2.0]
Kelly Hodgkins01.18.2012
Leaderboard: Play the game vs. play the system
Recently, MMO guru Raph Koster made some waves by lamenting the loss of immersion as a core game virtue. In a follow-up post to his first one, he clarified that he was speaking about the two different sides of game play and game development: "These are also two ways to play a game. You can come to it as purely a math puzzle to solve, or you can come at it as an experience. And ironically, with all the advances we have made in terms of presentation, it feels like more and more games are less about the experience and more about the acronyms and mechanics." So in today's Leaderboard, we're going to have it out: immersion versus statistics, the love of the game versus the love of the numbers. Do you play MMOs more for the experience of it -- to be immersed in its game world, reveling in the stories, characters, locales, and feel? Or do you find yourself gaming the system more and more, min-maxing to win at the numbers game while seeking the most efficient path through content? Vote after the jump and let your voice be heard!
Justin Olivetti01.16.2012
MCV 2012 UK salary survey shows industry pay up 10 percent year over year
MCV's 2012 UK Games Industry Salary Survey, which polled 975 people (597 of whom worked in United Kingdom), showed an average UK games industry salary of £33,123 ($50,741), more than a 10 percent increase from 2011's average of £30,667 ($46,979). That figure was created using survey results from "all sectors - development, publishing, retail, PR & marketing, services, technology and business development," according to MCV. Ten percent of respondents were women, which is reportedly in-scale with their overall presence in the British gaming industry. The study's average salary figure is a median average rather than a mean average, we should note, and does not include "the group of very senior, and very well paid, execs" that also participated in the survey. Including their data, the average salary is £35,790. If you include the 378 non-British respondents, the average rose to £34,263, indicating that junior-level employees may be earning more outside of the UK. The survey also showed a disparity between the average salaries of men and women, with industry women making £1.35 an hour less than their male counterparts. This is disproportionate to MCV's global findings, which show that women in the games industry earn more than men on average, albeit only by a few hundred pounds. Here is your reward for making it all the way through a facts-oriented article about salaries and averages. [mffoto via Shutterstock]
Jordan Mallory01.13.2012
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]
Kelly Hodgkins01.10.2012
Nielsen's 2011 media usage report: conventional TV still rules, but online viewing is skyrocketing
2011's come and gone, but Nielsen's media report on the year remains. The latest figures from the year that was have been published, and conventional television is still riding a wave of popularity. We're told that 290 million Statesiders are still ogling at least one television, with around one in three American homes (35.9 million for the mathematicians) owning four or more of the things. Across the wire, some 211 million Americans are online, with a staggering 116 million aged 13 and up accessing the mobile web. Other figures include 253 million DVD players owned, 162 million game consoles, 129 million DVRs and 95 million satellite subscribers. There's also some 111 million people watching timeshifted programming, and Netflix itself has four times the average viewing time per person, per month compared to the boob tube. Concerned about mobile? Android's US market share (again, according to Nielsen) is pegged at 43 percent, while the iPhone has 28 percent and RIM's BlackBerry OS claims 18 percent. Hit up the links below for more charts, numbers and things that your grandmother couldn't possibly care less about.
Darren Murph01.07.2012
Arieso study: iPhone 4S data use is nearly double that of the of iPhone 4
So, first things first. Arieso, the ouftit that conducted this here study, is a company that makes ends meet by "optimizing mobile networks." In other words, there's just a bit of motivation to find results such as these in studies like this. Now that we've got that cleared up, you may be interested in knowing that Apple's iPhone 4S users are consuming around "twice as much data as the previous iPhone model, and even more than iPad tablets due to increasing use of online services like the virtual personal assistant Siri."Of course, this relates only to those sampled, but there's no question that the inclusion of Siri gives users one more reason to tap into their data plan. According to prior studies, the iPhone 4 used only 1.6x more data than the iPhone 3G, while the iPad 2 consumed 2.5x more data than the iPhone 3G. As time marches on, more and more websites are tailoring themselves for mobile use, and there's obviously no stopping the proliferation of data-sucking apps. Whatever the case, we'd just encourage you to mind that data tier (if you're in one) -- wouldn't want to have to ask Siri how to raise money to cover overages, no would you?
Darren Murph01.05.2012
Leaderboard: 2011 vs. 2012
The past vs. the future. The Year of the Rabbit vs. the Year of the Dragon. In short, 2011 vs. 2012 -- which will ultimately prove to be the better year for MMOs? Oh sure, you might say it's unfair to compare a known quantity with an unknown one, but since when has that stopped MMO players from prognosticating the definitive outcome of everything within a 0.0001% margin of error? 2011 was light on major releases, but the ones it did have were certainly significant. Plus, it was a year of major change in the industry as free-to-play spread its tendrils everywhere, studios took risks on new ideas, and if you could get past the loud whining in one corner you'd see millions upon millions of happy gamers flocking to these games daily. Then again, 2012 could be the real deal, the contender for which we've all been waiting. It could see several big AAA releases even as the industry tries to branch out from the established ruts of the past. It's a year full of potential, promise, and play, and it's out there waiting for you. Ultimately, which do you think will go down in history as the better year? Vote after the jump!
Justin Olivetti01.02.2012
Apple sweeps PCWorld satisfaction survey
Despite the occasional report of issues with new models, most Macs tend to be quite reliable. Most Mac users intuitively feel that they're getting a quality machine for their money, and now the PCWorld 2011 Reliability and Service Survey validates that feeling. Apple desktop computers (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro) topped the survey, which compiled results from 63,000 PCWorld readers. The survey ranked manufacturers on five criteria -- problem on arrival, any significant problem, any failed component replaced, dead PC, and overall satisfaction with reliability. Apple got a better than average rating from respondents in four of the five categories, trouncing second and third place Asus and Dell business PCs that both captured that rating in only two categories. In terms of reliability, what are the desktop PCs you want to stay away from? At the bottom of the list were CyberPower, Dell (for home), and HP (for home). The CyberPower PCs (which I've personally never even heard of) received worse than average ratings across the board. Mac owners were also ecstatic about the features of their computers, with Apple getting a better than average rating in six out of seven categories. The sole category in which Apple got slapped with a worse than average rating was expandability. That's not surprising, since the majority of Apple desktop owners have either purchased the iMac or Mac mini, both of which are pretty well closed to any expansion except for RAM. The third area in which Apple kicked butt and took names was in desktop support and maintenance. Apple received better than average scores in four out of four categories, with no other manufacturer receiving a better than average score.
Steve Sande12.07.2011
Consumer Reports: Verizon has highest satisfaction rate among major US carriers, AT&T is lowest
It's annual satisfaction survey time for Consumer Reports, and the magazine has a few results to share in anticipation of next month's issue. It appears that regional provider Consumer Cellular topped the charts -- the survey rated scores from 66,000 online subscribers -- though Verizon was ranked the highest out of the four major players for the second year in a row, followed closely by Sprint and T-Mobile. According to the survey, the latter company was still "significantly better" than last-place AT&T. The full results will be published in the January 2012 issue. Your own personal experience with each provider may vary depending on your locale, of course, but 66,000 people have certainly made their voice heard.
Brad Molen12.07.2011
New Call of Juarez game suggested in Ubisoft email survey
Ubisoft recently sent out an email asking players of Call of Juarez: The Cartel to rate specific parts of the game, and regardless of whether the responses all sum up to "This game is suxorz," it suggests that a sequel is already in the works. The survey asks players which console they own, which Call of Juarez title is their favorite, how they would rate The Cartel's graphics, cut-scenes and "being part of a team but having my own interests come first," among other questions. Ubisoft then asks which which of the following (eerily specific) aspects players would want to see in a new Call of Juarez title: Hunting an outlaw in the rocky mountains Defending a ranch attacked by Mexican pistolleros Preventing a bank robbery Rescuing an innocent man about to be hanged up Taking part in a shooting contest A gun duel in the empty main street of a town against your worst enemy Guarding a fort against a group of outlaws Helping a man to escape from the sheriff's office Defending a train attacked by Native Americans on horses A gunfight in a saloon after a poker game Preventing outlaws from pillaging a gold mine A fusillade between lawmen and outlaws Grab your guns and saddle up -- this could be a very bumpy ride.
Jessica Conditt11.26.2011
Report: 'Casual' interest in portable gaming systems down 29 percent
Got your grain of salt ready? Good! Survey and statistical analysis firm Cowen and Company has published the results of a survey that suggests "casual" gamer interest in dedicated handheld gaming systems has declined by 29 percent over the last 5 years. 37 percent of people polled play games on a dedicated device, while 52 percent primarily use their phones. The study goes on to say that companies like EA, who have invested heavily in iOS and Android gaming, are better positioned for the future of the market as compared to other companies such as Nintendo. Now, these are "self-identified" casual gamers, mind you, and knowing what that means in practical terms or how it affects the results of this survey is an impossibility. It's also no big shocker that the Great Smartphone Boom of the early 21st century has had an impact on dedicated devices of all kinds, from gaming systems to navigation units to carrier pigeons. Seriously, our carrier pigeon side-business is really, really tanking. This may not have been the smartest investment we could have made.
Jordan Mallory11.20.2011
iPad tops holiday wish list for kids
If the latest survey data from Nielsen is anything to go by, Santa Claus is going to be loaded down with Apple products this year. Nearly half of kids aged 6-12 said they want an iPad this year, while nearly a quarter of kids aged 13 or over said the same thing. Nielsen surveyed a "general population sample" of 3000 to obtain these results, and particularly for kids aged 6-12, the survey makes Apple's predictions of record sales this holiday quarter look more likely than ever. The iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone are the top three products kids 6-12 are interested in buying in the next six months. (While the survey says "interested in buying," considering the age groups involved and the time of year, it probably means something closer to "interested in receiving.") Interestingly, the numbers skew far differently for the 13+ age group. The iPad is still the most in-demand product by a comfortable margin, but the iPhone is in seventh place while the iPod touch is 12th out of 18. One possible explanation could be that quite a few people in this age group already have an iPhone or iPod; that probably also explains why all of the Big Three video game consoles, traditionally very highly-sought items during the holiday season, placed quite far down on the list of in-demand items for both age groups. "Computer" was also a device both age groups were highly interested in buying; though Nielsen's data doesn't differentiate between Windows PCs and Macs, it's hard to imagine that even the most jaded of kids would turn up their nose at a MacBook Air. Based on this survey data, if you're stumped for ideas on what gifts to give your kids this holiday season, it looks like you can't go wrong with an iPad. Over the next several days we'll have holiday gift guides for the iPad, iPod, and iPhone (our gift guide for the Mac is already posted) to help you decide which of these products might be the right gift. [via CNET]
Chris Rawson11.17.2011
Does motherhood sell smartphones?
This might be a late contender for weirdest "mobile usage" news item of the year: A new study, put together by an online resource called BabyCenter, claims that there's a tie between women becoming mothers and women buying smartphones. 53% of moms surveyed by the site reported that they bought smartphones (including the iPhone) as a direct result of becoming a mother. Moms are 18% more likely to have a smartphone than "the general population." Why is that? Mothers apparently change their app habits when they have kids as well: Before having kids, women report that their most-used apps are contacts, text messaging, and email services. After having kids? It's the camera for photos and videos, and apps for storing and tracking information. Definitely include a grain of salt with this one -- 53% is a majority, but it isn't a huge margin, and it's unlikely that an online site called BabyCenter really reaches a representative sample of mothers everywhere. Still, there's something here, I think, even if it's only that smartphones and the iPhone are finding new audiences everywhere, far away from the traditional boardroom and male-oriented golf course. [via TheMarySue]
Mike Schramm11.15.2011
Appcelerator developers warm to Windows Phone, give BlackBerry the cold shoulder
As the year winds to a close, it seems that developer sentiments have shifted since we last checked in with Appcelerator and its opinionated community of coders. In a survey performed in conjunction with IDC, the results suggest a steady interest to develop for smartphones and tablets of the iOS and Android variety, but also reveal a punctuated surge in enthusiasm for Windows Phone. The platform experienced an eight percent uptick since last quarter, with developers citing Nokia's involvement as a primary motivating factor. While Microsoft's OS still lags significantly behind the front-runners, it has significantly separated itself from other competitors. For instance, interest in BlackBerry smartphones fell by seven percent, to roughly half that of Windows Phone. It should be noted that this survey doesn't reflect the development community as a whole, but merely of Appcelerator Titanium users -- if you're curious, the product is a cross-platform development environment for mobile apps. While the 2,160 respondents may not perfectly represent reality, we wouldn't be surprised if they were darn close.
Zachary Lutz11.15.2011
Gartner's Q3 2011 smartphone figures: Samsung on top globally, Android tops 50 percent share
Yahtzee! Now that Canalys, IDC and Strategy Analytics have had their turn, it's Gartner's go to serve up its summary of the smartphone world as seen in Q3 2011. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the headlines aren't changing much, with Samsung becoming the number one smartphone manufacturer worldwide with sales reaching 24 million, and Android's quarterly market share inching over 50 percent to best iOS, BlackBerry OS, etc. We also (re)learned that Apple shipped 17 million iPhones in the quarter, which represents an annual uptick of 21 percent, but a 3 percent drop from Q2 2011 due to the looming iPhone 4S release; predictably, Gartner's predicting that Apple's Q4 2011 will be its strongest yet with the 4S on the market. Breaking the operating system share a bit, we found that Symbian is (strangely) still being included, and that Android managed to soar from 25.3 percent in Q3 2010 to 52.5 percent today. iOS actually lost a bit of ground (16.6 percent a year ago compared to 15 percent today), but in fairness, so did BlackBerry OS and Bada. Curious about Microsoft? It's claiming just 1.5 percent of the worldwide pie, a fairly precipitous drop from the 2.7 percent it had a year ago. Far more fun facts and figures await you after the break.
Darren Murph11.15.2011