There is little question that the iPhone was revolutionary when released. While demand for the phone has fallen given other options, namely Android-based phones, it remains a serious force in the sector. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) enjoyed its biggest phone launch and weekend sales period when the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S were released last week. iPhone sales alone account for more revenue than Nike, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Proctor and Gamble, not collectively but individually. iPhone revenue alone would make it the ninth-largest U.S.-based company if it were separated from its Cupertino, CA parent.
Apple could sell 34 million iPhones in the September quarter
While these numbers are quite impressive, they may get even rosier according to various analysts who believe that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could sell 34 million iPhones in the soon-to-end September quarter. One of these analysts, Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley, recently told AppleInsider that based on the latest AlphaWise Smartphone Tracker survey data she expects sales of 37 million handsets. That demand is more than Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) can presently supply, and Huberty thinks that Apple will have to settle for shipping 34.5 million phones.
Apple may not be able to supply an iPhone 5s unit to everyone revealed the latest AlphaWise Smartphone Tracker survey data to on Thursday, which shows iPhone demand in the third quarter of calendar 2013 tracking to 37 million units. While Apple may not be able to supply an iPhone 5s unit to everyone who wants one by the end of the quarter, Huberty believes Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will ship about 34.5 million handsets during the period.
According to the AlphaWise study, it is interest from China and Japan that are showing the biggest gains in year-over-year interest in Apple’s iPhone. This is especially promising for Apple given that they have only begun offering iPhones in China to China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (NYSE:CHU) (HKG:0762). China Mobile, the world’s largest cellular carrier, won’t launch its foray into China with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) until next month.
The Alphawise study measures consumer demand based on analysis of Web search results. The study points out that interest remains high even a week after the phone was released last Friday. Huberty, last week, pointed out in her analysis of iPhone sales that the lack of preorders for the 5S were “overblown” citing additional survey data that predated the Alphawise study.
