Apple Continues iPhone Hype at One Million Mark
By Jennifer LeClaire July 14, 2008 3:34PM
Apple, Inc. continued building hype around its iPhone 3G, with one million sold in three days and 10 million downloads from Apple's new App Store. Apple CEO Steve Jobs called the opening weekend "stunning" and the App Store a "grand slam." But an analyst noted that the hype helps blur the iPhone's pitfalls and growing competition. The hype that began with Apple's iPhone 3G launch Friday continued through the weekend and was almost as loud on Monday, with Apple adding to the fire. The company said it sold more than one million iPhone 3Gs and users downloaded more than 10 million applications from its App Store. The new iPhone 3G combines all the original features of the iPhone plus 3G networking that is twice as fast, built-in GPS for expanded locationbased mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software, which includes support Relevant Products/Services for Microsoft Relevant Products/Services Exchange ActiveSync and runs more than 800 third-party applications available through the new App Store. In the U.S., the new iPhone 3G is priced at $199 for the 8GB model, and $299 for the 16GB model. A 'Great Start' The iPhone 3G is selling in 21 countries -- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the U.S. -- and will go on sale in France on July 17. "iPhone 3G had a stunning opening weekend," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "It took 74 days to sell the first one million original iPhones, so the new iPhone 3G is clearly off to a great start around the world." 10 Million in Three Days Apple also announced that iPhone and iPod touch users have downloaded more than 10 million applications from the App Store since its launch late last week. More than 800 native applications are available, with more than 200 offered free and more than 90 percent priced at less than $10.
Developers have created a wide array of mobile applications ranging from games to location-based social networking to medical applications to enterprise Relevant Products/Services productivity tools. Users can wirelessly download applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch and start using them immediately. "The App Store is a grand slam, with a staggering 10 million applications downloaded in just three days," Jobs said. "Developers have created some extraordinary applications, and the App Store can wirelessly deliver them to every iPhone and iPod touch user instantly." Too Much iHype? Daren Tsui, CEO of mSpot and an expert in 3G entertainment, said the wireless landscape has evolved significantly since the first iPhone made its breathless debut, and users today can easily get the iPhone's onceunique qualities from a variety of high-quality competitors. More important, they can avoid the iPhone's potential pitfalls and limited platform capabilities altogether, he said. Those pitfalls, Tsui said, include the fact that the iPhone is limited to one carrier and remains beholden to AT&T Relevant Products/Services, the merits of an over-the-air system versus the iPhone's side-loader system, and the universal availability of mobile entertainment concepts for handhelds. "The overwhelming buzz marketing machine behind the 3G threatens to distract users from the fact that, simply put, the device's clever qualities are out there and available in other, better phones these days," Tsui said. "Push aside the hype, and you'll see that serious carrier and platform restrictions threaten to limit Apple's growth."
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