iPhone Accounts for 77% of Smartphone Sales, 62% of All Postpaid Phone Sales at AT&T in 3Q 2012

AT&T today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2012, revealing that the carrier activated 4.7 million iPhones during the quarter, an increase of one million over the previous quarter as sales were buoyed by the iPhone 5 launch near the end of the period.

AT&T did not specifically break down iPhone 5 sales numbers, but did note that its overall postpaid sales numbers were impacted by "inventory constraints" on the device as Apple has struggled to keep up with demand.

att iphone sales 3q12
Notably, the 4.7 million iPhone activations represented roughly 77% of AT&T's total smartphone sales of 6.1 million during the quarter, showing that Apple continues to dominate AT&T's smartphone customer base. And with smartphones overall rising to account for 81% of AT&T's sales on a postpaid basis, the iPhone represented 62% of AT&T's sales of all phones (smartphones and feature phones) to those customers.

AT&T sold 6.1 million smartphones in the third quarter, 1.3 million more than in the third quarter a year ago. Smartphones represented 81 percent of postpaid device sales. At the end of the quarter, 63.8 percent, or 44.5 million, of AT&T's postpaid subscribers had smartphones, up from 52.6 percent, or 36.1 million, a year earlier and up 1.4 milion from the second quarter. [...]

In the quarter, the company activated 4.7 million iPhones, with 18 percent new to AT&T. The company also had its best-ever sales quarter for Android and Windows smartphones.

Verizon last week also announced healthy iPhone sales for the third quarter, although it too was impacted by supply constraints on the iPhone 5. Sprint will be the third and final major U.S. iPhone carrier to report earnings tomorrow morning, with Apple releasing its official numbers after the close of trading tomorrow.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17

Monday September 1, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote. Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event....

Top Rated Comments

Zunjine Avatar
168 months ago
Sorry but apple screwed up! $329. Really?

Why not eat the $100, make it $229, or even $259 and sell a bazillion of them?

"These amazing tablets retail for £599.99 but we're craaaaazy so we sell them to you for just £9.99! That's right, we take a £300 hit on each device! How do we do it?! We make it up with VOLUME!!!"

All joking aside, your comment reminds me of something. It reminds me of the comments made when the iPhone came out. And when the iPod came out. And when the iPad came out. And when the Macbook Air came out...

How many times have we seen this pattern?

1) Apple releases a gorgeous piece of hardware made from excellent materials with amazing fit and finish, integrated into its unbeatable ecosystem, and pits it against cheaper "higher spec'd" competitors.

2) The interwub moans - too expensives! X Product is cheaper and has more megahootz! No rocket launcher? No sale!

3) Critics compete with each other to be the first to point out how Apple has finally lost it.

4) Millions of normal people (not Apple fanboys or deluded sheeple - just regular folk) buy the device and Apple posts record breaking sales and profits.

5) Customer usage stats demonstrate that these customers are using their devices more and for more things than the competitors supposedly superior products. Customer satisfaction scores remain way above the competition.

How often do we have to see this same pattern repeat over and over and over again before people stop making the same basic error in reasoning - price is only one part of the marketing mix. Value is not only dependant on the specs of the product as listed on a sheet of paper.

Honestly, guys - history repeating!

None of this is to say that Apple can't ever fail or make a terrible error. They have and they will again. But, if they do, it won't be because they refuse to compete on price or they refuse to include the latest tech in everything they do. We have seen, time and time again, that those factors are not the key differentiators.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FFArchitect Avatar
168 months ago
So much change in 5 years.

MacRumors content image
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
STiNG Operation Avatar
168 months ago
Ok....AT&T!!! Take that *hard earned money* and put your LTE towers up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cxny Avatar
168 months ago
4Q will be interesting to see if they can keep up with demand, Apple certainly has their hands full after refreshing just about every product yesterday. An amazing company that always keeps it's eyes on the ball.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rot'nApple Avatar
168 months ago
Sorry but apple screwed up! $329. Really?

Why not eat the $100, make it $229, or even $259 and sell a bazillion of them?

I think this will make more people look at the $199 droids instead. After all, if you are just going to use it for kids, or for reading, why not go with Kindle, or Android?

I am a total apple fan, but I still think they screwed up. Just have to wait for the disappointing after holiday numbers.


"Listen, if you can’t afford an iPad mini, you’re not in the target market. Stop whining. Nobody cares. Developers aren’t interested in those who can’t muster at least $329 for iPad mini. Neither are advertisers. Neither is Apple, who are running a business, not a charity. If you want an iPad mini, but you can’t afford it, either save up for one or trot on over to Costco and settle for a cheesy, plastic, tiny screen pretend iPad mini and all that doesn’t go with it. The choice is yours. It’s like an IQ test.

So, to recap: With iPad mini, nothing has changed. Apple sells premium products at premium prices to premium customers and, when all is said and done, they will sell hundreds of millions of iPad mini units worldwide." (http://macdailynews.com/2012/10/23/newsflash-apple-sells-premium-products-at-premium-prices-to-premium-customers/)
/
/
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Popeye206 Avatar
168 months ago
Sorry but apple screwed up! $329. Really?

Why not eat the $100, make it $229, or even $259 and sell a bazillion of them?

I think this will make more people look at the $199 droids instead. After all, if you are just going to use it for kids, or for reading, why not go with Kindle, or Android?

I am a total apple fan, but I still think they screwed up. Just have to wait for the disappointing after holiday numbers.

Think about it... if they priced it at even $250 for the entry level iPad Mini... why would most people spend more to get an iPod Touch?

Also... maybe I'm wrong, but Apple, unlike other vendors, likes to actually make a profit on hardware sales. No reason for them to give away product right now.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)