iPhone Sales Strong in U.S., U.K. and Australia, Weaker in Much of Europe

Reuters reports on new data from research firm Kantar Worldpanel showing strong sales for the iPhone over the last three months in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, driven by the debut iPhone 4S. The company has, however, seen weaker sales in much of continental Europe in the face of economic difficulties and strong competition.

"In Great Britain, the U.S. and Australia, Apple's new iPhone continues to fly off the shelf in the run-up to Christmas. However, this trend is far from universal," said Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director.

Apple's market share in the 12 weeks to end-November rose to 36 percent in the United States from 25 percent a year earlier and in Britain to 31 percent from 21 percent, Kantar said.

However, in France its share slipped to 20 percent from 29 percent and in Germany to 22 percent from 27 percent. Similar drops were seen in Italy and Spain.

The iPhone 4S debuted midway through the reporting period in most of the countries mentioned, although it did launch two weeks later in Italy and Spain. Consumer demand for the iPhone eased in the months leading up to the debut of the iPhone 4S amid high anticipation, but sales obviously surged with the release of the new hardware.

Kantar Worldpanel also reports its data as market share, and with the global smartphone market growing extremely quickly, iPhone sales are likely still rising in countries where Apple's market share has dropped due to the influx of Android-based devices from a variety of manufacturers.

iphone 4s 4 3gs lineup
For the holiday quarter, Apple is projecting blockbuster revenue and earnings, with analysts pushing their iPhone estimates for the quarter into the range of 30 million units. That performance would shatter Apple's current record for iPhone sales of just over 20 million units sold during the second calendar quarter of this year.

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Top Rated Comments

iCole Avatar
174 months ago
wonder why this doesn't bring results in Europe? I know some Europeans and they have pretty much the same electronics as us. Well maybe they aren't as common however.

Not as common? Its not Africa here, you know.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
174 months ago
Reporting "market share numbers in the smartphone market" is stupid. That part of the market is growing because people are switching from cheap dumb phones to cheap smart phones in large numbers. Android growth will stop when there are no more cheap dumb phones to convert to Android phones.

The relevant numbers are: Numbers of iPhones sold, revenue from iPhones sold, and market share in the total phone market.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Buduls Avatar
174 months ago
Thats because iPhone4S did not bring much compared to iPhone4 for non English speakers.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unlinked Avatar
174 months ago
Headline should read:

iPhone Sales Strong In Countries With Loads of Money, Not Strong In Countries Who Are Broke.

lol. As if this is news

If we are going for simplistic headlines how about 'China lends America money for new iPhone. America promises to like totally pay them back next week.'
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ombrenelcielo Avatar
174 months ago
wonder why this doesn't bring results in Europe? I know some Europeans and they have pretty much the same electronics as us. Well maybe they aren't as common however.

well, buying an identical phone (basically), just because it has a voice assistant for 600$ doesn't make much sense to the average european consumer.. maybe..
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adamtore Avatar
174 months ago
Headline should read:

iPhone Sales Strong In Countries With Loads of Money, Not Strong In Countries Who Are Broke.

lol. As if this is news


hahaha, best thing I´ve read in a while! You think US isnt broke?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)