Apple today announced that they sold 6.9 million iPhone in the quarter that ended in September 2008. iPhone 3G sales surpassed RIM’s total sales of 6.1 million units in last quarter. Year-over-Year iPhone grew more than 500 percent from 1.1 million in September quarter last year to 6.9 million this year. Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO said, “RIM is a good company that makes good products. Beating them is remarkable.” The increase in iPhone sales makes Apple the second largest smartphone maker behind Nokia.
Apple also noted that measured by revenues, Apple has become the 3rd largest mobile phone supplier. Nokia is on top with $12.7 billion revenue and Samsung is in second place with $5.9 billion revenue. Apple is in third place with $4.6 billion revenue followed by Sony Ericsson with $4.2 billion, LG with 3.4 billion, Motorola with $3.2 billion and RIM with $2.1 billion. The remarkable thing about these numbers is that Apple achieved this by selling just one smartphone model the iPhone 3G. All other cellphone makers have at least 10 different models on the market.
With more than 6.9 million iPhones sold, Apple has also achieved their goal of selling 10 million handsets in 2008, more than two months before the deadline. Apple sold more iPhone last quarter than combined sales of iPhone before last quarter. 6.9 million iPhone 3G units were sold, exceeding the total 6.1 million first generation iPhone units sold in five prior quarters. Apple has sold 13 million total iPhones as of September 27, 2008. Another iPhone related new was that more than 200 million apps have been downloaded from App Store. iPhone 3G launch has been just phenomenal for Apple, if growth continues at this rate very soon Apple will be fighting with Nokia for first place in smartphone market.