If there’s any doubt about the fact that Apple’s latest iPhone is something to watch out for then clearly we haven’t heard the analysts speak. Just a few months after the successful release of the iPhone 5 in the United States, Apple ventured into the world by releasing the iPhone 5 in about 50 countries including Albania, Malaysia, Taiwan, Turkey and Venezuela. But the most notable release the American tech giant has had abroad was in China and the numbers say there is no denying that.
Two Million iPhones and Counting
Just three days after the December 14 release of the iPhone 5 in China, the Cupertino-based tech company announced that they were able to sell 2 million units, a feat that CEO Tim Cook described as “incredible” and “the best first weekend sales ever in China.” Such was the iPhone 5 phenomenon in China that, weeks before the release, China Unicom, Apple’s partner carrier in China, reported 300,000 reservations for the said iPhone. And while reports say there were less stellar crowds at the Apple Store on opening day, analysts say the iPhone 5’s first few days on China’s shores still showed strong signs of growth.
The Expert’s Take
After selling 5 million units in three days in the United States, the tech giant suffered a shocking plunge in stocks which was credited to the slow shipping of iPhone 5 supplies, easily scratched back panels, Maps app failures and management shakeups. But a lot of analysts who looked into the China sales feat thought that this was exactly what Apple needed to climb back on top. Analysts from Atlantic Equities believe that the 2 million mark could help the American tech giant bring back investor trust. People at Barclay’s also agree that the China sales report was a good start to easing the worries investors may be having as of late.
ISI, meanwhile, reported that Apple’s iPhone 5 success in China was a “strong launch” especially since the 3G subscriber market in the said country is very limited. Some analysts like those from RBS thought that it was notable how the tech company managed to get a fair share of the Chinese smartphone market even without the help of China Mobile’s 700 million subscribers as well as their 75.6 million 3G customers. Piper Jaffray’s analysts also believe that the demand for the iPhone remains strong despite all the troubles the company went through in the past quarters.
Is Bigger and Tougher Going to Cut It for Apple?
It is not very surprising that the tech giant is beginning to toughen up their marketing strategies by going global. Just this month, the tech giant managed to launch the iPhone 5 in 50 countries. Reports say the company is on its way to launching the premiere smartphone in more than 100 countries by the end of this year. And while this bold attempt is pushing analysts to the edge of their seats, iPhone addicts are clearly becoming more excited about what’s in store for them, no matter where they are in the world.
Author Byline: Twila B. is a writer, a multimedia enthusiast, a blogger and an iPhone addict. She’s currently a news writer for Cashforiphones.com and has written hundreds of articles since 2010. Check out her writings at Cashforiphones.com/cfi/news!