Home AT&T Tops Android, iPhone Sales Record Last Quarter

AT&T Tops Android, iPhone Sales Record Last Quarter

AT&T just had its biggest smartphone sales quarter in history. In an announcement today, Ma Bell said that it sold more than 10 million smartphones over the fourth quarter, including  record sales for both iPhone and Android sales. 

If you are an iPhone or an Android fan, there are definitely things to like about AT&T’s announcement. Yet, if you look closely, you will note that there is more for iPhone fans to enjoy than for Android.

Of the three major carriers in the United States that carry the iPhone (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint), AT&T has long had the highest rate of Apple users. This is a lasting effect of the fact that AT&T had exclusivity on iPhone sales in the U.S. for nearly four years (July 2007 until March 2011, when Verizon came out with its iPhone 4S). In the second quarter of 2011, 72.5% of smartphone purchases on the carrier were of the iPhone variety. In the third quarter, the iPhone constituted about 70.1% of its AT&T’s smartphones sales. 

We can reasonably assume that AT&T’s sales rate of iPhones will be approximately 68%-70% for the fourth quarter, given the historical trend of Apple sales at the carrier. Yet, if AT&T is saying that Apple sales were a quarterly record, then the number should be higher than the 7.6 million iPhones it sold in Q4 2011. 

The leftover AT&T sales presumably went to Android, though it is curious that AT&T did not mention Windows Phone sales in today’s release. Nokia released the Lumia 920 exclusively to AT&T in Q4 and HTC released its Windows Phone 8X to the carrier in the quarter as well. It is likely that AT&T sold between 2.1 million and 2.4 million Android devices during the holiday season, if we taking the “record” Android sales claim from the carrier seriously. 

As companies give final reports on 2012 numbers, we note that each successive story shows that last year was the year that mobile truly exploded. Look for more record breaking numbers to come from other manufacturers, carriers, app developers and services as companies continue to report their numbers from last quarter. 

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.