Nearly 30% of Apple's first-gen iPhones are still in use - report
Just 2 percent of all iPhone OS handsets still in use are Apple's first-generation iPhone, but a new calculation estimates that amounts to nearly 30 percent of the 6.1 million iPhones sold between June 2007 and July 2008.
Mobile advertising firm AdMob released its monthly Mobile Metrics report on Tuesday, which included information on the hardware and software used by owners of Apple's handsets in the month of March. The data revealed that just 2 percent of all iPhone OS-based handsets that accessed the AdMob network were the first-generation iPhone.
Philip Elmer-DeWitt of Fortune Brainstorm Tech took the data one step further, and factored in Apple's announced total of 85 million worldwide iPhone and iPod touch sales. After it debuted in June 2007 until the iPhone 3G came out in July 2008, the first-generation iPhone sold 6.1 million units, which is about 7 percent of the 85 million total handsets sold.
"If 7% of those iPhone 1Gs are driving 2% of AdMob's traffic," Elmer-DeWitt wrote, "that suggests that nearly one in three is still ticking -- and visiting the Web."
Though the first iPhone has been supported since its release, Apple earlier this month announced that its forthcoming iPhone OS 4 upgrade will not be available for the first-generation device. In addition, the iPhone 3G, first released in 2008, will not have the mobile operating system's multitasking support available for the faster iPhone 3GS.
AdMob's latest report also revealed that the iPhone 3GS is the most popular iPhone, generating 39 percent of all its network's traffic in March 2010. That's up from the 30 percent total seen by its network in September 2009.
All versions of the iPhone represent 60 percent of the iPhone OS devices found on the AdMob network. The iPod touch represents the other 40 percent, with the second-generation iPod touch the second most popular device, behind the iPhone 3GS. The second-gen iPod touch accounted for 25 percent of iPhone OS devices in March 2010, beating out the iPhone 3G which was represented by 20 percent of Apple's mobile devices.
The study also found that 44 percent of iPhone OS users are running version 3.1.3, and 42 percent run 3.1.2. Just 5 percent of users are running either version 1.0 or 2.0 software on their handset.
Mobile advertising firm AdMob released its monthly Mobile Metrics report on Tuesday, which included information on the hardware and software used by owners of Apple's handsets in the month of March. The data revealed that just 2 percent of all iPhone OS-based handsets that accessed the AdMob network were the first-generation iPhone.
Philip Elmer-DeWitt of Fortune Brainstorm Tech took the data one step further, and factored in Apple's announced total of 85 million worldwide iPhone and iPod touch sales. After it debuted in June 2007 until the iPhone 3G came out in July 2008, the first-generation iPhone sold 6.1 million units, which is about 7 percent of the 85 million total handsets sold.
"If 7% of those iPhone 1Gs are driving 2% of AdMob's traffic," Elmer-DeWitt wrote, "that suggests that nearly one in three is still ticking -- and visiting the Web."
Though the first iPhone has been supported since its release, Apple earlier this month announced that its forthcoming iPhone OS 4 upgrade will not be available for the first-generation device. In addition, the iPhone 3G, first released in 2008, will not have the mobile operating system's multitasking support available for the faster iPhone 3GS.
AdMob's latest report also revealed that the iPhone 3GS is the most popular iPhone, generating 39 percent of all its network's traffic in March 2010. That's up from the 30 percent total seen by its network in September 2009.
All versions of the iPhone represent 60 percent of the iPhone OS devices found on the AdMob network. The iPod touch represents the other 40 percent, with the second-generation iPod touch the second most popular device, behind the iPhone 3GS. The second-gen iPod touch accounted for 25 percent of iPhone OS devices in March 2010, beating out the iPhone 3G which was represented by 20 percent of Apple's mobile devices.
The study also found that 44 percent of iPhone OS users are running version 3.1.3, and 42 percent run 3.1.2. Just 5 percent of users are running either version 1.0 or 2.0 software on their handset.
Comments
It just happened to coincide with their renewal cycle.
CGC.
Love the form factor of the original, love the guts of the current.
Battery life is for sure shortened but not as bad as one might think. Phones are still working good.
Passed on the 3G and was seriously considering the 3GS but never bought.
I think it might be about time to pull the trigger this summer on Apples next iPhone creation.
Also bought an iPad 3 weeks ago and love it.
There was a time a phone used to last forever. How, when I go to the phone store to have my old phone "maintained", the clerk tells me, it is too old (after two years).
It just happened to coincide with their renewal cycle.
CGC.
Which phones lasted forever?
The wife and I are still running our original iPhones.
[...]
I think it might be about time to pull the trigger this summer on Apples next iPhone creation.
You're in for a treat. The difference between models was pronounced, so skipping 2 models will have to be night and day in terms of speed and functionality.
Those 1G survivors have not upgraded because of they lack money and their trusted iPhone still works.
Also, great job on having all device on the latest OS. I don't know another platform that after 3 years has 95 percent of its devices running the latest software.
How does Android compare to that?
You're in for a treat. The difference between model was pronounced, so skipping 2 models will have to be night and day in terms of speed and functionality.
100% agreed. I hope I will be able available in my country soon and I will be able to afford one
My wife was also still using hers until it had an encounter with the asphalt a few months ago. Now she is using her old entry-level samsung. It's painful to use that thing.
Which phones lasted forever?
That was a figure of speech -- forever. The mechanical phones (pre-smartphones) did last very long. I had a mechanical phone when I was a student. It was packed with my old stuff. And when I moved to another state, after more than a decade, I found the old phone during the unpacking, It still worked. I used it as an extension phone in the kitchen. It was still wroking when I moved again, after so many years, but I had so much stuff, it had to go.
My first cell phone lasted more than five years. My carrier wanted to give me a free phone, but I do not want the two-year contract that goes with each new phone. I dropped it unfortunately while on travel and it "broke", The next cell phone I had barely lasted two years,
I want the iPhone but I do not want to pay all those other charges from AT&T, I might get one eventually, for business using multiple user plans (ala family plan) if that is allowed. That may be cheaper overall, with unlimited plan.
CGC
I've had opportunities to upgrade, but I like it just fine.
I'm amused every time a latecomer to the iPhone party looks at my phone and asks if it's a new model.
My iPad 64GB+3G is coming on Friday, so I'm going to figure out if I still have a need for a smart phone.
I upgraded to a white, 32GB 3GS but just couldn't sell my orignal iPhone. The design is so beautiful....Though the partial aluminum backing ultimately didn't make sense...it's such a sturdy, solid design. It's also simply a piece of history at this point....Will be like owning one of the original Macintosh computers.
The iPad Wifi design reminds me of the aluminum-backed iPhone. My first iPod also had aluminum (?) backing. Quite elegant, It never got dinged even after I dropped it a gazillion times. I like the first generation iPhone design more than the design of the next two generations.
My iPad 64GB+3G is coming on Friday, so I'm going to figure out if I still have a need for a smart phone.
I met an Australian tourist who I mistakenly took as an Apple employee (he was wearing a blue shirt) while using a number of the Apple products at the Boylston street branch.
He said he bought his iPad Wifi and used it as his phone while he travels here in the US -- using Skype. He stated the speaker was very clear, no need even for a bluetooth earpiece. Of course, he could only used it when there is a wifi around but there were many free wifi among the other countries he had visited.
He claimed that the $500 he paid was already more than compensated by the amount it would have cost him using "international rates" with a regular phone.
The iPad is the first Apple product that I would have bought as a first generation. It was so tempting while I was trying it at the store. I am trying to control my urge to do so.
I usually buy the second generation, to ensure that the first generation "issues" are resolved. But, there are several biomedical apps, I wanted to try in the iPad soon...
CGC
This article may bring out the crazies complaining that Apple is no longer supporting the original iPhone after only 3 years of rich updates.
Which phones lasted forever?
My Motorola E815 still works great. I got it long before the original iPhone was released, and even longer before I switched to ATT.
I was using it to listen to MP3s and to surf the WAP back in the day. It was a great phone, an OK MP3 player, and a mediocre web device.
I replaced it with a Palm Treo, and I replaced that with a 3GS when I went with ATT.
As a phone, the MOTO was better than the iPhone. The speaker phone worked MUCH better, the reception was better, and the phone functions were easier to use.
Also, great job on having all device on the latest OS. I don't know another platform that after 3 years has 95 percent of its devices running the latest software.
According to the article, only about 40 percent of the devices run the latest software.
Bought an iPad, and might just couple that with a no-frills phone if I can't unlock the phone. Disappointed Apple doesn't sell unlock codes for a premium after 3-12 months of service...