Verizon Activates Only 2.3M iPhone 4s in June, Trailing AT&T

Apple’s second U.S. carrier partner announced iPhone 4 activation numbers suggesting AT&T is still preferred by owners of the tech giant’s iconic handset. Verizon Wireless activated 2.3 million iPhone 4s during June, below the figure AT&T announced yesterday.

In the first full quarter of iPhone sales, Verizon Wireless activated 1.3 million fewer Apple smartphones than original Apple partner, AT&T. Thursday, AT&T announced 3.6 million iPhones were activated during the June three-month period, results that showed flat growth from the previous quarter. Verizon has only sold iPhone 4s, where AT&T has sold the iPhone 4, plus the iPhone 3GS for just $49, giving it an advantage and explaining the discrepancy between carriers.

Drilling deeper, the Verizon Wireless and AT&T domestic sales figures illustrates the growing importance of international Apple sales. When we subtract the nearly 6 million iPhones sold domestically from the overall 20.34 million handsets Apple sold during the June quarter, we learn 14.44 million — or 71 percent — iPhones are sold internationally.

Another factor, the slowdown in Verizon and AT&T iPhone sales provides another hint that consumers are delaying purchasing a handset awaiting the introduction of the iPhone 5. Many expect Apple won’t wait much longer, introducing the iPhone 5 in September, in time for back-to-school shoppers and the all important holiday sales period.

Do you think Verizon will continue to trail AT&T in iPhone sales, or do you think that the iPhone 5 will put them on equal footing again? Let us know in the comments.

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