How successful might an iPhone 5 be on Verizon’s LTE, or 4G, network? Although the new handset with support for the faster technology isn’t expected until late this year, we can get a glimpse via Verizon’s recently-introduced Android-based Thunderbolt from HTC. Nearly a third of Verizon stores report the Thunderbolt is outselling the iPhone.
While 61 percent of the 150 Verizon stores polled by BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk said both the iPhone and the two-week-old Thunderbolt are selling equally well, 28 percent of the locations report more customers are asking for the Android-based smartphone. Just 11 percent said the iPhone is preferred.
Earlier this week, Wall Street Journal tech columnist Walt Mossberg described the Thunderbolt as a “speed demon” capable of 12.6 megabit-per-second downloads and 4.7mbps uploads.
Although Piecyk described the handset’s early popularity as partially due to the hype surrounding its speed, he said Verizon sales staff told him they believe the HTC phone will be able to keep pace with the iPhone.
[BusinessInsider, WSJ, Barron’s]
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
19 responses to “Report: Android HTC Thunderbolt Outselling Verizon iPhone”
Its outselling iPhone because
1. its the 2nd best smartphone in the world …iPhone being #1
2. iPhone 4 is almost a year old
3. Thunderbolt has LTE internet speeds… Verizon charges a lot for data, might as well get the fastest speeds
4. If your paying so much for data, why not view media on a larger 4.3 inch screen than a 3.5 inch
That’s one way to think about it. It could also be that apple didn’t actually think clearly enough. They should have held off on introducing the iphone 4 on verizon and waiting for the iphone 5. verizon doesn’t really charge ‘that much’ for data considering it is technically unlimited. att isn’t doing any better in fact..they are much worse.
iPhone 4 was V’s most successful smartphone launch ever.
While it may be outpacing it by 17% now (according to stats in article) it is still far behind.
The real picture will be total sales…..
It is great to see some competition for the iPhone finally hopefully it will spur Apple to step up iPhone 5.
and to add 28% is closer to 1/4 than it is to 1/3 of stores…..
Hmmmpf. With its 3 hr battery life. Impressive. Not!
there should be a post of how many are being returned to Verizon stores.
Why are you posting an article based on this junk “research” without calling it out as such? It’s based on them saying “I called and spoke with a cell phone store clerk and asked what is selling best…” How stupid can this be? Have you ever spoken with a Verizon of AT&T clerk? They are often clueless, and certainly not a reliable source when you ask which phone do you think is selling best and then try to put actual statistics to those answers. This is a joke!
With its short battery life, they should call this thing an immobile phone.
There are various reports of how iphone is losing the battle to Android phones and people refuse to believe it! Even with the numbers in front of them. A simple Google search will prove this to be true. I love Apple and its iphone but just accept its being left behind and behind the curve. The proof is there, just research it. But for those who want to argue against me, continue to live in denial and try to shut me down with opinions while the facts are staring you in the face!!