AT&T Announces Big Drop in iPhone Activations

[Maura]

Ahead of Apple’s earnings call, which is due this evening, AT&T has announced its own financial results for Q1, and MacRumors reports that the results show a big fall in the number of iPhone activations, from 7.6 million activated in the final quarter of 2011 (a record-breaking quarter for Apple, which saw the launch of the iPhone 4S), to 4.3 million in Q1 of 2012. Despite the drop, AT&T is still way out in front of Verizon, which only activated 3.2 million iPhones in Q1. Of those 4.3 million iPhones activated by AT&T in Q1, the company says that 21% were new customers to AT&T. MacRumors notes that the announced number of iPhone activations amounts to roughly 75% of AT&T’s total smartphone sales of 5.5 million units for Q1. As a result of the drop in iPhone activations as reported by both Verizon and AT&T, Apple’s shares are taking a hit prior to tonight’s quarterly earnings call. Verizon does not report its Q1 results until tomorrow.

Source: iPhone Activations Drop 43% at AT&T, But Represent 60% of Total Postpaid Phone Sales - Mac Rumors