Industry analysts have for long advocated the need for Apple to open up the iPhone to many more carriers in the United States. A study conducted last year by Kathryn Huberty from Morgan Stanley had revealed that Apple could nearly double its market share in the US by partnering with more carriers like Verizon.
Now a study by market research firm ChangeWave has backed these claims.
In the latest survery report, ChangeWave has looked into the purchasing behavior of non-AT&T subscribers to see if the availability of the iPhone 4 on their carrier could have altered their purchasing decision. The study asked over 1200 consumers who had made a smartphone purchase in the past six months to rate their new handsets. An overwhelming 34% of non-AT&T customers have indicated that they would have chosen an iPhone 4 over their current purchase in that scenario. An additional 20% of the surveyed group noted that they were unsure. These numbers underline the disruptive effect the hypothetical scenario could have created.
Apparently, Motorola and RIM could be the biggest losers if the iPhone 4 became available on the other major carriers. ChangeWave notes that 37% of recent Motorola smartphone buyers and 36% of Blackberry customers may have defected to an iPhone in the event of its availability on their carrier. On the other hand, 50% of Samsung customers and 54% of HTC customers reaffirmed their loyalty to their newly purchased handsets under the hypothetical event.
Interestingly though, Motorola enjoys a good customer satisfaction rating with over 71% of the surveyed customers noting that they were "very satisfied" with their new purchase. However, ChangeWave points out that the latest Apple smartphone takes the lead in customer satisfaction with over 77% of iPhone customers claiming that they were "very satisfied" with their new phone.
What do you make of these survey findings? Do you think the rumored Verizon iPhone would help Apple take on competition from Android based smartphones better? Please share your views in the comments section below.
[via Investor Place]
I don't get it. If Motorola has 71% "very satisfied" rate why do they have a high rate of remorse. And the opposite for Samsung. Is there something I'm missing?
nope your right.. this make no scene.
I have never seen a good solid explanation of why Apple thought it was in their best interests to go with an exclusive carrier in US. There are some minor technical, reasons but none that would significantly affect the iPhone experience. APay&Pay did not make the iPhone it's only device. This really opened the door for the hoard of Druids. In 22 months (and counting) I may even consider Druid (once they evolve).
HOW MANY OF 34% NON ATT CUSTOMER ALREADY HAS AN IPHONE
People should understand that companies are not looking at maximizing their market share but at maximizing their profit.
Going for an exclusivity with ATT provided a much bigger margin to Apple than it could have without exclusivity and resulted in a global bigger profit for Apple.
This is exactly the current problem of Nokia: they sell a lot of phones, much more than Apple, but with very little margin on each of those phones. Apple with only about 4% market share makes much more money than Nokia with about 32% market share !
WEll Apple should sell unlocked, available on all carriers phone.
Where is the unlock .. Even I the Jesus can't wait ..
Perhaps Motorola customers were very satisfied, but believe they would be even more satisfied with an iPhone 4…
Pingback: Survey: 26% Of AT&T’s iPhone Customers Planning To Leave AT&T For Verizon | JetLib News