[quote author=“roontoon”]Do any of you think that Apple may be under-reporting the number of iPhones selling on purpose? This IMO would be classic AAPL. After all they have only said “well on our way” or “we have surpassed 1 million”. Won’t the actual numbers come out in the next conference call? Since they regularly underestimate earnings and then give us a big surpris…

Yes, I do think Apple is doing what it can to maintain complacency in competitors (although clearly RIMM is spooked by the price cut). However, this time they have been very precise. The millionth iPhone was sold on Sunday 9th September 2007 . Since we will also get a precise number for 30th September, I think the run rate post price cut, and post price cut surge, will be pretty clear. But by then there may soon be another model (and Europe) to confuse the issue.

edit: actually under-reporting numbers is a criminal act, I think, because it misleads investors. It’s extremely unlikely that actual under-reporting would happen. But the original statement “we expect to sell a million iPhones by the end of the quarter” only offered a lower limit, which led many of us tho think a somewhat higher rate was likely.

edit 2: I think it’s now pretty clear it will be between 1.3 and 1.5M by the quarter end.

OK I didn’t see this press release from Apple and it truly is precise. I have only heard/read the estimates that could have been interpreted many ways and if it was vague wouldn’t have been misleading. Thanks

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[quote author=”$Billyall”]roontoon I had been thinking they might do that even before Jobs came out with the number Monday but I dont want to let myself be disapointed so I will just stick to what he has said which was “We sold our millionth iPhone this past Sunday”

That being said if I were him I would have held off on announcing well after I had sold the millionth phone and then come out at the earnings report and give everyone heart attacks when I announce we we had sold 3.75 million in 3rd qrtr. 

So over the last 16 days of the quarter, you think Apple is going to sell 2.75 million iPhones?

It is possible Apple could sell an additional million iPhones by the end of the month. It’s tough to fathom sales above that level because there’s little channel inventory to push through to 3rd party retailers. AT&T shipments are the only “sales” that can be booked on shipment instead of sale to the consumer because all other units are sold through Apple’s own distribution network.

Probably needless to say, but in reality, the goal is to sell as many as possible. The publicly stated goals, I think, are lowballed, ie guaranteed to be met. I’m sure Apple is driven to not ever have to explain unrealized sales targets, but I’m quite certain that their internal targets far exceed what they have publicly stated and I think their actions regarding iPhone pricing and possible imminent rollout of updated models are indicative of this.

Probably needless to say, but in reality, the goal is to sell as many as possible. The publicly stated goals, I think, are lowballed, ie guaranteed to be met. I’m sure Apple is driven to not ever have to explain unrealized sales targets, but I’m quite certain that their internal targets far exceed what they have publicly stated and I think their actions regarding iPhone pricing and possible imminent rollout of updated models are indicative of this.

Are you saying Apple has low-balled public estimates?  :o

Management just keeping to form and practice.

This might sound bold and unrealistic, but I see a distinct possibility that Apple will sell FIVE MILLION iPhones by the end of 2007. Considering the recent jockeying by other handheld manufacturers and the lack of complacency of SJ, be prepared for a shocker, albeit a positive one. Remember, folks, Nokia sells ONE MILLION, I repeat, ONE MILLION phones every 24 hours. The mobile phone biz is gigantic, and Apple has benefitted from the biggest marketing boost in the history of mankind. Do the math.

the iPhone is now #4 on the Apple Store.  The iPod Touch is #3 with the iPod classic #2.

This quarter will be impressive.