Smartphone shoppers may be buying more Android phones, but that could change fast: 41 percent of current mobile users have their sights set on the iPhone 5, due for unveiling Tuesday.
A recent survey of mobile users in North America, conducted by the mobile ad network inMobi, shows that big numbers plan to turn out to buy the latest version of Apple's smartphone, "potentially making it the most successful launch from the consumer electronics giant to date."
Even though no one has actually seen the phone, over 50 percent of those who answered in the affirmative plan to throw down hard-earned cash (or credit) on the smartphone within the first six months of its launch. Such a buying spree could increase the iPhone's mobile market presence from 27 percent (recorded last June) up to 41 percent.
We recently wrote about how, in general but especially over the last three months, Android phones have been outselling the iPhone, but when it comes to pure anticipation, nothing beats Apple's next big thing.
Sure, sales may dip for the iPhone just before a new model arrives, but what better way to show a dramatic increase?
In fact, should the iPhone 5 surface, as is expected, the defectors to the Apple camp will come from all over. As inMobi explains:
The study uncovered that over half of BlackBerry users (52 percent) are planning to switch to the new Apple iPhone 5, followed by 51 percent of current iPhone users and over one in four (27 percent) Android owners. Even if the announcement only unveils an iPhone 4S, 28 percent of current BlackBerry smartphone owners plan to switch to Apple, more than double the amount of current iPhone and Android owners.
But the survey reflects high hopes that Apple may not live up to. If Apple bursts everyone's bubble and only announces a modest update, inMobi's survey found numbers would definitely deflate, with fewer than 15 percent likely to plop down the plastic for it.
More stories:
- Apple to 'talk iPhone' on Oct. 4
- More people buying smartphones, mostly Android
- Richest phone owners use BlackBerrys
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