iPhone gaining ground with lower-income fans

More people with modest incomes are placing calls for iPhones, according to Comscore.

(Credit: Apple)

Apple and AT&T's decision to subsidize the price of the iPhone 3G is paying off with an increase in sales to lower-income folks.

Comscore released data earlier this week indicating that while most iPhone users are in the $100,000-a-year income bracket, those earning between $25,000 a year and $75,000 a year are the fastest-growing segment of new iPhone customers. iPhone adoption among those making $25,000 to $50,000 a year has grown 48 percent since June, according to the report.

"Fastest-growing" is always one of my favorite research terms because it usually implies "smallest." Comscore says 43 percent of iPhone owners make more than $100,000 a year, but thinks those Joe-Hockey-Sixpack-Moms out there are starting to realize they can get away with just an iPhone and pare down the multiple devices they used to use for making calls, listening to music, or playing games.

The fact that they only have to spend $199 to acquire an iPhone these days--monthly fees aside--probably helps. There's no guarantee that iPhone sales maintain their torrid pace as the way this economy is going, but last quarter, at least, people who might be struggling found the money for iPhones.

[joshooi]

There is no necessity to have a iphone. I have been in the IT industry for over 20 years and guess what I do not own a blackberry, iphone or any smartphone. I just had a mobile phone.. simple. Anyone could call me and they would get me. That is the secret of keeping all your clients happy. If anyone say please email me .. that means you are not important just email me and I will see what I can do for you. Most of the people that purchases iphones are wanabe, show off or totally have no self esteem.

[ballmerisanape]

Or... they like having the internet, their calendars, email, contacts, pictures, music, and movies in their pocket.

[nicmart]

You don't carry around a smartphone, but you do carry around a considerable chip on your shoulder.

[JGowan]

What a fudging moron you are.

[roji928]

So is this only iPhone owners or do the "wannabe's, show offs, or no-self esteem" people include blackberry/ other smart phone users?? Well, I have a iphone and I feel I am neither of those. I think everyone IS entitled to their opinion, but WOW... "You spot it, you got it", you my old friend must be the one with the low self-esteem, show off or wanabe-esq traits. It may not show by what phone you own, but it mite shine through in other ways. THAT is what I mean by "you spot it, you got it".

[nicmart]

Jees, what nonsense. First "$100,000-a-year income" is not a "bracket." A bracket is a range between two points. Since when is an income between $25,000 and $75,000 a year "lower-income"? If you mean that such an income is lower than someone with a higher income, then the same could be said for the person who earns $100,000: he makes less than Bill Gates. On that basis virtually the entire working population qualifies as "lower-income." Based on the headline I imagined the article would be about welfare moms with iPhones, not buyers among the vast majority of middle-class Americans.

Agreed. It looks like John McCain wrote this article;p

[myles taylor]

Yea, I can see that.

To the people above:

They said lower income, not low income. Lower implies that it's lower than a set point.

[nicmart]

A responded EXACTLY to that point if you bothered to read what I wrote. All people on Earth, save one, have a "lower income."

[HeavyJim]

I get a kick out of the morons driving around in 300 dollar cars, talking on 400 dollar phones.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Many will soon be able to buy one with "Obama-Bucks"

[Perry_Clease]

For once I hope that you are correct because your sure as hell couldn't buy much with McCain-Palin bucks

[ferretboy88]

Maybe Obama will give them out to the poor for free. Or maybe not. I can't wait for this election crap to be over.

[artistjoh]

Sure you might not "need" an iPhone. Neither do you "ned" the mobile phone you do have, nor the car you drive, nor the light bulbs in your ceiling. Anything other than breathing and eating can easily be defined as unnecessary, so what?

Personally I appreciate that I can talk with a client wherever I am, take bookings and expect the calendar info to sync with my desktop, immediately email staff to alert them of the new job, write extensive notes about the call, then email those notes to staff and generally conduct office activities while walking to an appointment. No other phone, up to this point has been able to easily do these things so well, and no netbook has been portable enough...

In a short time the iPhone has become a productivity device for my business and as such actually earns money for me to a far greater extent than my previous smart phone.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

The above comment reminds me of my advisor in grad school who gloats about not having a cell phone. Many people feel like they are better than everyone else by not having something. Just like many computer nerds think they are better than everyone else for using Linux.

[James7777777]

At this point in time people should be worried about paying their mortgage, utilities, and food bills. Jobs are being lost all over right now. Yet everyone is concerned about getting their iPhone!?!? This economic crisis is not going to end until everyone learns to live without. Focus on spending money where necessary and never spend more then you earn.

[ejtbatchelor]

Just another example of people living beyond their means. I provide free financial counseling to people on a daily basis. It just saddens me that the I want that therefore I need it attitude dominates our society. Don't worry though Obama is just going to make everything better for everyone and McCain while at least outlines his plans is no better. Out of the people in the these great United States these are the best possible candidates?

[nicmart]

You think the purchase of a $200 item shows that people are "living beyond their means"? And then you use that dubious point to riff about Obama and McCain? Your counseling must be worth what you charge for it.

[jlvivian]

I'm a Middle School Teacher for sure I'm not rich, and normally all my pay check is going for bills but I own an iPhone and my wife had one too. I know people that have Cadillac SUV and Big Truck and they made less money than me....Is a multimedia phone!!!....don't make a big deal.....

[ejtbatchelor]

Living paycheck to paycheck what a grand lifestyle.
You should definitely buy the biggest gas guzzling SUV you can find.
A $200 dollar item for most people is something that THEY DO NOT NEED. If you really need a cell phone buy a go phone and only pay for the minutes you use. If you really need an MP3 player buy a cheap 30 to 40 dollar one yeah it may not hold a lot of songs but guess what you can swap them out. Just keep on buying WHAT YOU WANT if my credit card limit is 10,000 bucks that means I can max it out and its ok right?

[ferretboy88]

What a rude article. I am not voting for Obama and I don't use an iphone. I made $215,000 last year. I do love hockey but not sixpacks thank you very much.