Apple Pulls Ahead of Nokia as Most Profitable Phone Maker

[Paul Daniel Ash]

Apple, Inc. overtook Nokia in the September quarter as the cellphone maker generating the highest total operating profit in the industry, according to a report by research firm Strategy Analytics.

The Finnish handset maker is still the world's largest by volume. Apple sold 7.4 million iPhones during the July-September quarter, generating sales of $4.5 billion. Nokia sold 108.5 million phones in total in the same quarter, with sales of €6.9 billion ($10.36 billion). When measured by profits, however, Nokia lost in the third quarter against Apple. While Apple does not release profits for its specific product lines, Strategy Analytics estimated Apple's profit on the iPhone at $1.6 billion in the third quarter, compared with Nokia's $1.1 billion. Analyst Alex Spector said:

With strong volumes, high wholesale prices and tight cost controls, the PC vendor has successfully broken into the mobile phone market in just two years.

Nokia sued Apple in October for patent infringement, accusing Apple of “attempting to get a free ride” off Nokia’s research on GSM, 3G and WiFi technologies. Apple said it will “vigorously defend” against the lawsuit. However, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said that Apple could end up paying $6 to $12 of royalties per iPhone.

[mikerlx]

All about the money well I guess iphone stands victorious

[FiLLYBoii]

thats amazing!

[Kamil18]

w00t!!! THATS COOL! I'm so happy that when i bought my iPod, i also got a couple of stocks!!

.....ohh, wait, i didn't

Why am i supposed to be happy again?

[pakijawan]

i was going to sell my iphone to get that phone,but then i was like nahh

[NArush]

That new N900 is something else though..

[Fallguy]

What about the Blackberry ? I thought they were tops at one time .

[bbillh77]

imagine how much they would have made if they allowed jb'ed phones

[akamandito]

A friend of mine brought nokia N900 and i play it around for a while and i think its amazing so much better than N800. I just got droid last saturday and i really like it but no root for droid 2.0 yet so i still love iPhone with jailbroke still on the top.

[psychodave]

HA HA and they say iPhone is just a fad!

[mortopher]

If only Nokia tried to actually market their top tier phones here in the states. Combine that with making them at least mildly affordable and they'd destroy. People are amazed anytime I bring up that phone and so far only one person I've mentioned it to had prior knowledge of it. I just don't understand Nokia.

[ziggie216]

Are these figure for global sales or just US?

[rwin84]

Are these figure for global sales or just US?

Those are profits for Apple as a company. That means all iphones.

[bengo]

I find the fact Nokia sold 101 MILLION more phones than Apple astounding.

[iN2K]

I find the fact Nokia sold 101 MILLION more phones than Apple astounding.

That's because Nokia makes more then one phone.

[bengo]

That's because Nokia makes more then one phone.

That's a given. They make a phone for everybody.

[rhekt]

oh of course apple did.

[nighthawk283]

Thats quite shocking news to read