1.5 million T-Mobile G1 handsets already sold

Posted on 12 October 2008 by Staff Editor
Tags: android, G1, T-Mobile

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T-Mobile has totally overshot their sales expectations for the G1. After selling out their entire stock of pre-orders for existing members in a very short period of time, HTC tripled the order and has sold out of that entire batch as well. That means that 1.5 million G1s have already been sold in pre-orders on top of the millions estimated to be shipping to stores for sales on October 22nd.

Selling such a high number of devices with an unproven software concept on a never-before-seen device is absolutely astounding. Google has a lot riding on this particular device, showing the world what Android can do could either make or break the platform as a whole. That is why Google has worked so closely with HTC and T-Mobile, to make sure that “the first shot in this battle is a killer”.

Google went all out on this device, making it fully search enabled. Though it does not go out to directly take on the iPhone, people continually compare the two. Google has shown its commitment to this platform in every way. One clear example of this is the Android Developers Contest where Google paid out $10 million to the winners. The twist is that Google will not be taking back a dime of this money in application sales. This will in the end lower the cost of applications, making this a win-win situation for developers and customers.

Photo courtesy of Android Community member heyitsnan.

[Via Fool]

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Comments For This Post

Wow! I guess it has been confirmed now by New World
::Sigh:: Im proud to be one of those 1.5 million. by DizzyDroid
unbelievable. i guess theres alotta us geeks out there. and the mainstream users too =]
im going to brag about this at work today !! by rawskilz
WOW!!! That is all I can say by thelazzyone
Man i have alot of people to meet. I Cant wait!!!! by bluprintid
That's alot of early adopters, image when tmo starts there, what has been said to be there biggest marketing campaign ever. This has the potential to be big.

Even without commercials this thing is selling like hotcakes.

hmmmmmm hotcakes. by defaultuser
I must agree with everyone else....just wow. I actually dont see this phone as an iphone competitor at all. This phone is a totally new, different kind of experience for the mobile user. Just knowing that developers will bring all kinds of great apps to the phone,and this is actually the first time that the average joe, with a little hardwork can program his own app. The hardware right now wont win any beauty contests, but this thing is a beast. Trackball, touch screen, and qwerty make the possibilities endless for 3rd party development Makes me proud i preordered by So Real
Quote:

Originally Posted by So Real

I actually dont see this phone as an iphone competitor at all.

Agreed, this is beyond iphones capabilities in both OS and company mantra.
we are dealing with a new breed of phone/internet device. I'm pretty excited my self about the possibilities this brings to the market. by defaultuser
Its the closest thing the compete with the iPhone that I have seen. Nothing else really touches in all the same areas as the iPhone like this. by refused9150
Are we sure that's it's 1.5 .. .they expected to sell 500,000 before the end of the year.. that does not mean they had 500,000 in stock.. by jzajzz

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzajzz

Are we sure that's it's 1.5 .. .they expected to sell 500,000 before the end of the year.. that does not mean they had 500,000 in stock..

Yeah, many have raised this question because the source didn't exactly give where they got those numbers. by stopcrazypp

that is amazing.... by King Leo

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzajzz

Are we sure that's it's 1.5 .. .they expected to sell 500,000 before the end of the year.. that does not mean they had 500,000 in stock..

They expected to sell 400,000-500,000 this year. But after pre-sales sold out in not time at all HTC decided to triple production and then sold out of those completely that same week. Does anyone have a calculator? by refused9150

let's hear some official words from tmo on the #s so far. but wow... congrats to tmo for picking the right phone to launch their 3G. (htc-android-tmo)

"... if you build it, they will come..." by ariesboy
i know apple is WORRIED right now! and they have good reason to! by dayday031420
I am so happy and proud I have purchased this phone by NetCom

Quote:

Originally Posted by refused9150

they EXPECTED to sell 4-500k .. but that does not mean they had those 4-500k in stock before release... the calculation is flawed.. .

I would definitely be happy if it were true.. but this guy has no source for his number.. by jzajzz

I only report what was there. I have in no way been able to confirm it. by refused9150
Part of me wants to be one of the few who own this... but another part of me is excited to hear this because the more people who own this phone, the more developers and open-sourcers are going to improve this. Exciting indeed. by VikingDave
this is great news, and means that the stores should be sold out the first day, and the G1 will be on backorder for about another month, then sold out again in one day at the stores. this is gonna get real interesting, especially if all the apps on the android market remain free. even if they do happen to charge for the app, and choose not to be greedy or super rich the apps could sell for less than 3bucks each and would shut down iphone market.
simple equation or approx 2mil G1s in ccirculation by year end, 10 percent purchase the same app, is not bad for the developers. But keep it free for as long as you can until the second generation android phones get released. by kaysesoze
tmo out did them selves this year. im glad i been with them for some 7 something years by rawskilz
Lets get real for a second. Steve Jobs was hopeful to sell a million phones by the end of 07's fourth quarter. Let that put things in perspective. by shmokinponcake
Great Phone, def. buying. I just have 2 really quick questions if anyone can help. First being when is the white G1 going to be released or is it going to be released at the same time as the grey and black (In stores is where im buying, thought you might need to know that) Second why do alot of people think this phone is unatractable, I really like the looks and beauty of the actual phone along with the OS of course! Thanks by mike86468
And guess who is one of those 1.5 million people... this guy! by akarol
I'm glad im one of those 1.5 million too by msvoluptous
Yea.. im apart of a big community... "1.5 million" big! lol by PHAlosopher
Thats big business!!! by geedup

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Davies

That means that 1.5 million G1s have already been sold in pre-orders on top of the millions estimated to be shipping to stores for sales on October 22nd.

May want to change that to the 22nd. That might ruin some peoples day when they show up early morning on the 23rd to get the G1, and they have sold out the day before! by Big Al

But it was reported on the Motley Fool and numbers is their game. They are all about the stock market, so...they can make a mistake like anyone else, but they are likely to have checked and rechecked the numbers. They are a trusted stock resource and what they say can encourage people to buy or sell...

You would think T-mo would do a press release, but I guess they are sticking with their plan...which is what exactly? by insight spinner
How will T-Mobile's 3G network handle the sudden addition of over a million handsets practically overnight?
Should we be concerned about the initial quality and performance? by TheSpaceProgram
To answer mike's question. I have spoken with a few people at t-m0 and they said that the white probably wont make the 22nd release. But, should be available by Nov. 10th. by nerax
And i would buy it again i love tmobile
I love Google

its to much of a good thing
ud have to be crazy to pass
this one. by franCyx
tmobile is not a little company
1.5 million is nothing, they will expand if they have to

"How will T-Mobile's 3G network handle the sudden addition of over a million handsets practically overnight?
Should we be concerned about the initial quality and performance?" by franCyx

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpaceProgram

How will T-Mobile's 3G network handle the sudden addition of over a million handsets practically overnight?
Should we be concerned about the initial quality and performance?

I would say that the majority of people are substituting handsets not adding new business, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

However, I'll bet you can fry an egg on the automated activation servers on the morning of the 22nd. by VikingDave

Quote:

Originally Posted by franCyx

tmobile is not a little company
1.5 million is nothing, they will expand if they have to

"How will T-Mobile's 3G network handle the sudden addition of over a million handsets practically overnight?
Should we be concerned about the initial quality and performance?"

1.5 Million is nothing? Compared to what? The natural comparison to me would be to prior releases. Which would make 1.5 million the opposite of nothing. As in, absolutely MASSIVE. Tmo will handle the day well I am sure but don't dismiss it as "nothing". It has to have at least some potential for glitches or delays. Unless you have been through one of these type of scenarios. by shmokinponcake

I want to stick my neck out here and be very clear and on the record. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I'll be glad to have people call me on it. So here goes:

Mark my words: They have NOT sold 1.5M pre-orders. In fact, I would bet they're nowhere close to that number. Not even in the same neighborhood. I've seen the numbers and can pretty well tell how they put them together, and it's flawed, to say the least. by DesignDawg
This is the first smartphone or PDA or whatever you want to call it that is actually worth getting excited about. As long as it shuts up the iTards I will be happy.

The sales figures confirm what I already knew. by mustardman
Quote:

Originally Posted by DesignDawg

I've seen the numbers and can pretty well tell how they put them together, and it's flawed, to say the least.

Ummm ok, do we have to tune in next week for the thrilling conclusion, or are you going to tell us how they put the numbers together? by richard

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesignDawg

I want to stick my neck out here and be very clear and on the record. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I'll be glad to have people call me on it. So here goes:

Mark my words: They have NOT sold 1.5M pre-orders. In fact, I would bet they're nowhere close to that number. Not even in the same neighborhood. I've seen the numbers and can pretty well tell how they put them together, and it's flawed, to say the least.

I totally agree with you. I am as excited (if not more) as everyone else here but I really cannot see Tmobile being able to sell 1.5M without any advertising. I really do not think that Fool.com checked their facts before posting thier article. I would say the most units sold would be around 150k or somewhere around there.

I'm hoping that I'm wrong, but really, to me it sounds almost impossible. by TheBlur

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlur

Well to me, it's impossible that something as overrated as the iPhone can sell as well as it does so ANYTHING is possible.

I'm guessing you two are just a couple iTards trolling. by mustardman

Quote:

I'm guessing you two are just a couple iTards trolling.

Yeah. I'm an iTard trolling. That's why I'm a Super Moderator here on the Android Community forum and created the logo and t-shirt for it. That adds up.

The numbers, as it has been noted elsewhere, were from early reports that T-Mobile was PROJECTING selling 500,000 by the end of the year, and then another report that they had sold out of the initial pre-order and tripled the initial order from HTC. SOmeone just took the 500,000 to be the initial order # (VERY likely to be very wrong), and multiplied by 3. Thus, 1.5M. But the actual initial order was probably actually in the low 10s of thousands. And T_Mobile hasn't even said they've sold out of all the tripled up first order. Just that they sold out of the initial number, and tripled the order. There are going to be a lot of people disappointed. But go ahead...flame away. by DesignDawg

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustardman

Well to me, it's impossible that something as overrated as the iPhone can sell as well as it does so ANYTHING is possible.

I'm guessing you two are just a couple iTards trolling.

Haha c'mon now, there's not reason to get defensive. I do not own one single Apple product and have never owned one in my life. I am just saying that there are no reliable sources for those numbers.

I try to be open minded and not just take any report as official if there are no reliable sources. by TheBlur

I too was skeptical about his number 1.5 million? I would need a reliable source to confirm they actually sold this amount, i believe its probably around 100-200K range. by hyperdroid
^^^huh? if it were only 200k, then they wouldn't have had to produce a second batch. by VikingDave
Quote:

Originally Posted by VikingDave

^^^huh? if it were only 200k, then they wouldn't have had to produce a second batch.

I don't think there was ever confirmation that they had already produced 200k units. The only thing that was said earlier was that they hoped to sell around 500k to 700k by end of year. I don't think they ever mentioned how many they would have readily available by launch time. by TheBlur
This is awesome! by AndroidBeauty
1.5 million where all the pre orders, each tmobile presale was 500 thousand units, they sold out three times so thats your 1.5 million. they said that on release day they will ship the phones to customers that preordered and have phones for walk in customers. so we can easily deduce that HTC has produced well over 2 million units. and with all this success you can bet that HTC is hard at work pumping out the holiday stock as we speak. your probably looking at well over 4 million units in 2008 alone.

And this is only 2008, and only Tmobile. Dare i say it, it will be a massacre for the iPhone, and anything else that stands in the way of Android. by defaultuser
"And this is only 2008, and only Tmobile. Dare i say it, it will be a massacre for the iPhone, and anything else that stands in the way of Android."

I think anyone who knows google and what google can do has no doubt. by ayo991

Quote:

Originally Posted by defaultuser

1.5 million where all the pre orders, each tmobile presale was 500 thousand units, they sold out three times so thats your 1.5 million.

Not a chance. Not. A. Chance.

by DesignDawg

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard

Ummm ok, do we have to tune in next week for the thrilling conclusion, or are you going to tell us how they put the numbers together?

This is how they put it together

Tmobile said they expected to sell 500k units by the end of the year..

so Motley fool assumed that it means that they had 500k at pre-release in stock... and when Tmobile said that they triple their stock and are still sold out.. .Motley fool assumed that they triple the 500k in stock.. which would be 1.5 milllion

so yea it's flawed.. very flawed... by jzajzz

why 1.5 million.. though why would someone make up such a fake number

so marketing to sell more phones...

i dont know i sorta believe the 1.5 million and i allso want to be proven wrong by franCyx
Unrealistic.

~100000 units presold as of 10-9-08. Here is the truth:

http://forums.tmonews.com/index.php?...5&topic=3373.0 by G1FTW
Ok.. Just imagine how busy this place would be if 1.5 million of these had been pre-sold.. Madness I say MADNESS!!! by GrimShadows
Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimShadows

Ok.. Just imagine how busy this place would be if 1.5 million of these had been pre-sold.. Madness I say MADNESS!!!

Madness?.....madness?......THIS. IS. SPARTAAAA!

Sorry just could not resist by New World
OMG. I am so happy!!! It's like 8 more days. I can't believe 1.5 million people have my phone. I bought it 2 hours after the press release, so I know I am going to get my on that day. I heard that it may come anywhere between monday and friday. is that true. by chloe

Quote:

Originally Posted by chloe

OMG. I am so happy!!! It's like 8 more days. I can't believe 1.5 million people have my phone. I bought it 2 hours after the press release, so I know I am going to get my on that day. I heard that it may come anywhere between monday and friday. is that true.

2 hours...pfff....I got mine 5 minutes after the press conference

JK thats awesome though, congrats!

by New World

Quote:

Originally Posted by G1FTW

Unrealistic.

~100000 units presold as of 10-9-08. Here is the truth:

http://forums.tmonews.com/index.php?...5&topic=3373.0

That number is a lot more believable. It's hard to believe the 1.5 million is true with no advertising, Tmo customers only and without the brand hype like Apple has. by stopcrazypp
Good news for everyone waiting for the phone. I just checked the UPS website, I used my phone number as the reference, and it shows that tmobile billed UPS to ship my phone out. I just hopefully be getting by this weekend if UPS picks it up either today or tomorrow. It is listed as a 3 day express shipment. Does anyone know if UPS delivers on Saturdays or not? This is great news for everyone waiting for their phone to be delivered. by dansoccerman
I've been waiting for a TouchScreen Phone from T-mobile for over a Year. And being part of something so Big is Great and having a TouchScreen Mobile LabTop/Phone/GPS device/being part of the Android Community is Xmas in October! I hope its can Deliver more than we all are expecting it can and more!
I was told that I would recieve my "G" by Oct.20 and was told that it comes with a Case as well. I hope all is True. Anyway 4Days until Xmas!!!! LOL! by Mr.G1Star
Im curious for the end of the week of the 22nd.

I want to see how accurate the 1.5mill on devies was. hehe by MartinMtz702
well since i'm an employee i was able to order on the 14th and got mine delivered today.

so far...i think it's ok...i like the google talk app, but my keyboard seems very hard to see when the backlight is on and i'm in a semi lit area.

all the GPS, and retna and bar code scanning apps i'm reading about really kinda freak me out.

--corey by mediadealer
Can an admin please remove this entry from the main site? It's good to be a fan and all, but publishing blatantly erroneous information is irresponsible journalism. by ickyfehmleh