Apple: iPhone continues march into enterprise

Apple again reported significant progress of its popular iPhone smartphone in the enterprise sector when it reported its fiscal first-quarter revenue results on Monday.

Apple reported its all-time highest quarter in terms of revenue and profits, driven in part by the iPhone. Shipments of that device grew 100 percent year-on-year to 8.7 million from 4.4 million the previous year. Sales of the handset and its various accessories brought in revenues of $5.58 billion, up 90 percent from $2.94 billion a year earlier. Apple's overall revenue came in at $15.68 billion, while net profit jumped 50 percent to $3.8 billion. The iPhone contributed to 36 percent of Apple's total revenue in the quarter.

Apple COO Tim Cook said corporate usage of the iPhone has doubled since the release of the 3GS in the summer."This is a key focus of ours," he said. 

About 70 percent of Fortune 100 companies are actively piloting or deploying iPhones, as is 50 percent of the FTSE 100, he said.

"Those are some pretty staggering numbers when you think that the time frame we've been in the business is only two and half years." Apple has also added sales staff to assist carrier staff in selling to the enterprise.

During the quarter, Apple added 17 new operator partners worldwide. Regarding the heat AT&T Mobility, Apple's exclusive operator in the United States, has taken over its network performance, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said Apple was confident the operator will make significant progress toward improving service after reviewing AT&T's plans. 

Cook avoided answering any questions related to whether AT&T will remain the exclusive provider in the near future. Speculation is that Apple could unveil an iPhone that operates on Verizon Wireless' network, at today's press conference.

For more:
- see this Total Telecom article
- take a look at this Bloomberg article
- check out this GigaOm article

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