NEW YORK – T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corp. have received almost four times as many orders for Apple Inc.’s iPhone 7 than previous iPhone models, a sign the device may be well received and the carriers’ new unlimited data plans may be gaining popularity.
In a series of tweets Tuesday, T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere called the iPhone pre-order period the biggest in the company’s history. The company is also seeing subscribers switching from the three other major carriers — Verizon Communications Inc., AT&T Inc. and Sprint, he said. T-Mobile reported orders over four days and Sprint over three days.
The early enthusiasm for the iPhone 7 could be good news for Apple, which is in need of a strong sales cycle for its flagship device. The iPhone accounts for about 64 percent of Apple’s total sales. T-Mobile’s comments are the first glimpse of how the iPhone 7 is being received, given its controversial lack of a headphone jack and the fact that Apple has already forecast a third consecutive quarter of revenue declines. The carrier’s reports are being watched closely because Apple has said it won’t disclose weekend sales number for the first time.
“This is definitely a positive turn for iPhone volumes,” said Shawn Harrison, an analyst with Longbow Research. “IPhone volume and sales are historically coordinated to Apple’s stock price.”
Apple rose as much as 2.5 percent to $107.61 in early trading in New York after T-Mobile’s tweets and accompanying statement. T-Mobile and Sprint were little changed.
T-Mobile has unlimited data plans that start at $70 a month for one user and as low as $160 for a family of four during a promotional period. Sprint’s unlimited plan starts at $60 a month and also offers families of four a promotional price of $160 a month. Both plans were introduced earlier this month.
E-mails sent to Verizon and AT&T seeking comment on their pre-orders weren’t immediately returned.