Days to 1 million: the smartphone wars

In a fit of editorial sobriety, reader Noel just sent us this handy "1 million devices sold" graphic above. The image demonstrates the speed (in terms of days) at which each competing handset achieved the magic milestone. What it leaves out is the footprint at launch which of course, affects the total population able to purchase the device. For example, the iPhone 3G launched in 21 countries simultaneously whereas the G1 launched in the US only. It's also worth noting that the precision reflects that of the announcements made. For example, VZW announced that the Storm hit 1M "through January" which could be interpreted as January 31st or January 27th, the day of the announcement -- and that's just US sales. Still, the table is a valuable tool for the fanboy braggarts and budding marketeers amongst you. Data after the break.

[Thanks, Noel F.]

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 7:28AM]

nokia 5800 was released on limited markets too

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 8:04AM]

I have used 5800 and am really happy with how it has turned out. Considering it released in limited markets and that too not on same day, and with not much of hype, Nokia is letting the word of mouth, or rather the actual quality, functionality of the device do the talking.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 8:53AM]

I'm still waiting to buy my 5800 NAM

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 8:55AM]

Might as well throw the Palm Pre. Sure, it might still be 6 months before it hits stores. But, is there really any question? Just add a name slot with an asterisk that implys: Coming Soon!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 9:22AM]

Does that include any applicable presale? I remember that the G1 actually had 2 presale periods and over 2 million were ordered before launch day... they just had issues with fulfilling the demand both for the second presale batch as well as in stores (because of the presale orders being fulfilled as soon as possible)

Another thing about the G1 is that it was more restricted within the US - only online or within 3G markets only for brick and mortar stores in T-Mobile's 3G footprint.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 9:57AM]

i expect the pre to hit to millie in 1 month.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 12:30PM]

prepare to be blown away by nokia 5800 NAM sales.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 11:25AM]

I find it real weird that the blackberry storm number is so high...

In any given situation..if im out at a club/store..I rarely see someone with
a storm. Yet i can at least find 1 or 2 people with their Iphones.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 2:00PM]

Perhaps people with iPhones like to make themselves seen.

Like people in starbucks on their laptops writing screenplays.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 12:48PM]

Hey Adam thats me writting scripts @ starbucks. I am actually writting a script for a movie. Is about cell phones commiting mass murders. ..Riiiing....Riiing..."HELLO!" boom your dead. CELL PHONES ARE TAKING OVER PORTABLES.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 31st 2009 11:35AM]

yeah, i also feel some doubt about the Storm's numbers. It's been out 2 months and it has almost surpassed all sales of the previous gen iphone?

And how is the 3G iphone only at 3, while the G1 is at 61!? I think the most surprising number of all is the 3G iphones numbers, those seem way too low.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2009 11:23AM]

I have a balckberry storm and have seen them all over the place. Everyone who I see with one I ask what they think and they love it! I have one and really like it. There are a few bugs that need to be worked out but that is common with the "smartphones" especially when they are forced to release early for the holiday rush. The iphone is a nice phone but I wouldn't want AT&T. When/If BB comes out with more apps I think the storm will do just fine.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 11:23AM]

Good chart, for those that doubt the G1's success, this chart proves that a Generation 1 OS, and the first phone to run it, did pretty damn well and in fact better than the original Iphone, and the storm, which says aot as Nokia, and BB are all well established phone manufactures, and Apple is a damn cult, so for the Android operating system and the g1 do this well on the smallest major carrier and the fact that it was released in only 27 markets in store and online, is pretty damn great. I am really excited for the future of android, In 5 years i can see Android running on hundreds of smartphones around the world and taking over Symbians world wide strong hold and Apples US strong hold.
The BB storm sold becuase of its BB name and the novelty of the first BB touch screen, as far as it being a competive phone, its not, theres nothing great about it , a few of my friends have them and there the worst bb i have ever laid hands on.
I played with the Nokia 5800 (tube) on my vaca to Chicago a few weeks ago, in the Nokia Flagship store on Michagan Ave., its a really nice phone but not somehing i would want but i almost bought it for my gf as its not priced very high becuase it doesnt have north american 3G but im on tmobile and they wouldnt support there 3g anyway. lol i also got to see one of those rediculous Vertu handsets and they ugly and expensive as crap, id take a G1 anyday over a Vertu

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 12:53PM]

WOW, G1 did great, as someone already mentioned it was US only. On top of that, they were only available in Tmobile stores and online with limited stock.

Great work.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 6:36PM]

The G1 was released in the UK and Germany too, no?
It would be kindof strange for T-Mobile to ignore their home market...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2009 5:58PM]

He left out the HTC Diamond. That hit 1 million in around 6 weeks so 42+ days. Faster than everything but the iPhone 3G.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 30th 2009 2:54AM]

Does anyone know how the bold is doing?