The iPhone 5 is expected to boost Apple sales by 60 percent by helping Apple sell 149 million iPhones by the end of 2012.
Research firm IHS said that if the iPhone 5 sells as it’s expected to perform commercially, Apple will enjoy 149 million handsets sold, representing a 60 percent increase over 2011 sales. IHS mobile analyst Daniel Gleeson said:
Unlike last year’s release of the iPhone 4S, this year’s iPhone 5 announcement comes as a significant departure from previous models. The addition of a new, larger screen is a fundamental change in product design. Furthermore, the iPhone 5 is the first member of Apple’s smartphone line to feature 4G long term evolution connectivity, accelerating data speeds dramatically compared to previous models.
IHS senior mobile media analyst Jack Kent added:
The new iPhone will support old apps via the addition of a ribbon so as to preserve the original aspect ratio. While this will maintain the experience, it does fall short of the flawless hardware-software integration that a vertically integrated model like Apple’s should provide. However, this should only be a temporary distraction for users as developers update their apps.
While the iPhone 5 hype certainly continues at a considerable rate, several critics have been left unimpressed with the device.
The iPhone 5 will release in the United States and the UK on September 21st, and a further 100 countries by September 28th.