{"id":516372,"date":"2010-04-05T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-04-05T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/dont-lose-focus-the-ipad-is-cool-but-the-iphone-is-still-the-real-story-2010-4"},"modified":"2010-04-05T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-04-05T17:00:00","slug":"dont-lose-focus-the-iphone-is-still-vastly-more-important-to-apple-than-the-ipad-aapl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/516372","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Lose Focus: The iPhone Is Still Vastly More Important To Apple Than The iPad (AAPL)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"steve<\/p>\n

Apple’s latest gadget, the iPad tablet, is off to a solid start, with more than 300,000 already sold<\/a>. And it’s a really nice<\/a> device, we can confirm<\/a> after spending a good chunk of the last two days<\/a> with one.<\/p>\n

Indeed, it may represent the future of portable computing… someday, maybe.<\/p>\n

But the real story for Apple right now — and at least for the next few years — is still the iPhone.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

For developers, it’s still the only opportunity at Apple right now to sell MILLIONS of copies of a mobile app.<\/strong> The iPad will take a year or more to reach 5 million users. But the iPhone and iPod touch have more than 75 million users. That has allowed thousands of companies to make money from their apps, whether paid, ad-supported, or financed by virtual goods.<\/p>\n

For Apple and its investors, it’s still the biggest revenue generator and biggest growth driver, and that’s not going to change soon.<\/strong> The iPhone generated 35% of Apple’s revenue during the December quarter, with iPhone segment growth up 90% year-over-year. With the iPod touch included, it’s even more impressive. (Apple sales grew 32% year-over-year as a whole during the December quarter.)<\/p>\n

So that’s why, despite all the buzz around the iPad right now, the more important events are Apple’s iPhone OS 4 preview this Thursday<\/a>, and its WWDC keynote, where it’s expected to unveil a new, better iPhone in June<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Staying ahead of Google Android, RIM, Microsoft, Palm, HTC, Nokia, and other mobile companies — and growing the iPhone business — is Apple’s priority for the next several years. The smartphone market is still the bigger opportunity than the tablet market. Whatever happens with the iPad is gravy.<\/p>\n

Related: 15 Features Apple Must Build Into iPhone OS 4 →<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Apple<\/p>\n

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