• November 9, 2011

Despite Sprint and Verizon Wireless getting their first cracks at a new iPhone, AT&T remains the dominant wireless provider among iPhone users.

According to analytics company Localytics, 54% of Apple’s newly launched iPhone 4S handsets are using the AT&T network. Verizon Wireless is second with 32% of the new handsets, while newcomer Sprint has 12%. In fact, according to Localytics’ analysis, Sprint’s entry into the iPhone world has taken more of Verizon’s share than AT&T’s.

Why? According to Localytics, AT&T’s advantage is its ability to mine its existing base of iPhone customers. “Because all Verizon iPhone users are in the first year of their wireless contract, the cost of upgrading will be high,” according to the blog post. However, many longer-term AT&T users, especially those holding iPhone 3GS and earlier devices, are off-contract or nearing the end of their contract. AT&T has been aggressively leveraging the iPhone 4S to sign these customers to new two-year contracts.”