The iPhone is certainly one of the most talked about mobile phones among gadget hounds. Many were not happy when the original iPhone launched as an AT&T exclusive. When the iPhone 3G launched and AT&T began subsidizing some of the cost of the iPhone, people began to take a bit more notice of the handset.

According to market research firm NPD Group one in three iPhone 3G buyers have come to AT&T from other service providers. I am sure this is exactly what AT&T was hoping for when it agreed to subsidize the cost of the iPhone.

NPD research shows that of that one in three number, 47% of new iPhone customers came from Verizon, 24% from T-Mobile and 19% from Sprint. Data also shows that the iPhone 3G was the top selling smartphone from June to August of 2008. The iPhone is now the second best selling mobile handset among US consumers with the Motorola Razr V3 holding the top spot. The most interesting bit in that is the Razr V3 can at times be had free with a new agreement, everyone pays for the iPhone 3G in the States.

NPD Group