iPhone 5 Rolling Out as Apple Looks at Mountain of Cash

Executives at Strategy Analytics, an independent research and consulting firm, have put together a new report — Global Handset Shipments Forecast by Quarter: Q2 2012 — in which they note that Apple’s iPhone is about to reach its fifth birthday “at the top of its game.”

The latest research from Strategy Analytics reveals that the Cupertino, California tech giant bearing a bitten-apple logo racked up US$150 billion / €120 billion of cumulative revenues thanks solely to its iPhone business. 

In the five years since the original iPhone launched (Macworld, June 2007), a quarter of a billion iPhones have been shipped cumulatively, worldwide, Strategy Analytics says.

The firm’s Senior Analyst, Neil Shah said, “Apple’s first iPhone was launched commercially in the United States on June 29, 2007. Between June 2007 and June 2012, we estimate the iPhone family of models has generated US$150 billion of cumulative revenues worldwide for Apple.”

“This is an impressive achievement and it illustrates just how popular the iPhone has become during the past five years.”

Commenting on Apple’s impressive feat, Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, added, “The iPhone portfolio has become a huge generator of cash and profit for Apple.”

“A quarter of a billion iPhones have been shipped cumulatively worldwide in the first five years since launch and Apple reaches its fifth birthday at the top of its game. However, there are emerging signs that the iPhone’s next five years could get tougher.”

Mawston points out to some concern in cellular operator circles regarding the pricey subsidies spent on Apple’s elusive handsets, “while Samsung is expanding its popular Galaxy portfolio and providing Apple with more credible competition.”

Apple is preparing to extend its own portfolio, yet again, this fall, with the launch of a new generation of iPhones boasting bigger screens and a redesigned chassis.

Indeed, it’s shaping up to become quite the bloodbath. For whoever’s interested in the full scoop behind these figures, Strategy Analytics put its report on sale here.