16Jan2011

Survey: Verizon iPhone will have major impact on U.S. carriers

A new ChangeWave survey of 4,050 consumers, completed just days before the announcement, focused on the impact of a Verizon iPhone on the major U.S. Wireless Service Providers.

ChangeWave’s Paul Carton says first the researchers asked survey respondents how likely they were to change their wireless service provider in the next 90 days.

A total of 10% said they plan on switching providers – two points higher than a previous ChangeWave survey in September and the highest churn level of the past 18 months.

Importantly, when ChangeWave compared the churn rates for the top wireless providers, they found major differences.

Service Provider Switch
Chart Courtesy ChangeWave

Only four percent of Verizon’s customers planned to switch in the next 90 days, but in comparison, ten percent of Sprint/Nextel customers say they plan to switch, as do fifteen percent of both T-Mobiles and AT&T’s customers

The following chart illustrates that AT&T’s churn rate is its worst ever according to a ChangeWave survey.

Chart Courtesy ChangeWave

So, the question is begged: “What’s behind the weakening loyalty of AT&T customers?”

Carton says that for one thing, better than two-in-five likely switchers from AT&T cite Poor Reception/Coverage (42%) as their top reason for leaving, followed by Dropped Calls (27%).

Chart Courtesy ChangeWave

Secondly, he notes, weakening loyalty of AT&T wireless customers is directly attributable to the upcoming release of a Verizon iPhone. A total of 16% of AT&T subscribers say they’ll switch to Verizon once it begins offering the iPhone. Another 23% say they’re not sure if they ll switch, which means they haven’t ruled it out.

Chart Courtesy ChangeWave

Perhaps most importantly, current Apple iPhone owners are the most likely group of all to switch.

For more information, visit InvestorPlace.

To review the complete ChangeWave survey results, including the heated competition for future market share among Verizon, AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, and T-Mobile, follow the link below. the complete $1,500.00 ChangeWave report can be found at Gerson Lerhman Group.

Additional report details include:

Chart of AT&T subscribers that say they plan to switch to Verizon to buy the iPhoneThe percentage of current Apple iPhone owners who say they are going to leave AT&T for VerizonWhen AT&T subscribers plan to switchA look at AT&T s dropped call rating vs. Verizon s in ChangeWave surveys since Sep. 2008

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