Steve Jobs called it the iPhone without the phone. And it seems to be giving the iPhone a run for its money.
On the scale of Apple device sales, the iPod touch is seeing its stock rise, with one estimate finding that the digital music player and portable gaming device makes up nearly 40 percent of units running Apple’s mobile operating system.
More than 45 Million iPods
Based on Apple CEO Jobs’ declaration on Sept. 1st at the unveiling of the new iPod line in San Francisco that 120 million iOS devices have been sold to date, market research firm Asymco estimated that there were 59.6 million iPhones sold through June, according to the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that about eight million iPhones and four million iPads were believed sold during August and July.
That indicates the likely total of iPod touches sold is 45.2 million, or 37.7 percent of total iOS units.
So, for all the hype about Apple’s growing share of the smartphone market, it could soon be making more money from its products that don’t make calls.
“The expansion of iPhone distribution plus the addition of iPad has reduced the platform footprint for the iPod, but it’s still a sizable chunk,” said the firm on its Web site. “More than one in three iOS units in use are non-cellular devices. As the iPad rolls that number could move toward 50 percent.”
At last week’s iPod event, Jobs announced that the latest touch unit, which he noted is also “the iPhone without a contract” is equipped for the first time with front and back cameras and the application FaceTime, which allows the unit to be used for video chat via Wi-Fi with other iPod users, iPhone users or anyone with a web cam, which could further increase its appeal. iOS4.0,…