iPhonocomics: The iPhone’s Lucrative Financial Cycle

It was announced that Apple earns 32% of the entire cell phone industry’s handset profits worldwide. With Apple rackin’ up this kind of dough, we figured it would be interesting to see exactly how the finances behind the Apple iPhone work. The following infographic is a visual representation of the economic cycle that’s hidden behind the iPhone. Each arrow represents the exchange of money between the key players: the Consumer, the Developer, the Hacker, the Accessory Manufacturer, the Service Provider (AT&T), and Apple. With the amount of money this device is generating, it deserves an economic term of its own: iPhonocomics (soon to be officially taught in universities worldwide).

Note: Each arrow represents the flow of money. Keep in mind that developers and hackers are consumers as well.

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Sources:

• http://www.mobclix.com/appstore/1
  
• http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/04/itunes-app-store-billionth-download.html
  
• http://mashable.com/2009/05/14/apple-iphone-apps-profit/
  
• http://www.macblogz.com/2008/09/19/app-store-success-trism-developer-makes-250000-in-60-days/
  
• http://toucharcade.com/2009/03/15/simon-olivers-app-store-success-rolando-sees-700000-downloads/
  
• http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/Why-Apple-Hates-Jailbroken-iPhones-67739.html?wlc=1249323902
  
• http://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/14/apple-announces-first-year-app-store-success-1-5-billion-downloads-65000-apps/
  
• http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/08/cydia-app-store/
  
• http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/08/04/report_iphone_grabs_32_of_global_handset_profits_in_2009.html

See also A Visualized Look At The Estimated Revenues Of The Top Cell Phone Manufacturers