Apple announced on Monday that more than 1 million new iPhones have been sold in just three days and released the first public comment from chief executive Steve Jobs since he went on medical leave of absence in January.
“Customers are voting and the iPhone is winning,” the 54-year-old Jobs said in a brief written statement. “With over 50,000 applications available from Apple’s revolutionary App Store, iPhone momentum is stronger than ever.”
Apple said more than 1 million iPhone 3GS models had been sold through Sunday and 6 million customers have downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software in the first five days since its release.
The iPhone 3GS went on sale in the US on Friday while the software upgrade was released last Wednesday.
The two-sentence statement from Jobs, the iconic Apple chief executive, came just two days after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that he had received a liver transplant about two months ago in Tennessee.
The newspaper reported that Jobs was recovering well from the liver transplant and was expected to return to work on schedule later this month.
Apple did not say whether Monday’s statement officially marked the end of Jobs’ leave of absence.
The WSJ, citing an unnamed person familiar with the situation at Apple, said Jobs may initially work part-time “for a month or two.”
Jobs’ gaunt appearance has been the source of intense speculation over the past year. Apple has been secretive about Jobs’ health since he underwent an operation in 2004 for pancreatic cancer but has been adamant that he would be returning to the company’s helm at the end of this moth.
Apple vice president of marketing Phil Schiller took the place of Jobs this month at a developers conference presentation and unveiled the iPhone 3GS, which is the first model to have video camera capabilities.
Analysts said the iPhone sales figures would distract some investors from concerns about Jobs’ health to a certain extent.
“Investors will realize that Apple executed well on the launch in Jobs’ absence,” Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Jeffrey Fidacaro said.
He said the 3GS sales were strong considering it was available in only eight countries. The last iPhone was launched in 21 countries and also booked 1 million sales in its first weekend.
“It shows that the iPhone momentum remains strong,” he said.
Despite the solid weekend sales, Fidacaro said some investors would still have concerns about Jobs’ health and whether he can continue as a driving force at Apple.
“He’s obviously the clear visionary of the company,” Fidacaro said. “There is a concern about his health and what Apple has told us about his health and what role he’ll be playing when he returns.”
Analysts have said Jobs may soon shift to a new role focusing on big-picture issues and products at Apple, leaving chief operating officer Tim Cook to manage day to day. Cook has been overseeing operations in Jobs’ absence.
“On the one hand, you have the Jobs news out there, which might give people some pause, but on the other hand, iPhone 3GS sales were good,” Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek said.
Six million customers have downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software in the first five days since its release, Apple said.
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