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"iPhone Effect" boosting opinions, sales of Apple and AT&T

By Aidan Malley

Published: 12:00 PM EST
Apple's first cellphone has contributed to a steadily mounting
enthusiasm for Apple and its wireless partner AT&T that is leading to
more Apple product owners overall, says a new study by Solutions
Research Group.

Between October 2006 and November 2007, the number of respondents who
have a "very positive" view of Apple has shot from 21 to 32 percent, the
group says, while the overall number of positive opinions has climbed
slightly from 71 to 74 percent.

While the view may be connected to non-iPhone products as well, the
research also notes that the number of people expressing the same
opinion of AT&T has also increased from 17 to 21 percent over the same
period.

This shows clear signs of an "iPhone Effect" on either company, the
analysts say.

Such a halo is also said to be translating into real-world results.
Solutions Research estimates that about 31 percent of all study subjects
over 12 years old own at least one Apple device, easily besting the 20
percent from October of 2006. Ownership is not broken down into iPhone,
iPod, or Mac categories, however.

Nonetheless, the study authors contend that Apple's current public
opinion is only set to improve in the near future. At 49 percent, nearly
half of all respondents say that Apple is "getting better" while 36
percent believe the company unchanged. Only 4 percent believe Apple is
getting worse, the study says.

Previous observations by analysts have mirrored the Solutions Research
Group study and argue that Apple is creating an iPhone halo which
translates to a warm reception of other Apple products.