How Big is the Apple Eco-System?

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently announced the earnings heard around the world. The tech giant beat on the bottom line, but narrowly missed Wall Street’s revenue estimate. Although Apple shares are under heavy selling pressure, the company continues to expand its massive eco-system.

In the fourth quarter, Apple sold 47.8 million iPhones, compared to 37 million in the year-ago quarter. It also sold 22.9 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 15.4 million a year earlier. Both iGadgets logged a record-breaking performance. The iPhone sold at a rate of almost 3.7 million units per week, while the iPad sold more than 1.7 million units per week.

Apple has now sold well over 500 million iOS devices, representing a rate of 10 units per second in the last quarter alone. On the conference call, Apple also notes how agencies are turning to the iOS eco-system.

Peter Oppenheimer, chief financial officer, explains, “They provide a secure and trusted eco-system that IT departments require. The iPhone continues to be embraced by government agencies and businesses across the globe. Many U.S. government agencies are issuing iPhones by the thousands as part of their new mobile strategies. Some examples include NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration.”

Businesses are also adopting the iPhone…