Apple's iPhone was the leading smartphone during the month of July, and sales equaled the leading "feature phone," the LG Chocolate, according to a sales survey released Tuesday.

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Market researcher iSuppli classifies the iPhone as a crossover phone, with attributes that put it in competition both with smart phones and with feature phones. While the iPhone has some features associated with smart phones, users cannot load third-party software onto the product, which is a key requirement to qualify for smart-phone status. iSuppli defines feature phones as handsets that have rich functionality.

iSuppli also published an aggressive sales prediction for the iPhone: 4.5 million units for the year. The firm also predicted that the iPhone, or some successor, would sell 30 million units in 2011, based on "consumer demand, Apple's brand image, industry anticipation and iSuppli's estimates of volume shipments by manufacturers and the market segment," the firm said.

Most iPhone purchasers in July were male, 35 years of age or younger and possessed a four-year college degree or more. Strong early consumer uptake conforms with iSuppli's forecast of 4.5 million iPhones shipping in 2007, rising to more than 30 million units in 2011.

The speed of the iPhone's rise to competitive dominance in its segment is unprecedented in the history of the mobile-handset market. The two iPhone models on sale in July accounted for 1.8 percent of all mobile-handset unit sales to U.S. customers during the month.

While the speed of the iPhone's ascent to the top of the smart-phone and feature-phone charts is remarkable, it's equally amazing that Apple achieved this in the face of numerous, well-entrenched competitors. iSuppli's U.S. Consumer Panel Survey also revealed other facts about American iPhone purchasers, including:

- Approximately 57 percent of iPhones bought in July were purchased by U.S. consumers 35 years of age or younger
- Most iPhone buyers were men in July, with 52 percent of purchasers being male and 48 percent female
- Nearly two-thirds, or 62 percent, of iPhone buyers in July had a four-college degree or more education
- One quarter of consumers who bought iPhones switched to AT&T service. AT&T is the exclusive provider of service for the iPhone

Some of the iPhone's success in July can be attributed to pent-up demand following months of hype. Real proof of success will come in the coming months as demand patterns stabilize.

Based on consumer demand, Apple's brand image, industry anticipation and iSuppli's estimates of volume shipments by manufacturers and the market segment, iSuppli is maintaining its projection that 4.5 million iPhones will ship in 2007, rising to more than 30 million units in 2011.

- Apple iPhone Specs