Apple vs. Samsung Trial Forces Companies to Open Up the Books

Everyone knows Apple and Samsung sell a lot of phones. Thanks to earnings reports there is even a pretty good sense of how many both companies sell in total each quarter.

However, the Apple-Samsung trial is providing a great deal more detail, including how many of each model both companies are selling, at least here in the U.S. during the time frame at issue in the suit.

Documents filed by Samsung lawyers on Thursday reveal that, from June 2010 through June 2012, Samsung sold 21.25 million phones, generating $7.5 billion in revenue. On the tablet side, the company sold 1.4 million Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1 devices, producing $644 million in revenue.

In terms of individual phone models, the largest in units were the Galaxy Prevail with 2.25 million phones sold, the Epic 4G with 1.89 million phones sold and the Epic 4G Touch variant of the Galaxy S II, which sold 1.67 million units in the U.S. All told, Samsung sold 4.1 million Galaxy S II devices, when all models are included.

On the dollar side, the Epic 4G was the biggest revenue producer, generating 855 million between the third quarter of 2010 and the second quarter of 2012.

The full chart (above, click for larger version) will be of interest not only to those watching Apple and Samsung, but also for those looking for insight into just how well the four major carriers are doing in selling Samsung products. In many cases, the models listed were sold by just one carrier. The Epic phones, for example, are Sprint models, while the Droid Charge is a Verizon model and the Infuse 4G an AT&T device.

The documents filed Thursday show Apple’s phone and tablet sales as well, though the sales are only classified into iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

From 2007 through the second quarter of 2012, Apple sold a total of 85 million iPhones in the U.S., worth a total of $50 billion in revenue, along with 46 million iPod touches producing roughly $10.3 billion in revenue. From its 2010 launch, Apple sold 34 million iPads, generating $19 billion in revenue.

Lawyers for the companies have been trying to keep as much of this detail out of the public view as possible, but that battle appears largely lost.

The jury will need the numbers, of course, if it finds infringement by either Samsung or Apple of the other’s patents in order to determine damages. As both sides have found, though, suing one another will mean sharing far more information publicly than either would like.

In addition to financial data, the sides have also sought to keep secret their source code, agreements with third parties and other information they believe constitutes trade secrets. Apple has even sought to keep private its internal surveys of iPhone and iPad customers; Judge Lucy Koh has denied that request, though Apple has said it will appeal.

A number of other tech companies have also petitioned the court to keep various bits of information under seal, including Ericsson, Intel, RIM, Nokia and Microsoft. Reuters America is fighting that request, arguing that nearly all information should be made public.

Already the trial has provided a ton of insight into Apple, a company known for its secrecy. Revelations thus far include images of early iPhone and iPad prototypes, testimony about the creation of the first Apple phones and tablets and the kitchen table around which all Apple products are fashioned.

After a break on Wednesday and Thursday, court resumes on Friday with more testimony expected from Apple-hired experts. Naturally, AllThingsD will be in court to bring you the latest.

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