APPLE RECEIVED MORE than two million orders for its new iPhone 5 in just 24 hours, the company said today, pushing back many deliveries into October because of strong demand.
“iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.
Apple unveiled the new version of its iconic smartphone last Wednesday and opened up pre-orders in the US on Friday. The company said the hot item would be available in 100 countries around the world by the year-end.
The first customers in the United States and several other countries are expected to get the device on 21 September, but Apple said some would have to wait.
“Demand for iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply and while the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October,” an Apple statement said.
Apple’s US website said orders placed would be shipped in two to three weeks.
In New York, a handful of people were already camped outside the Apple store on Fifth Avenue awaiting the new smartphone, but all were sponsored by companies or apps seeking publicity.
First in line was a man identifying himself as Sagitarius Catharsis, equipped with a chair, small table and blanket, who said he was promoting a local chat service called App Vibe.
Also in the queue was Keenen Thompson, 22, who said he works in “fashion” and was sponsored by Gazelle, a company which buy old phones and old computers in trade-ins.
“We already waited 18 days for iPhone 4S last year,” he told AFP. “We decided to do it again. There’s no fun in ordering it on Internet. Here people pass by and talk.”
Some analysts say Apple could sell 10 million in the opening days and 50 million before the end of 2012.
Apple shares extended their rally Monday, gaining 1.0 percent to a new record $698.62 in midday trade, giving the world’s most valuable firm a market worth of $654 billion.
Many analysts remained bullish on Apple because of the iPhone and other products, including a rumored new mini-iPad expected to be launched later this year.
Ben Reitzes at Barclays commented: “The pace of this iPhone 5 roll-out is the fastest in the iPhone’s history and points to a big December quarter.”
Reitzes said the only thing holding Apple back is the possibility of “significant production constraints,” but added this would push “a significant amount of units into the December and March quarters.”
The thinner, lighter, more powerful iPhone has been among the most keenly anticipated products in the tech world.
Made of glass and aluminum, it features a new design to nestle in one’s palm to naturally align with thumbs and works on the faster mobile Internet networks known as LTE.
The new device features Apple’s own new A6 processor, which according to Apple doubles the speed for loading Web graphics.
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