NEW YORK – The U.S. computer group Apple Monday announced record orders of more than two million copies in 24 hours for the new iPhone 5, confirming the huge demand generated by its popular phone.
“Customer response to the iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” on Monday welcomed the chief Apple marketing, Philip Schiller.
The phone will be in stores from September 21 in 9 countries, including the United States and France, but it can be pre-ordered since Friday.
With over 2 million orders on the first day, the iPhone beats the record of one million units recorded at the launch of the previous model, the iPhone 4S.
Apple had to extend its delivery. “The demand has exceeded the initial offer, and if the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many will not be delivered until October,” he warned.
It thus confirmed that visitors to its online shops were found on Friday: delivery times have gone from one week to two or three weeks.
“Apple was forced to delay its delivery just an hour after launch” commands against at least 20 hours for the two previous models, are Trefis analysts, seeing “an indication of the enormous pent-up demand that has evolved over the last few months, people pushing their purchase of an iPhone in anticipation of the new. “
Apple also opted for the pace of launching “the fastest in the history of the iPhone,” said Ben Reitzes with Barclays.
After nine countries Friday (United States, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore), the list will be expanded to 20 more countries next week, and will have a hundred other by the end of the year.
Several experts have predicted that the iPhone 5 would be the biggest product launch technology the season, assuming 10 million copies sold in the first day, and 50 million by the end of December.
These hopes have benefited greatly in Apple’s stock, which had closed Friday at a new record high of 691.28 dollars, and continued its momentum by winning Monday 1.09% to 698.82 dollars around 5:40 p.m. GMT.
Other companies are also trying to recover some of the attention generated by the group at the apple.
On Fifth Avenue in New York, a handful of people were already waiting for Monday to be the first to go into the Apple Store a few meters away when the iPhone will be Friday rays.
The first in line, a man calling itself Sagitarius Catharsis, settled last week with a chair, a small table, a blanket and a sign to promote an application of “cat” called Vibe. He says he already waited several days “for films, Star Wars or Spiderman”, but is not even sure this time to really buy an iPhone 5.
“We’ve waited 18 days for the iPhone 4S last year,” said Thompson also Keenen, 22, came with a friend. He describes himself as “a fan of Apple,” but became the sponsor Gazelle company specializing in the purchase of used computers and phones, which provided orange chairs and sleeping bags to match.
“We wanted to be the first here. This is a good way to advertise,” also recognizes Joshua Chinchilla, 23 years. He works for the company Refundo, which develops applications for payment by mobile phone. She has provided T-Shirts and sweaters for the night. “And tomorrow there will be a storm, maybe we will also have umbrellas,” he said.