NEW YORK: Apple received more than two million orders for its new iPhone 5 in just 24 hours, the company said Monday, 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 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 September 21, 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.
The iPhone 5 will be available from the Apple Online Store and its retail stores, and for US customers through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and other resellers.
AT&T said in a statement it set a sales record with iPhone 5 over the weekend, making it the fastest-selling iPhone the company has ever offered, but gave no specific numbers.
The carrier said it will be selling the iPhone 5 in AT&T retail stores on Friday.
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 $698.66, giving the world's most valuable firm a market value 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.
"Bolstered by the iPhone 5, we believe Apple's industry-leading software ecosystem and integrated hardware expertise will lead to a strong multi-year product cycle," said Michael Walkley at Canaccord Genuity.
"We reiterate our buy rating and $797 price target."
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.
Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012
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