Apple: Sorry We Sold 600,000 iPhone 4s Yesterday


Recommended Posts

Apple finally commented on Tuesday?s iPhone 4 pre-order fiasco, issuing a statement moments ago apologizing for system malfunctions that frustrated many eager buyers and acknowledging it had underestimated the demand. And an overwhelming demand it was?Apple said it took pre-orders for more than 600,000 iPhone 4s, a single-day record.

Apple?s (AAPL) remarks coincided with a statement from AT&T (T) claiming first-day iPhone 4 pre-orders were 10 times greater than those of the iPhone 3G S last year and explaining the company?s decision to suspend further pre-orders.

Below, the two companies? statements in full.

Statement by Apple on iPhone 4 Pre-Orders

CUPERTINO, Calif., June 16 ? Yesterday Apple and its carrier partners took pre-orders for more than 600,000 of Apple?s new iPhone 4. It was the largest number of pre-orders Apple has ever taken in a single day and was far higher than we anticipated, resulting in many order and approval system malfunctions. Many customers were turned away or abandoned the process in frustration. We apologize to everyone who encountered difficulties, and hope that they will try again or visit an Apple or carrier store once the iPhone 4 is in stock.

AT&T Statement on Pre-Order iPhone 4 Sales

DALLAS, June 16 ? AT&T issued the following statement today:

IPhone 4 pre-order sales yesterday were 10-times higher than the first day of pre-ordering for the iPhone 3G S last year. Consumers are clearly excited about iPhone 4, AT&T?s more affordable data plans and our early upgrade pricing.

Given this unprecedented demand and our current expectations for our iPhone 4 inventory levels when the device is available June 24, we?re suspending pre-ordering today in order to fulfill the orders we?ve already received.

The availability of additional inventory will determine if we can resume taking pre-orders.

In addition to unprecedented pre-order sales, yesterday there were more than 13 million visits to AT&T?s website where customers can check to see if they are eligible to upgrade to a new phone; that number is about 3-times higher than the previous record for eligibility upgrade checks in one day.

We are working hard to bring iPhone 4 to as many of our customers as soon as possible.

Source : AllThingsDigital

Apple?s (AAPL) remarks coincided with a statement from AT&T (T) claiming first-day iPhone 4 pre-orders were 10 times greater than those of the iPhone 3G S last year and explaining the company?s decision to suspend further pre-orders.

I call bs on that since I highly doubt only 60,000 people pre-ordered the 3gs on the first day. Seems far too low.

I call bs on that since I highly doubt only 60,000 people pre-ordered the 3gs on the first day. Seems far too low.

600,000 is Apple's number. 10x is AT&T's number. AT&T isn't saying that total pre-orders were 10x, just that the pre-orders that went through AT&T were 10x.

600,000 is Apple's number. 10x is AT&T's number. AT&T isn't saying that total pre-orders were 10x, just that the pre-orders that went through AT&T were 10x.

Well I assumed the numbers would only be for the US, where AT&T is the only iPhone carrier. If you try and order it through Apple's site, it would take you directly to AT&T and I'm pretty sure Apple would know how much stock AT&T had.

Hence the 600,000 and 10x would match up.

Yea its funny how many people will flock to one device...damn fanbois...fanboism is really a stupid thing to be. I have talked to people who have the 3gs which they already sold. So they go out and rent a normal phone for a few weeks until they get their v4. Whats funny is, they dont have a lot of $$$ so they sold the 3gs to help pay for their 4. They also make comments on how they cannot live without their iPhone and that they sleep with it...and no, they were not kidding. Cracks me up.

I still have my 1year old android phone which is working great. I have upgraded it so many times (free of course) and added so many new features that I don't need a new phone ATM. Can I afford a new one...sure, but why waste the money to get a new hardware look and some minor feature additions.

Well I assumed the numbers would only be for the US, where AT&T is the only iPhone carrier. If you try and order it through Apple's site, it would take you directly to AT&T and I'm pretty sure Apple would know how much stock AT&T had.

Hence the 600,000 and 10x would match up.

When ordering through Apple it checks your account details with AT&T, but I think Apple still handles the order.

Well I assumed the numbers would only be for the US, where AT&T is the only iPhone carrier. If you try and order it through Apple's site, it would take you directly to AT&T and I'm pretty sure Apple would know how much stock AT&T had.

Ah, that's where your logic is flawed: Apple's online store doesn't throw you to AT&T to process your order. You can order a phone directly from Apple or from AT&T. The stores are separate and the stocks are separate.

They also make comments on how they cannot live without their iPhone and that they sleep with it...and no, they were not kidding. Cracks me up.

I sleep with my iPhone. It's my alarm clock.

I still have my 1year old android phone which is working great. I have upgraded it so many times (free of course) and added so many new features that I don't need a new phone ATM. Can I afford a new one...sure, but why waste the money to get a new hardware look and some minor feature additions.

That's great for you?

Yea its funny how many people will flock to one device...damn fanbois...fanboism is really a stupid thing to be. I have talked to people who have the 3gs which they already sold. So they go out and rent a normal phone for a few weeks until they get their v4. Whats funny is, they dont have a lot of $$$ so they sold the 3gs to help pay for their 4. They also make comments on how they cannot live without their iPhone and that they sleep with it...and no, they were not kidding. Cracks me up.

I still have my 1year old android phone which is working great. I have upgraded it so many times (free of course) and added so many new features that I don't need a new phone ATM. Can I afford a new one...sure, but why waste the money to get a new hardware look and some minor feature additions.

I hate to say this but.. considering your avatar and signature is splashed with the Android logo, and you're raving on about how good Android is in your post, could someone not equally consider you to be a fanboy for that platform? I don't have a problem with Android (indeed I ditched my iPhone 3G for a HTC Desire and haven't looked back) but really I think you need to get a sense of perspective here as I don't think your opinion on things is entirely evenly balanced ;)

  • Like 2

That's great for you?

Yea, why wouldn't it be? I will be upgrading my phone in like 4 months...but I don't do so as soon as a new version is released.

I hate to say this but.. considering your avatar and signature is splashed with the Android logo, and you're raving on about how good Android is in your post, could someone not equally consider you to be a fanboy for that platform? I don't have a problem with Android (indeed I ditched my iPhone 3G for a HTC Desire and haven't looked back) but really I think you need to get a sense of perspective here as I don't think your opinion on things is entirely evenly balanced ;)

So just because I have an android on my sig/avatar that makes me a fanboy? Seriously dude, read the def of the word.

Fanboys cannot say anything bad about a product and will defend it until the bitter end. I can and have said things I dont like about Androids...but I still prefer them. If Android...Google...Fs up, I dont defend it and if ther F up isnt fixed in a timely matter, then I will bitch about it.

You don't need to be eligible for an upgrade, you can order directly from apple.

once again, go to www.apple.com and go through the pre-order process......

As already spelled out in great detail, Apple's servers have to access AT&T's servers in order to determine if someone is eligible for a subsidized discount and to setup new customers. I'm not sure what doesn't make sense to you. It seems pretty clear to the rest of us.

But, it is Apples problem for not making sure their partner in crime, AT&T, was ready for yesterday. Apple's Store web site seemed to be responding fine. The break down always happened on the "Gathering information from AT&T" page.

As already spelled out in great detail, Apple's servers have to access AT&T's servers in order to determine if someone is eligible for a subsidized discount and to setup new customers. I'm not sure what doesn't make sense to you. It seems pretty clear to the rest of us.

But, it is Apples problem for not making sure their partner in crime, AT&T, was ready for yesterday. Apple's Store web site seemed to be responding fine. The break down always happened on the "Gathering information from AT&T" page.

To others, it isn't Apples problem or fault for anything. I made a comment about how this was paid for premium service , which we always hear, and got called a troll. I put up why it's apple's fault, and people run in to say, no its not - all at&ts. I call it how I see it. I am not clouded by hate or admiration for this company, so I can come at it with a clear view. This is a bad company, that has time and time again proven to have horrible business ethics, closed systems, and has had a recent issue with keeping data private and safe. They used to be the "underdog", but they are not anymore, and their decisions are all about self preservation and money. While they bring innovation to products, they hurt it just as much with their draconian lock down policies. When I see this company do something right, I will give them Kudos. Until then, saying things that ya'll might find as "appleblasphemy" will be a common place.

I am clouded with hate for the blind, ignorant, or just annoying. Something I am working on slowly lol.

yes, at&t account, Please, post the address of the site you are on... i bet it says, APPLE, OMG AMAZING! As I have been saying, Apple is handling pre-orders.... what do you not get about this? It is their ****ing phone for crying out loud, how would they not be handling orders?

Are you at www.at&t.com making the order? No? then guess who it is....

Or is it apparently when you order from www.APPLE.com it is really at&t the whole time in disguise....... Love how they will make it look like at&t is the one doing all the messing up, but wont admit its part of apple as well.... amazing deceptive world we live in.

uh... I ordered mine through att.com/iphone. Never touched apples website......

Even the thing on apple.com has to go through AT&T's account servers (in the US anyways), regardless if you are upgrading or not.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Ford execs say they made a mistake when they replaced human engineers with AI by David Uzondu Ford recently announced that over the last three years, it's had to rehire about 350 "gray beard" engineers to mentor younger staff and reprogram diagnostic systems and AI tools that were failing to meet up to quality expectations. The company's VP of vehicle hardware engineering, Charles **** said that leaders overlooked the deep experience of veterans who survived many product cycles. **** admitted that simply replacing them with AI was a huge mistake, and that while AI is "a fantastic tool," it remains "only as good as the information you use to train it." The rehired engineers now run mandatory meetings to troubleshoot vehicles and reprogram automated engineering software and AI tools to prevent glitches before production. These technical specialists hunt for failure points before parts ever reach the plant floor, helping prevent the massive recalls and defects that previously cost the company billions as it aims to cut one billion dollars in expenses this year. In last year's JD Power Quality Survey, an annual study that measures the quality of a car during the first three months of ownership, Ford finished 10th among mainstream brands and scored below the industry average. But this year, JD Power ranked the automaker as the top mainstream brand, placing it above the likes of Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ford attributed this massive improvement directly to the expertise of these returned engineers. Ford's realization that AI cannot magically design and test quality vehicles without senior human oversight is just the tip of the iceberg. When Careerminds looked at companies that conducted AI-driven layoffs, researchers found out that 35.6% of those companies had to rehire more than half of the employees they previously fired. Another 32.7% had to rehire between 25% and 50% of them. In 2024, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO of Klarna, proudly announced that its new chatbot was doing the work of 700 full-time customer service agents. As a result, the fintech company froze hiring and cut hundreds of positions. But by mid 2025, and into 2026, Klarna was scrambling to recruit human agents again because customer satisfaction had plummeted. It turns out, while AI is very good at answering basic questions like how to check an account balance, when faced with complex customer issues that require nuance, the thing usually resorts to the unhelpful, robotic corporate jargon we all know and love.
    • Free AI in IDEs is shifting to paid models Or you know, you could just learn to actually design and code apps, use frameworks to handle the repetitive parts and not use AI at all - and voila... free for life!
    • In a sane world US antitrust laws wouldn't even allow these companies to be in the position to be subjected to EU directives. As you say, better than oligarch nothing.
    • Apple reportedly has a second-generation iPhone Fold planned for 2027 Good grief, Apple hasn't even released a first folding phone and the Apple faithful is already obsessing over the sequel? Seriously people, go out and touch grass... because this level of obsession is borderline stalkery/neurotic.
    • I checked on the IPs associated with every login and they're all mine... And whenever I get a new prompt, there is no activity to show for it. 
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      xvvxcvv earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      xvvxcvv earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Enthusiast
      Xonos went up a rank
      Enthusiast
    • Conversation Starter
      Admir earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • First Post
      The_Focal_Point earned a badge
      First Post
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      405
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      169
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      129
    4. 4
      neufuse
      69
    5. 5
      Xenon
      68
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!