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

[Shayla]

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

[Mr. Gibs]

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.

[Neowinian]

Nice to see some comments. I wish them good luck sorting the orders out.

[Vice]

Jeez that is a lot of iPhones. Friend of mine tried to order one for over 4 hours before it finally went through.

[Pupik]

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.

Logic? Not on the internet, sir!

[Stetson]

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.

[Brian M. Veteran]

To be honest, this whole release has been a disaster.

[Mr. Gibs]

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.

[shakey]

But you pay for this kind of premium service with apple... right? :p

[Conjor]

It's just a phone people.... Stop jamming F5... Reminds me of

[techbeck]

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.

[Stetson]

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.

[Elliott]

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?

[vanx]

Apple and AT&T saying sorry that they made so much money yesterday. Wow, time are a-changing :blink:

[Richard Hammond]

But you pay for this kind of premium service with apple... right? :p

Apple doesnt run AT&T, nice try at trolling.

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

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 ;)

[techbeck]

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.

[Shadrack]

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.

[AJerman]

This is why I just set a reservation at the Apple Store for the 24th. No need to deal with all the AT&T server crap now. They get overloaded every time and never manage to upgrade their systems.

[shakey]

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.

[shockz]

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.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

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