We now know at least one thing about Apple’s iPhone 4S smartphone: Initial sales won’t be a letdown.
Not only did Apple set a record in the first 24 hours that the device was available for pre-order, the iPhone 4S appears to be a huge hit at U.S. wireless providers that haven't even begun selling the smartphone at their retail stores.
Both Sprint and Verizon Wireless showed no immediate stock of iPhone 4S 16-gigabyte models for pre-order on their websites, according to Bloomberg. AT&T is giving buyers on its website a delivery estimate of three to four weeks, up from one to two days when pre-orders commenced Oct. 7, according to the report. Pre-orders also are available through Apple, and a customer service representative said yesterday that it would take one to two weeks for the gadget to be shipped, with another three- to five-day delivery time.
The three largest U.S. wireless carriers – Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint – will begin selling the iPhone 4S tomorrow at their retail stores. Sprint, which has the rights to sell the iPhone for the first time, will certainly benefit, said IDC analyst Will Stofega.
“I think the iPhone is a driver of traffic and [has a] proven ability to attract customers," the analyst said.
Stofega didn’t seem surprised that pre-orders have been selling well: “I think there’s a pent-up demand because they [Apple] are a little late introducing this," he said.
The iPhone 4S will be priced at $199, $299 and $399 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB units, respectively, with a two-year contract. The iPhone has been one of Apple’s most successful products in its history. Since the smartphone was introduced four years ago, Apple has sold about 129 million iPhones.
