It took Verizon only two hours of having the iPhone 4 available for pre-order to break its all-time record for first day sales of a single device. They did this with only offering preorders to the customers of Verizon and offering to them in early morning. Which was between 3AM and 5AM yesterday morning, more customers ordered up the iPhone 4 than Verizon has been able to get into its stores on any full product launch day. There isn?t any actual number of devices ordered by Verizon, but from the server issues it was having directly after having the handset available and the consequent closing of advance pre-orders, we’ll go ahead and assume we are looking at an extreme amount of orders.
Below is Verizon Wireless press release:
VERIZON WIRELESS HAS RECORD SALES ON FIRST DAY OF iPHONE 4
Available to General Public on Feb.10
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. ? At 8:10 p.m. EST yesterday, Verizon Wireless ceased online orders of iPhone 4 to existing customers and ended the most successful first day sales in the history of the company.
“This was an exciting day,” said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer for Verizon Wireless. “In just our first two hours, we had already sold more phones than any first day launch in our history. And, when you consider these initial orders were placed between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., it is an incredible success story. It is gratifying to know that our customers responded so enthusiastically to this exclusive offer — designed to reward them for their loyalty.
“I am proud of our employees who worked tirelessly to strengthen and scale our systems, enabling unprecedented customer orders through our website. Overall, it was a very good day,” he added.
Mead also said customers will have another opportunity at being among the nation’s first to own an iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network.
“Yesterday’s launch set the pace for next week when we open up sales to everyone across America.”
The general market launch of the iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network will occur on February 10. The company will open its more than 2000 Verizon Wireless Stores at 7 a.m. It will also be available at all Apple store locations, Best Buy, select Wal-Mart stores, and on-line at verizonwireless.com and apple.com.