Topic: iPhone

iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours

Summary: Pre-orders for Apple's newly-announced iPhone 4S have topped one million in a single day. The Steve Jobs bump, or something else?

By Andrew Nusca for Between the Lines | October 10, 2011 -- 06:24 GMT (23:24 PDT)

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If you had any doubt that the new "underwhelming" iPhone wouldn't sell, consider it shattered.

Apple this morning announced that pre-orders of its newly-announced iPhone 4S have topped one million in a single day. The previous single-day record for the device was 600,000, held by its predecessor, the iPhone 4.

Why the bump? A few potential reasons:

Apple added more customers to its portfolio since the previous model was announced;
The nearly three-month "delay" off its traditional announcement schedule meant more customers were eligible for upgrades;
The Siri intelligent assistant is an attractive feature;
The death of co-founder Steve Jobs pushed the company to the forefront of the world's collective consciousness.
The addition of Sprint to the carrier mix.
We're finally into holiday territory.

My money is on a combination of Nos. 2 and 4.

The new iPhone 4S looks identical to its predecessor but carries an upgraded dual-core A5 chip, a new camera and of course Siri.

The real telltale sign will be when Apple opens all 245 of its U.S. brick-and-mortar doors to sell the $199-and-up device next Friday, Oct. 14. Will word-of-mouth play a part in increased sales, or will its resemblance to the previous model stunt buzz? Regardless, Apple is doing its part to keep a steady stream of devices flowing from its warehouse shelves by selling the device in 22 more countries by the end of October.

Topics: iPhone, Apple, Hardware, Mobility, Smartphones

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32 comments

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RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours

I don't believe the death of Steve Jobs has any influence on the iPhone 4S order figures, as "romantic" as that notion might appeal to some. (Although I have heard that the "4S" really means "Four Steve" rather than the "S" meaning Speed.)

The primary reason for those million or so pre-orders is the addition of Sprint customers (#1), reason #2 and reason #3 .

Plus, from all accounts, the iPhone 4S is a solid piece of work and the antenna redesign coupled with the upgraded internal hardware makes for a very compact and powerful device.

Really, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this phone design other than it isn't as big as a house or that it lacks 4G battery draining capability.

kenosha77a
10 October, 2011 06:44

Reply Vote
Not sure I'm buying those figures

We only have their word to go by on this, yet I do not know of a single person who seemed interested in this release.

Maybe people did buy this on the death of Jobs, simply because they fear what future iPhones may be like without him, who knows.

Still, I'm just going on observation of those around me, nothing more.

William Farrell
10 October, 2011 07:54

Reply Vote
- Except for the fact that if it was a lie...
 
 @William Farrell the FTC and SEC would come down on them for some attempt to effect the stock price.
 
 As far as the the comment that you don't know a single person who is interested, well that just simply means you have no friends outside of your grandmothers basement.
 
 Droids and iPhones are the best and most desired phones on the market.
 
 Snooki_smoosh_smoosh
 10 October, 2011 08:24
 
 Reply Vote
 - Wow. Considering your screen name
 
 @Snooki_smoosh_smoosh (a devotee of the show? How pathetic) You would add the line you have no friends outside of your grandmothers basement. Maybe as a 16 Year old, you can't grasp the concept of the statement?. I have to handle all networking and phone infrastructure issues at my job, and unlike the past iPhone releases, where people where activelly seeking me out as to whether we will support this release of that, I heard nothing of the sort. WP7, Android, iOS, it doesn't matter, I get to gauge the reaction. NOthing of the sort for the latest iPhone. I'll let you go, it sounds like your Grandmom's calling you upstair for the latest episode of Jersey Shore. And clean your room as she's tired of doing it for you.
 
 William Farrell
 10 October, 2011 10:59
 
 Reply Vote
- Williams I heard the zune is selling like hot cakes
 
 @William Farrell
 but I dont have the numbers
 
 theo_durcan
 10 October, 2011 10:14
 
 Reply Vote
 - Theo, did you read the article?
 
 @theo_durcan
 
 I thought it pretty obvious. it's about the iPhone, not Zune.
 
 Children.
 
 William Farrell
 10 October, 2011 11:12
 
 Reply Vote
- RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours
 
 @William Farrell So you basing your judgement behind your job. You should really do some research about how this works before you come here and make a post like this and invite people who have knowledge of this subject matter school. As someone already has.
 
 illwill112
 10 October, 2011 12:56
 
 Reply Vote
- RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours
 
 @William Farrell
 
 Well, that is the definition of anecdotal. I have exactly the opposite experience. Apple has no need to tweak the numbers because the demand for their products is real.
 
 No offense, but your second statement is just...dumb.
 
 dhmccoy
 10 October, 2011 15:33
 
 Reply Vote
RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours

I have read elsewhere on ZDNet that Apple managed to sell 1.7 million phone since last friday. Which would indicate that the initial shipment is all sold out. Sounds like there were plenty of people waiting for this phone, and while it is not what the rumors were claiming, it is still a solid phone for the price.

Rick_Kl
10 October, 2011 08:14

Reply Vote
- RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours
  
  @Rick_Kl... rumors are rumors. Historically speaking, the 4S was the logical next step, I would suspect that the next model will be a 4GS, keeping the body of the iPhone 4 once again, with a body change possibly after that with the 7th gen iPhone
  
  Snooki_smoosh_smoosh
  10 October, 2011 08:26
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours
    
    @Snooki_smoosh_smoosh
    
    Honestly, I don't doubt what you say at all. The next one will be just like the iPhone 4S but with 4G LTE - hence 4GS. Nothing wrong with that.
    
    smulji
    10 October, 2011 13:04
    
    Reply Vote
  - RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours
    
    @Snooki_smoosh_smoosh when you consider that Apple managed to get 1 million in 24 hours, 1.7 million in three days is not that hard to grasp. What will really tell the tale is how many are activated. Unlike another company that refuses to give out those numbers, and forbids the carriers publishing their numbers, Apple is proud to point out ha many were sold (to end users). If you cannot tell the difference, then you ned to go back to school and learn something new.
    
    Rick_Kl
    11 October, 2011 10:11
    
    Reply Vote
- Last I heard it was closer to 2.9 million since Friday
  
  @Rick_Kl
  though not sure where I read that.
  
  William Farrell
  10 October, 2011 11:13
  
  Reply Vote
1 Million what?

Considering they are adding Sprint as well took longer then usually to announce the next iPhone you have a built up demand. Is this upgrades? new additions? What is the carrier breakdown, at&t said around 200k first day?

As always Apple has a huge launch then it drops inline. How much of an impact will Sprint be and can they make enough devices if there is demand?

MobileAdmin
10 October, 2011 08:39

Reply Vote
Just think...

What that number could have been if they had given it a facelift and add 4G.....

rhonin
10 October, 2011 09:30

Reply Vote
- Or........
 
 @rhonin... Had a 3 fpr 1 sale? Better still given them away? Decided RMS was right and opened up iOS to everyone? Heck better still gave everything they owned to the Open community and shackled the doors or converted their buildings to homeless shelters? Which former Apple employee's could use since they no longer had jobs and spent a lot of time tinkering with the now open iOS to customize it just so? The list goes on and on and on. Still not sure what 4G means to me? I'll have to add that one to the list of stuff I can live quite nicely without. Removable battery, 3.5"drives, FLASH, actual keyboard on my phone. Pagan jim
 
 James Quinn
 10 October, 2011 13:15
 
 Reply Vote
RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours

iPhone 4Steve... I pre-ordered mine in remembrance of the greatest of greats.

browser.
10 October, 2011 09:35

Reply Vote
RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours

Apple is doing marketing even with dead people ... damn they ...

AdnanPirota
10 October, 2011 10:00

Reply Vote
- RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours
  
  @AdnanPirota
  what a stupid comment, sure they synced the 4S launch with Steve Jobs passing.
  
  theo_durcan
  10 October, 2011 10:29
  
  Reply Vote
- RE: iPhone 4S pre-orders tally 1 million in 24 hours
  
  @AdnanPirota Really? So Steve jobs had nothing at all to do with the iPhone 4S? Not one thing?
  
  athynz
  10 October, 2011 10:33
  
  Reply Vote