AT&T: iPhone 3G selling twice as fast as original

Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:15PM EDT

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The exclusive iPhone carrier in the U.S. says the new handset is flying off its shelves; meanwhile, lines for the iPhone 3G continue to form outside Apple Stores.

The Silicon Alley Insider reports that during AT&T's quarterly earnings call Tuesday, carrier execs crowed that—so far, at least—sales for the new iPhone (click here for my full review) are "nearly double" compared to last year's original model.

The Insider notes that AT&T didn't reveal any specific numbers to back up the boast (we'll probably have to wait until next quarter's earnings call for details). Last week, Apple announced that it sold a million iPhone 3Gs in just three (chaotic) days, although critics noted that Apple counted all units shipped to carriers as sales.

Still, the iPhone 3G has been selling out across the country, leaving Apple Stores scrambling to replenish their inventories. Anxious customers are still waiting hours in line for a chance to buy the new iPhone (with the black 16GB being the hardest to come by), while it's taking AT&T outlets up to two weeks to fill orders.

Overall, it looks like Apple and AT&T's gambit worked: The cheaper $199/$299 iPhone 3G proved to be irresistible to customers, despite the fact that steeper rate plans pretty much erased any potential savings.

Meanwhile, many who passed on the first-gen iPhone clearly decided that the 3G, GPS-equipped version (and Exchange-compatible, to boot) was ripe for the picking.

Combine all that with a worldwide, simultaneous debut in 21 countries (the first iPhone had a U.S.-only launch last June), and we've got the makings of a sellout on our hands—not to mention egg on the face of a certain Yahoo! Tech blogger who'd assured readers that "shortages are unlikely." (He's sorry.)

Related:
AT&T Posts Solid Q2 In "Challenging" Environment, Says It's Selling New iPhones Twice As Fast As Old iPhones [Silicon Valley Insider]

 

Comments on AT&T: iPhone 3G selling twice as fast as original

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  • 1 Posted by mwbudd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I will still wait to purchase until more of the poor reception problems are addressed and there aren't horrible lines to purchase one.

  • 2 Posted by ryanobo66 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    My dad ordered a black 16gb iphone 3g last friday through his work and it is supposed to arrive this friday, so it cant be that hard to come by.

  • 3 Posted by wmtyrancz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    A friend of mine is not happy with his new iphone. He said its slower than the original model. He claims the signal strength is low/medium. Where on his original it was medium/high. I didn't know what to tell him. Maybe its not the phone but an AT&T problem.

  • 4 Posted by gooddayz39 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    The Iphone 3G is a work of art!! and waiting in line for one is the least any american will do to get one! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh good bye days of rip off hello to the new era of enlightenment

  • 5 Posted by gooddayz39 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    Everyone should have at least 3 angles to protect from greed!

  • 6 Posted by lytebrite on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is an artificially created shortage. I don't appreciate having to either wait for 3 hrs in line at the Apple store or 10-14 days after prepaying at ATT for phones that are being held back. The Apple rep at my local store said there was a lot in stock, but there was still a 2-3 hour wait outside. Marketing hype anyone?

  • 7 Posted by c.suarez83 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    i already have the new 3g iphone and the old iphone and their is no difference but the gps. thats it . oh, and it costs more to own.

  • 9 Posted by mjct6210 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    its really funny how people get enticed by an overpriced gadget because of the illusion it is the best. this is just a fad.

  • 10 Posted by wickes02 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Waited in line 3 1/2 hours on launch to get to the end of the line and be told that they were out of stock. Ordered a 16 gig black at 11:40 am the day of the launch and received it 1 week and 3 days later. So far it is one of the best purchases i've ever made and I am having tons of fun with it. 3G speed is nice and haven't had a single problem yet. Get one!

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