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June 28, 2010

Apple has enjoyed another very successful product launch this last weekend, despite the fact that iPhone buyers had to wait in line for many hours before getting their new iPhone 4s, many of them braving thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Apple has managed to sell about 1.72 million of its new iPhone 4 through Saturday, June 26, just three days after its initial launch last Thursday. Apple's new iPhone 4 features FaceTime, which makes video calling as easy as one tap, and Apple's new Retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a smartphone, resulting in life-like images and video.

"This is the most successful product launch in Apple's history," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Even so, we apologize to those customers who were turned away because we didn't have enough supply on hand."

By comparison, it took Apple three days to sell 1 million units each of the iPhone 3GS in 2009 and the iPhone 3G in 2008, and 72 days to sell 1 million units of the original iPhone in 2007.

Commenting on the news in a note to clients, Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster saw several catalysts ahead for Apple's fourth fiscal quarter, which began on Sunday:

An estimated 200,000 iPhones pre-ordered after Apple pushed the delivery date past the end of the third quarter

The launch of the white iPhone 4 in July

The launch in 83 additional countries by the end of September 2010

The iPhone 4, Munster writes, is "off to a very strong start."

Overall, lots of Apple fans waited in line for Apple's new iPhone 4. But because this is a grand opening, there is also the occasional fanboy or fangirl waiting in line to get an early look at the Apple store and grab the free t-shirt that's being given out to the first 1,000 people inside.

Mattresses, camping chairs, blankets and more were scattered down the line going as far back as yesterday afternoon, according to others in line. To keep the crowd happy and awake, Apple employees were handing out cookies to everyone in line. Meanwhile, the occasional holler makes way down the line as each of the first customers with an iPhone 4 appear outside.

However, Apple employees haven’t been entirely forthcoming with details. There’s also been a couple of false statements, for example one about being out of white iPhones while Apple has already said the white devices won’t be available until late July due to manufacturing problems.

But waiting lines have been orderly and the essentials like Porta-Potties, cookies and cheer were all present.

Below is a sampling of notes and posts found on various iPhone blogs:

Because this is a grand opening, employees are letting about 25 customers go in the store ahead of the line to buy anything but an iPhone.

The first customers with an iPhone 4 just walked out of the store. They got the rockstar treatment from some of those still waiting in line.

There are no pre-orders because this store is opening for the first time today.

An Apple employee says "They've opened the doors, that's all I can tell you." About inventory, she says "There's a lot of them."

Waiting lines represents all walks of life. Every age, race and preference is here and waiting for their iPhone 4.

Overheard in line: "I just feel cooler buying it at an Apple store. I know it sounds stupid, but..."

More Apple employees are showing up now to cheers. Let's see if they are all fully trained and ready for this grand opening.

The line has now almost doubled since we arrived at 4 a.m. Multiple sheriff's deputies and mall security staff are on the scene.

As he picks up trash along the line, dude with mall staff says "gotta work so I can save up for an iPod."

Apple employees are starting to show up and in true-Jobsian fashion they are being tight lipped about everything.

This line has only grown by about 50-60 people in the last hour.

There are more cops and security sweeps at this line of 400+ at Apple's new store in Cerritos, Calif. than most airports.

Overheard in line at Apple store as sheriff rolls by: "what, are we gonna start a phone riot or something?"

There are at least 350 people waiting/sleeping/crying in line already! It's not like Steve Jobs is making a special appearance, right?

Yes, it looks like Apple's launch of its new iPhone 4 was in deed a success all right, just like the 3G and the 3GS. I guess the company really lives up to it's name.

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Source: Apple.