Strong demand that brought Verizon’s website to its knees has resulted in Verizon Wireless selling out on iPhone pre-orders.
Verizon Wireless’ website now states, “We are no longer taking pre-sale orders. Experience yours when it’s available online and in stores. Online 02.09.11, 3:01 AM EST. In stores 02.10.11, 7:00 AM local time.”
Verizon began online pre-orders for Apple’s revolutionary iPhone yesterday, February 3, at 3 AM EST.
Sinead Carew reports for Reuters, “Verizon Wireless ended online sales of Apple Inc’s iPhone on Thursday evening after what it said was ‘the most successful first day sales in the history of the company.’ [Verizon] said it ceased pre-orders at 8:10 p.m. EST after opening limited pre-orders for the device to its existing customers at 3 AM Thursday morning.”
Carew reports, “Verizon Wireless Chief Executive, Dan Mead said in a statement that in its first two hours of iPhone sales the company ‘had already sold more phones than any first-day launch’ in its history.”
Full article here.
Verizon Wireless’ press release, verbatim:
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 Feb. 10. The company will open its more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores at 7 a.m. It will also be available at all Apple store locations, Best Buy, select Wal-Mart stores, and online at www.verizonwireless.com and www.apple.com.
Source: Verizon Wireless
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