1 Million iPhones Sold In First 3 Days

NEW YORK — Apple Inc. said Monday it sold 1 million iPhones in the first three days its newest model was on the market.

"IPhone 3G had a stunning opening weekend," said Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, in a statement.

However, Jobs did not address widespread software problems that plagued the launch.

On Friday, Apple's servers buckled as buyers tried to activate new iPhones in stores, while owners of older iPhones and the iPod Touch were updating and reactivating their devices.

In stores, employees who couldn't get the new iPhones working sent shoppers home to try again on their own later. At the same time, owners of the older phones were left with unusable units.

Reports of activation snags subsided over the weekend, as Apple's systems apparently recovered, and buyers were able to activate their phones through their home computers. As of Monday, the issues appeared to have been resolved, said analyst Charles Golvin of Forrester Research.

Apple did not respond to calls or e-mails requesting more information about the activation glitches.

Apple had sold about 6 million units of the first-model iPhone since it launched in the U.S. a year ago. The company has set a goal of selling 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008.

Shares of Apple rose $1.30 to close at $173.88.

Comments

[Bettysdad]

03:54 AM on 07/16/2008

Any question as to why America is swirling down the tubes?

People waiting hours on line to buy an expensive foreign made gadget they don't NEED.

Maybe, some day, you'll be able to apply for unemployment with your iPhone.

[theJuanStar]

10:02 AM on 07/16/2008

To be fair, when was the last time you bought any item that wasn't made in the US. Check your labels because I've been tracking my purchases for a year and basically only some food products are made in the US.

[Erdgeist]

03:43 PM on 07/16/2008

Why free-trade is good for America. This is what our economic geniuses say. Foreigners get our money and our jobs, and we get an iPhone--and the trade deficit grows and grows.

[CaptainHowdy]

06:46 PM on 07/15/2008

Yawn... all this fuss over a phone?

People are stupid.

[theJuanStar]

08:04 PM on 07/15/2008

It's not a phone. It's a palm sized computer that can make phone calls.

[CaptainHowdy]

12:28 AM on 07/16/2008

Oh, you mean like the Palm Treo... that's been out for years now?

How innovative!

[OddManOut]

02:34 PM on 07/15/2008

Happened to go to the Apple store on Friday and didn't even know that the new iPhone was coming out that day.

Most of the people in line had the older version of the iPhone already and were using them while waiting...interesting.

[BlueZoo]

12:53 PM on 07/15/2008

I have to point to Jay Leno's monologue, wherein he took note of all the lines outside the stores selling the 3G iPhone. "If you're standing in line to buy an iPhone, you're a dork and nobody's going to be calling you anyway!" LMAO!

[WIpatriot]

12:00 PM on 07/15/2008

And here I am walking around saying "Hello, Moto." Boy, do I feel so 90s.

[watcher269]

04:43 AM on 07/15/2008

Hmmmm, 1 million people on the Terrorists list - 1 million iPhones sold - Hmmmmmm.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

02:35 AM on 07/15/2008

Where's P.T.Barnum when you need him?

[proudloudlib]

11:40 PM on 07/14/2008

I really wanted to buy one, but as a long-time customer of AT&T who last upgraded her phone in Feb 07, I can't get one unless I want to pay an extra $201!! I will have to wait until next February to get the upgrade price. To top it off, I'm not sure who to be mad at: AT &T or Apple? Someone please see this and get it fixed. I am perfectly willing to extend my contract for two years beyond my upgrade eligibility date. I am NOT willing to pay an extra $200 just for the privilege of making the purchase.

[theJuanStar]

08:06 PM on 07/15/2008

You should be mad at AT&T. The price reduction is a subside like the normal instore incentives for phones. I was actually surprised that the two companies extended the reduction to the previous iPhone users. As I was one of them, I was pleased.

[Quotidien]

04:53 PM on 07/14/2008

I will upgrade my Blackberry Curve with the Blackberry Bold in late August. It will have iphone-type internet navigation, GPS, WiFi and as many bells & whistles as anybody who has a job and responsibilites should ever wish for. Plus I can still look like a productive non-trendy professional.


I'm not into the itune format. I have 30GB of music in MP3 format. If I'm not mistaken, itune format doesn't play on mp3 players or vice-versa. I'm not a big fan of proprietary formats for players.. I grew up during the VHS/Betamax battle. Universal formats are always the way to go. Not interested in converting formats.

I love tech talk !!!

[pibble]

06:21 PM on 07/14/2008

You are misinformed. All iPods (including iPhone) will happily play MP3 files. iTunes will rip CDs in MP3 format.

Neither iTunes nor iPod will work with WMA (Windows Media proprietary format) but then again, Windows Media products generally don't work with iTunes format and you didn't mention WMA anyway.

[OddManOut]

02:32 PM on 07/15/2008

He was talking about MP3 and said nothing about WMA because it isn't relevant. Having an MP3 player myself, I find iPods cumbersome.

Yes, you can rip a CD to MP3 format using iTunes - so what? The OP's point is that if you BUY something from iTunes, you can only play it on the computer with iTunes or transfer it to your iPod.

[paulbikes]

02:48 PM on 07/15/2008

WMA and the itunes store are both heinous.

The music ive purchased over the years in the itunes store wont work on my new machine since there is no itunes for linux.

[Gumby69]

04:38 PM on 07/14/2008

Bah Bah Dumb sheeple!

[crazylikeafox]

12:37 AM on 07/15/2008

I passed a line of the sheep today lined up for the iPhone at AT&T.

I told them AT&T was letting the government spy on them.
They all looked at me like I was crazy. Told them about their 4th amendment rights.
Only one black kid said to me, you mean like the Feds listening to you?
Yeah, like the Feds listening to you.

Clearly white kids are stupider than stones in America.

[Quotidien]

02:20 PM on 07/14/2008

Didn't they learn their lesson last time?

Those phones will be selling for $150 within three months.

[KillTheMessenger]

03:08 PM on 07/14/2008

I thought it was already $199 if you signed up for the plan. In the end, of course, the proud owners are paying through the nose for their toy, anyway.

It's another great play by Apple, though. Know your buyer and know how to skin them alive while they think they are being tickled. Very skillful.

[oscarp]

05:51 PM on 07/14/2008

I got mine on Saturday. No problem to activat at Apple Store. I also activated my old iphone for a friend of mine, and did not have any problems with activation. Great new product, excellent quality..for my taste and needs.

[MaracaKabob]

02:11 PM on 07/14/2008

I disagree, Nokia N95 owners are fools.