More than 5 million iPhone 5 smartphones were purchased by Apple customers over the devices opening weekend, exceeding some analysts expectations and prompting Apple CEO Tim Cook to release the following statement:
“Demand for iPhone 5 has been incredible and we are working hard to get an iPhone 5 into the hands of every customer who wants one as quickly as possible … While we have sold out of our initial supply, stores continue to receive iPhone 5 shipments regularly and customers can continue to order online and receive an estimated delivery date. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough iPhone 5s for everyone.”
In comparing the Apple iPhone 5 to the iPhone 4S, the last generation sold 4 million smartphones during its first weekend of sales. While many experts predicted 5 million devices sold, others had hoped for 10 million device sales, an aggressive prediction even for red hot Apple products.
When Apple first announced pre-orders for the device 2 million customers hopped online and ordered their iPhone 5 within the first 24 hours.
Apple has not disclosed how many of the five million units sold came from pre-orders.
In other Apple news the company now claims that more than 100 million iPhone users have upgraded their smartphones to the iOS 6 platform which was released last Wednesday. A recent survey found that 15% of customers had upgraded to the new iOS 6 system within the first 24 hours of release.
While Apple has maintained high sales numbers for yet another device release the company is now facing thousands of customers complaints ranging from devices arriving scratched and dented in their packaging to a horrid Apple Maps system that replaced the far more competent Google Maps software.