AT&T sold more than 200,000 of Apple Inc's latest iPhone in the first 12 hours and said it had seen "extraordinary demand" for a gadget unveiled a day before the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The iPhone 4S was unveiled on Tuesday and immediately underwhelmed fans who had hoped for a revolutionary design after a wait of more than 15 months.
AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint began taking US online orders for the device on Friday. Comparisons are difficult because the iPhone is now carried by three wireless operators, versus just one. Last year AT&T was the only carrier to sell the phone. But the previous generation of the smartphone, the iPhone 4, was the fastest-selling mobile in Apple's history, with 1.7 million devices selling in the first three days.
Estimates vary, but some analysts expect Apple to sell about 27 million to 28 million iPhones in the October-December quarter. The latest iPhone 4S hits store shelves around the world on October 14. It debuts at a critical juncture for Apple. Phones based on Google Inc's Android -- such as Samsung's Galaxy -- are providing heightened competition just as a new CEO, Tim Cook, takes the reins.
Estimates vary, but some analysts expect Apple to sell about 27 million to 28 million iPhones in the October-December quarter. The latest iPhone 4S hits store shelves around the world on October 14. It debuts at a critical juncture for Apple. Phones based on Google Inc's Android -- such as Samsung's Galaxy -- are providing heightened competition just as a new CEO, Tim Cook, takes the reins.