US carriers can’t sell the iPhone 4S fast enough, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. Potential iPhone customers are still unable to get their eager hands on Apple’s coveted smartphone, with many carriers estimating shipping dates of 1-3 weeks.
Initial iPhone 4S sales have made the device Apple’s fastest-selling product of all time, and demand continues to outpace supply.
Verizon Wireless customers may have to wait more than three weeks for the device, according to the carrier’s website. That compares with as much as 21 days at AT&T and up to 14 days at Sprint Nextel. While some tech blogs have suggested Apple’s manufacturing isn’t keeping pace, the carriers point to unexpectedly strong demand for the handset.
“We are having some supply issues in the sense that demand’s huge,” AT&T’s president of emerging devices, Glenn Lurie, said Wednesday. “We have had just record-breaking sales on it.”
The introduction of the iPhone on Sprint’s network resulted in the carrier’s best day of sales in history. AT&T reported a record number of new iPhone activations, and Verizon is also very pleased with sales of Apple’s latest smartphone.
A spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, Brenda Raney, said the carrier is working with Apple to increase its inventory of iPhone 4S models. “Not only was the iPhone 4S popular when it was introduced, but the popularity continues to build,” she said. “We don’t want to keep our customers waiting for their purchases.”
The iPhone 4S sold over 4 million units in its opening weekend, more than doubling the iPhone 4’s launch numbers. As usual, Apple seems to be prioritizing its own retail inventory, but all outlets are estimating delayed ship times for new orders. For in-store pickup, customers are required to reserve an iPhone 4S online before coming in to buy the handset the following day.
