The iPhone Effect. AT&T learned of it in June, when demand for the iPhone 4 sent Web sites crashing and executives apologizing. Thursday, it was Verizon Wireless’ turn. The carrier halted sales after what was described as historic demand. Even more “incredible” was the timing: 3 am to 5 am.
“It was a very good day,” Verizon Wireless president and CEO Dan Mead announced Friday. “In just two hours, we had already sold more than any first day launch in our history,” he added. This from a phone 7 months old and likely to be replaced by a newer model later this year. This at a time of day when most people sleep and just two hours after pre-orders began. This when only Verizon customers were eligible.
“Yesterday’s launch set the pace for next week when we open up sales to everyone across America,” Mead said. Mead thanked his troops he said “worked tirelessly to strengthen and scale our systems, enabling unprecedented customer orders throughout our website.”
In addition to online sales, on Feb. 10, the iPhone goes on sales in more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless stores, all Apple Stores, Best Buy and some Wal-Mart locations.
Although Verizon was beaming from Thursday’s overwhelming reaction to the iPhone, Google and Research in Motion likely had a different take on the Apple handset becoming available beyond AT&T. According to a survey, 54 percent of Verizon’s Android and BlackBerry smartphones owners say they’ll switch to the iPhone. Particularly worrisome for RIM is a result showing 66 percent of BlackBerry owners expressed interest in jumping ship. Around 44 percent of Verizon Android users said they want an iPhone 4.
