Analysts estimated Verizon customers bought more than 500.000 iPhones on the first day of pre-order sales. Customers were able to preorder the new phone beginning at 3 a.m. EST and kept it up until 8:10 p.m. when all the phones they had allotted for preorders ran out. Verizon announced that this sets an all time record for first day sales, which is something that beats even the high profile and widely advertised debit of Motorola’s DROID.
The DROID, which became available in November 2009, sold 200,000 units during the first weekend of sales and 300,000 by the week’ end. Since this is just the start of Verizon’s iPhone sales, analysts predict that Apple and Verizon together will sell more than 11 million iPhones during 2011.
Users who got their phones as part of the pre-order ought to start getting them today if they ordered from Verizon or on Tuesday if they bought them from Apple. At least one happy user managed to get his iPhone Saturday and has been enjoying the prestige as one of the very first Verizon iPhone users. Apple and Verizon will allow pre-orders again beginning Feb. 9 at 3 a.m. However, pre-orders will be open to everyone, including users who want to switch carriers. The phone will be sold in both Apple and Verizon Wireless stores beginning Feb. 10.
