The launch of the much anticipated iPhone 4 has caused huge interest in the technology pages in recent days. With reports of consumers queuing overnight to guarantee their purchase (over a thousand waited at Apple’s Regent Street store to get their hands on one on 24 June) and pre-sales orders causing AT &T’s systems to buckle under the strain (600,000 units were pre-ordered on the first day alone), the iPhone is Apple’s biggest global roll-out to date.
Reuters has reported on figures released in the US by Barclays Capital – they estimate around 12.1 million iPhones will be shipped in the quarter ending September as Apple ramp up production levels to meet the overwhelming demand. JP Morgan anticipates the figure will be around 10 million iPhones each quarter. With Apple expecting to make the smartphone available in 88 countries by the end of the summer, the iPhone is being touted as the most successful product for Apple so far.
Experts predict the iPhone will follow the success of the iPad. Launched in the US in April, sales are averaging 1 million a month – forcing some Wall Street analysts to treble their previous revenue forecasts.
The iPhone 4 has many advantages over its predecessor: a stainless steel case (that acts as the antenna), it is 24% slimmer, has 2 cameras, an improved screen resolution and longer battery life giving users 6 hours of browse time.
All is not good news with the iPhone 4, however - if you want a white version, availability is the main issue. Apple said in a statement: “White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected.” Apple has said stock should be available the second half of July.
New owners are also complaining of loss of signal – especially if held in the lower left hand corner. Apple suggests the problem is more acute for left-handed users who are more likely to hold the device in such a way as to reduce reception. Given that the iPhone 4 is made of stainless steel and the case itself works as the antenna, Apple has suggested users purchase a cover to protect the antenna or a ‘bumper’ as Apple refers to them as. A further article in the Telegraph says Apple will be rolling out a software fix in a few weeks. Part of the issue would appear to be due to the iPhone not displaying the correct signal strength, as opposed to there actually being a reception issue. The no-cost fix should address this problem, but users will still be given the option to return their devices for up to 30 days after purchase . Still, the negative publicity does not appear to have deterred consumers and the technology media continues to extol the iPhone 4’s virtues.
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