Hiccup with launch of Apples new IPhone

Mon, 14 Jul 2008

The launch of the new Apple iPhone across the UK last Friday was hampered by technical hitches due to the high level of demand.

Around 150 people queued outside Apple's flagship store in London's Regent Street for the 8.02am launch, with similar numbers reported outside O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores – the iPhone’s other UK retail outlets.

However, mobile operator O2 - Apple's iPhone partner in the UK - said the level of demand for the 3G iPhone caused its credit checking system to slow down across the country, forcing it to process some customers manually.

A spokesman for the retailer confirmed there had been "an issue" with O2's system on Friday morning.

But despite the countrywide slowdown, the spokesman added that by midday the operator had sold out of 16GB iPhones in its Oxford Street store in London .

"We are selling 40 handsets an hour in our biggest stores, which is more contracts than we usually sell in a day," he commented.

O2 also informed customers that supply issues meant handset numbers would be limited to one per customer and two for business customers for the next few weeks, but stressed that customers would have one "by the end of this summer".

A message on 02's website said: "We are experiencing unprecedented demand for the device and, whilst we are confident that all customers who want iPhone 3G will get one by the end of this summer, initial supply is limited and will be for some weeks."

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