iPhone sales, forecast by some to be six million, hit NINE million
Here is the news about Apple: After all the negative comment following the launch of the new iPhones, the company sold a record nine million of its latest in their first three days . Some analysts had predicted sales of five-six million.
Tim Cook: 'Incredible demand'
CEO Tim Cook said the company's quarterly revenue and margins should be near the high end of its previous forecast.
In July, Apple had projected revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter between $34 billion and $37 billion and gross margin between 36 per cent to 37 per cent. Analysts, on average, were expecting revenue of $36.1 billion and gross margin of 36.7 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters.
Apple said it sold out of its initial supplies of the more expensive model. The company did not say when more may be available, other than to note that stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly.
The new flagship iPhone 5S includes a faster processor, a better camera and a new fingerprint scanner. A second, less expensive model called the iPhone 5C repackages much of the technology from last year's device in a new colourful plastic case.
"The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible," Cook said in a statement.
The company didn't say which model was proving more popular: the iPhone 5C or the iPhone 5S.
The nine million iPhones sold this weekend compares with the 3.7 million smartphones that Blackberry shipped in its whole second quarter.
Apple added that more than 200 million iOS devices are now running on its new iOS7 system, making it the fastest software upgrade in history according to Wall Street Journal. iOS7 is the first major design overhaul of the mobile operating system Apple first introduced in 2007.
The WSJ reported last week that demand for the gold 5S was so strong in China and Hong Kong that Apple already has asked its suppliers to increase production of that model.
The smartphones went on sale Sept. 20 in U.S., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the U.K. Apple shares were up 5.5 per cent at 10.45 am US time.