iPhone is humongous for AT&T
Mac Daily News and other sources are reporting today on a leaked AT&T memo that states that the company retail stores had their best day ever with the launch of the iPhone 3GS."iLaunch day 2009 was one for the record books, as AT&T customers scrambled to get their hands on the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet.
Here's a look at some of the milestones we achieved:
* Best-ever sales day in our retail stores
* Second-largest traffic day in our retail stores
* Most transactions processed via our IT systems in a single day
* Most upgrade eligibility checks in a single day
* Largest order day in att.com history
* Largest features sales day in att.com history
On this year's launch day, iPhone sales exceeded sales recorded on 2008's iPhone launch day, Black Friday 2008 and Dec. 26, 2008 - all heavy-volume sales days. In fact, this year we surpassed 2008's launch day sales at about noon Central time, and sustained our previous peak hour record, also set in 2008, for 11 straight hours."
If the numbers are accurate, the iPhone blew by most analyst predictions that the iPhone would not sell as well as the 3G iPhone released last summer.
Even better news, numbers like these should give Apple some leverage to force the wireless giant to improve what for many is a mediocre experience using the AT&T network. The iPhone exclusive is up next year, and rumors persist that Apple is talking to other carriers, most notably Verizon.
via Mac Daily News and TechCrunch


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
KenLV said 5:15PM on 7-02-2009
GO TO VERIZON!
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KarlW said 5:19PM on 7-02-2009
Why?
CHRiS said 5:45PM on 7-02-2009
....so Verizon can add in their monthly fees .... go look now, they charge 1.99 for an ebay app for their current phones - and that's 1.99 PER MONTH ---- ebay app. I can only imagine how much they will charge for "extras", hopefully Apple will keep their greed in-check as part of the contract.
oliver hart said 5:19PM on 7-02-2009
Cue the "imperial march" music
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Sean said 5:34PM on 7-02-2009
Good for AT&T - now we patiently wait for the day Apple drops this abysmal provider (or at least adds another so we can have a choice). I love my iPhone, but each month I have to deal with AT&T I question my purchase. Dropped calls, broken promises, poor customer service, crazy billing statements, additional fees and services added without permission - every bill is an adventure. I don't nitpick and wrote many of the reviews off to picky buyers, was I ever wrong. Verizon, oh how I miss thee!
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dlem28 said 6:48PM on 7-02-2009
I'm not satisfied by AT&T by any means but 'missing' Verizon is saying ALOT. I switched from Verizon at least a year before the iPhone was ever announced. I DO NOT miss Verizon's mystery charges every month. As far as service, all cellphone service is pretty comparable. Anything otherwise is just propaganda
Mr. Fry said 8:43PM on 7-02-2009
*enjoys his $80 unlimited minutes, texts, and internet plan from T-mobile*
In all fairness, some providers are better than others, and I definitely think T-mobile gets overlooked in those sorts of blanket statements.
braindead360 said 5:25PM on 7-02-2009
Hmmm.... now if they will just take some of that added revenue and invest it into their network.
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matt said 5:31PM on 7-02-2009
I hope this means reasonable pricing on teathering.
The phone is a cash cow for them. At least throw some bones for us customers.
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gorfgorf said 1:44PM on 7-03-2009
You actually can do that already (although AT&T will probably get mad if you use too much data...)
http://gizmodo.com/5301225/enable-tethering-on-your-iphone-3g-and-3gs-with-only-safari-mms-vv-fix?skyline=true&s=x
Ray said 5:35PM on 7-02-2009
The MMS and Tethering debacle that AT&T is leading will drive me to another carrier out of just pure spite. Later in the summer when AT&T flips the switch and allows MMS, it better not just be plain 'ol MMS, it darn well better have some new innovation that I haven't thought of yet... Plain 'ol MMS, Pfffftttt!
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Drew said 5:38PM on 7-02-2009
You've got to take into account that these numbers also probably include the $99 3G, which I'm sure were also huge.
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NetMage said 11:40AM on 7-03-2009
The $99 iPhone 3G was on sale immediately after WWDC keynote- that price didn't waituntil Friday, so, no I don't think so.
robert said 5:43PM on 7-02-2009
AT&T needs to get off their butts and provide MMS, etc. They can continue to rake in the customers but it will come back to bite them if they don't turn their customer service and new features around.
They probably don't realize either that the iPhone crowd does have a tad more disposable income and their is probably a higher percentage likely to pay ETF's to go with another carrier.
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Ken N said 5:50PM on 7-02-2009
Test
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Ken N said 5:52PM on 7-02-2009
Sorry about prior post.
I HATE AT&T. To many dead spots, poor performance, dropped calls in San Francisco.
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Alan Grinberg said 6:12PM on 7-02-2009
I totally agree. I live in SF and ATT 3G just sucks, why even upgrade if they can't even support normal phone service. like they are really upgrading their system! shame on AT&T. I will leave them if they don't offer better service and support for features on their own phones. I am slowly losing my patience.
CB said 6:25PM on 7-02-2009
Go back and listen to what AT&T said about improvements to their network at the D7 conference this year, with a press release here:
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=26835
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loup407 said 7:08PM on 7-02-2009
I agree with Ray. IMHO all cell providers suck, they each just suck differently. I've had contracts will all of them, and done work for some of them. AT&T's service is grim, Verizon charges up the kazoo for slightly better service and Sprint is world-class in arrogant incompetence.
I suspect what kills most iPhone users is the iPhone makes promises that AT&T can't keep.
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Valerie Kaye said 7:16PM on 7-02-2009
Since I upgraded to 3GS I am shocked at how much my sevice has improved. I want verizon as well,but keep in mind, they go to Verizon, we will have to buy another new Iphone. I want to be done buying phones for a while
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