iPhone 3GS marked AT&T's "best-ever sales day"

[AppleInsider]

According to an AT&T company memo, the launch of the iPhone 3GS wasn't just a banner sales day for the carrier this year but broke records for any single day of retail sales in the company's history -- including for already stellar iPhone sales.

The leaked e-mail characterizes "iLaunch Day 2009," its nickname for the June 19th iPhone 3GS release date, as the "best-ever sales day" and just second in terms of actual floor traffic. Many of its other sales-related records were also shattered at the same time, ranging from the number of upgrade eligibility checks made in a day to the sheer volume of orders taken through AT&T's website.

The notice obtained by multiple anonymous MacDailyNews readers also illustrates just how quickly the seemingly more modest iPhone update outpaced the already large-scale iPhone 3G launch last year. 3GS sales not only exceeded the first days after both Thanksgiving and Christmas, either of which have always been popular shopping days, but were so brisk as to overtake the iPhone 3G's launch day count by just noon in Texas time.

Interest in the stores was so high that AT&T stores were considered at "peak" activity for 11 hours, or nearly half a day, despite the company accepting pre-orders online for day in advance.

As could be expected, the cellular company doesn't provide a concrete sales number in the memo and, when contacted by AppleInsider for confirmation, only repeats its mantra that it accepted hundreds of thousands of pre-orders in the run-up to the iPhone 3GS going on sale less than two weeks ago.

"We have no further comment beyond that," a company spokesman says.

Apple has been slightly more open on the subject and previously said it sold one million iPhone 3GS devices over the course of its launch weekend through all of its outlets. Although the same number as for last year, the California-based electronics firm reached this figure in 2009 with only eight countries onboard for the first day, or less than half the 21 that were ready on July 11th, 2008. The similar numbers, combined with a smaller-scale launch, indirectly confirm that US launch sales, including through AT&T, have spiked that much higher in 2009.

[doonkin]

So gimme MMS like the rest of the planet...you wallet pirates

[brucep]

second !!!

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by doonkin

.you wallet pirates

word!

[hill60]

Interesting comment given that the cost of sending a picture via MMS is orders of magnitude greater than sending a higher quality picture via email, I take it you like having your wallet plundered in which case I can refer you to a Nigerian banker.

Originally Posted by doonkin

So gimme MMS like the rest of the planet...you wallet pirates

[Robin Huber]

Also interesting in light of the exploit that Apple will address prior to release of MMS functionality. Would you rather Apple pushes the feature into the marketplace prior to allowing time to vet such vulnerabilities? Pirates would.

[lightstriker]

AT&T should just shut up about the iPhone and just go improve their cell systems.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by hill60

Interesting comment given that the cost of sending a picture via MMS is orders of magnitude greater than sending a higher quality picture via email, I take it you like having your wallet plundered in which case I can refer you to a Nigerian banker.

It’s surprising he didn’t see the paradox of his statement. It’s not surprising that Teckstud agreed with him.

Originally Posted by lightstriker

AT&T should just shut up about the iPhone and just go improve their cell systems.

I do with they would limit the number of number of new subs until their network is up to snuff. So far, I have noticed no massive slowdown in my data speeds since the 3GS launched, save for one incident that no carrier could be expected to handle and even then it was a minor hiccup.

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by doonkin

So gimme MMS like the rest of the planet...you wallet pirates

I wish the rest of the planet would just get cheap e-mail on their damn phones. MMS sucks in comparison to e-mail. And at $30 data rate, compared to Verizon's $20 e-mail only fees, I went to At$T on the 3G launch day. I ain't looking back.

Edit: You know what really bothers me though, is that Apple cheezed on the video for the 3G. I know it was in their best interest so they could have a sales extravaganza like this, but we all know that video is possible on the 3G.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

I wish the rest of the planet would just get cheap e-mail on their damn phones. MMS sucks in comparison to e-mail. And at $30 data rate, compared to Verizon's $20 e-mail only fees, I went to At$T on the 3G launch day. I ain't looking back.

I believe that what they call their Voice & Email plan also includes web browsing and some other data options, though I’m not seeing the $20 price you mention, only the $30 for their email plan with the afore mentioned web browsing.

From that I can see the same 450 minutes with the email (data) plan costs you $79. $10 more than AT&T. On top of that, I don’t think you get the same data options as they specifically state that you can’t stream audio, video and whole bunch of other unreasonable things. Hopefully a knowledgeable Verizon user can clear up any fallacies I may have inadvertently posted.

The Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses, continuously for one hour, could typically use 100 to 200 MBs, or, if engaged in prohibited uses for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, could use more than 5 GBs in a month.

But that is understandable from Verizon’s PoV. When you are top dog you don’t have to cut your profit margins in order to attract customers.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by technohermit

Edit: You know what really bothers me though, is that Apple cheezed on the video for the 3G. I know it was in their best interest so they could have a sales extravaganza like this, but we all know that video is possible on the 3G.

Is this true!? Can you confirm?

Wow, if so, I am pretty cheezed-off too.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by technohermit

I wish the rest of the planet would just get cheap e-mail on their damn phones. MMS sucks in comparison to e-mail. And at $30 data rate, compared to Verizon's $20 e-mail only fees, I went to At$T on the 3G launch day. I ain't looking back.

Edit: You know what really bothers me though, is that Apple cheezed on the video for the 3G. I know it was in their best interest so they could have a sales extravaganza like this, but we all know that video is possible on the 3G.

How does MMS suck on comparison to email? There is no additional server to go through. It's universal - everybody has a phone number not necessarily an email account.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Is this true!? Can you confirm?

Wow, if so, I am pretty cheezed-off too.

Any digital camera can record video - even if its crappy choppy video. It's always been available - just not in Apple software for the prior phones.

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I believe that what they call their Voice & Email plan also includes web browsing and some other data options, though I’m not seeing the $20 price you mention, only the $30 for their email plan with the afore mentioned web browsing.

From that I can see the same 450 minutes with the email (data) plan costs you $79. $10 more than AT&T. On top of that, I don’t think you get the same data options as they specifically state that you can’t stream audio, video and whole bunch of other unreasonable things. Hopefully a knowledgeable Verizon user can clear up any fallacies I may have inadvertently posted.


But that is understandable from Verizon’s PoV. When you are top dog you don’t have to cut your profit margins in order to attract customers.

My wife has Verizon, Solipsism, here ya go:

Monthly access charge: $59.99
Monthly allowance minutes: 450 general
Per minute rate after allowance: $0.45 peak , $0.45 off-peak

$0.20 per Text Message sent/received (unless you subscribe to a messaging bundle)
Message Waiting Indicator
3-Way Calling
Call Waiting
M2M NATIONAL UNLIMITED

Streamlined Billing
No Answer/Transfer
Call Delivery
Call Forward - No Answer
UNL TEXT MESSAGING
Additional Features Add/Remove Features
How to Use Features
TEC INSURANCE
Call Forwarding
UNL NIGHT & WEEKEND MIN
GENERAL IP ADDRESS
NATIONALACCESS ROAM-MB

Caller ID
NEW EVERY TWO TIERED
UNL PICTURE/VIDEO MSG
PAY AS YOU USE MEGABYTE DATA
Visual Voice Mail

She pays $81 a month for that (total bill including every fee etc.) No internet access at all. Trust me, Verizon costs more.

[Mazda 3s]

Originally Posted by hill60

Interesting comment given that the cost of sending a picture via MMS is orders of magnitude greater than sending a higher quality picture via email, I take it you like having your wallet plundered in which case I can refer you to a Nigerian banker.

I agree completely. I did not even get a texting package with my 3G S and I called AT&T to have the service fully disabled. I'm paying for internet, so I'm not wasting my money on stupid texts. If you can't answer your phone or email, you're worthless to me anyway

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by teckstud

How does MMS suck on comparison to email? There is no additional server to go through. It's universal - everybody has a phone number not necessarily an email account.

Well, two things off the top of my head:
1. Limited message size.
2. I don't have MMS, so I have to log into AT&T's website to get them.

The image/message size limits are enough for me.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by solipsism

It’s surprising he didn’t see the paradox of his statement. It’s not surprising that Teckstud agreed with him.

No no! Teckstud is buying an iPhone! I swear! Or at least he's really considering it. STRONGLY considering it. Does anyone have any last warnings before he does? He's 99.9% sure he's going to buy one, but JUST in case, if anyone can tell him ANYTHING bad about the iPhone he would LOVE to hear it. Once he's heard ALL of the complaints, then he'll go right out and buy one. He promises.

He told me so!

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Is this true!? Can you confirm?

Wow, if so, I am pretty cheezed-off too.

Oh yes! Just ask anyone who jailbroke their phone! You could get like 5 FPS easy! I was AWESOME!

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by cameronj

Oh yes! Just ask anyone who jailbroke their phone! You could get like 5 FPS easy! I was AWESOME!

It's terribly hard for me to be convinced that a RAZR could do video, and yet an iPhone 3G cannot. I just don't see it, even through that thick line of crap you driveled all over the screen there.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

Edit: You know what really bothers me though, is that Apple cheezed on the video for the 3G. I know it was in their best interest so they could have a sales extravaganza like this, but we all know that video is possible on the 3G.

You can see jailbroken original and 3G iPhones on YouTube showing off video recording. It’s quite poor in every regard. Apple had to wait for better HW and to rewrite some QuickTime frameworks (QuicktimeX) to make it what it is today. The original and 3G iPhones had plenty of HW capabilities for video recording if they weren’t running OS X, but remember that iPhone OS X is shrunken version of Mac OS X which was designed for PC usage on much more powerful HW, not a truly mobile OS that designed with much slower HW in mind. OS X on the iPhone was really at its limit with that HW, which is part of the reason why even going between screens wasn’t as smooth as it should be, especially with the iPod running. This really is the first iPhone that could feasible video recording so you weren’t duped despite what some of the less knowledgeable posters here will tell you.

Originally Posted by cameronj

Oh yes! Just ask anyone who jailbroke their phone! You could get like 5 FPS easy! I was AWESOME!

I think I got about 12fps out of it last time I tried it but I believe it meant up-clocking (don’t want to say overclocking since it’s already underclocked) the ARM11.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

It's terribly hard for me to be convinced that a RAZR could do video, and yet an iPhone 3G cannot. I just don't see it, even through that thick line of crap you driveled all over the screen there.

Before you really let the jackassery get out of hand, this is the site for the Cycorder app for jailbroken iPhones. Note the codec used, the fps and resolution. Does tweaking the HW up when they are already trying to save power and the quality from this app really sound like something Apple would put out just because it’s technically feasible. Guess what, if we loaded WinCE or Symbian we could get 30fps at a higher bitrate. Also note the Palm Pre, with equivalent 3GS HW still can’t do video recording, yet older Palm phones could. How about them Apples?

• http://cydia.saurik.com/info/cycorder/

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by solipsism

You can see jailbroken original and 3G iPhones on YouTube showing off video recording. It’s quite poor in every regard. Apple had to wait for better HW and to rewrite some QuickTime frameworks (QuicktimeX) to make it what it is today. The original and 3G iPhones had plenty of HW capabilities for video recording if they weren’t running OS X, but remember that iPhone OS X is shrunken version of Mac OS X which was designed for PC usage on much more powerful HW, not a truly mobile OS that designed with much slower HW in mind. OS X on the iPhone was really at its limit with that HW, which is part of the reason why even going between screens wasn’t as smooth as it should be, especially with the iPod running. This really is the first iPhone that could feasible video recording so you weren’t duped despite what some of the less knowledgeable posters here will tell you.

Do you think that the video would be much improved on the older hardware running the newer codecs? You see, it sucks that we aren't able to find out if it is truly crappy, because Apple will not allow it in the app store. $20-$30 is too much to spend to find out, plus you have to jailbreak your phone. It would be nice to have a $1.99 app for video in the app store so I could try it and see the crappyness for myself, firsthand. I have a feeling it was all in those "frameworks" you mentioned there, and not in the hardware.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

Do you think that the video would be much improved on the older hardware running the newer codecs? You see, it sucks that we aren't able to find out if it is truly crappy, because Apple will not allow it in the app store. $20-$30 is too much to spend to find out, plus you have to jailbreak your phone. It would be nice to have a $1.99 app for video in the app store so I could try it and see the crappyness for myself, firsthand. I have a feeling it was all in those "frameworks" you mentioned there, and not in the hardware.

I assure it’s not. That was only one of the issues. Did you ever run the iPod app while trying to use Safari or another app? Seriously, dd you not notice the slowdown and momentary stalling? There is only 128MB RAM in the first two iPhones and most of that was dedicated to the OS itself. Mobile OSes that started with 8MB RAM or less got to build up over time. The new iPhone now has enough RAM to potentially allow for a well sandboxed background app or two, though RAM is not the only issue to contend with on that front.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by technohermit

It's terribly hard for me to be convinced that a RAZR could do video, and yet an iPhone 3G cannot. I just don't see it, even through that thick line of crap you driveled all over the screen there.

All it takes is the right chip - it's not "hard" it just takes the right hardware. The iPhone hardware could do stills easily, but video, not at all. Cycorder recorded at anywhere from 7-15 FPS. Does that sound like quality that Apple would want to put their name on?

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by technohermit

Do you think that the video would be much improved on the older hardware running the newer codecs? You see, it sucks that we aren't able to find out if it is truly crappy, because Apple will not allow it in the app store. $20-$30 is too much to spend to find out, plus you have to jailbreak your phone. It would be nice to have a $1.99 app for video in the app store so I could try it and see the crappyness for myself, firsthand. I have a feeling it was all in those "frameworks" you mentioned there, and not in the hardware.

So you're saying you've made up your mind and no evidence (in this world) will convince you otherwise?

OK then!

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Before you really let the jackassery get out of hand, this is the site for the Cycorder app for jailbroken iPhones. Note the codec used, the fps and resolution. Does tweaking the HW up when they are already trying to save power and the quality from this app really sound like something Apple would put out just because it’s technically feasible. Guess what, if we loaded WinCE or Symbian we could get 30fps at a higher bitrate. Also note the Palm Pre, with equivalent 3GS HW still can’t do video recording, yet older Palm phones could. How about them Apples?

• http://cydia.saurik.com/info/cycorder/

I dont mind the video of the snake at all. And keep in mind, please, it is not "jackassery". Sometimes, it would be nice to shoot video, even if it is shitty video. Not a feature I would jailbreak my phone over, but there are times where even a shitty, choppy crap video would be better than none. For instance, I was watching these guys at home d**ot severely overload an S-10 full of bags of concrete and drive away. I had to settle for pics, when a horribly bad video would have been better than the pics.

That said, I don't think the link you showed me has any really terrible video on it. It's a phone, not an HD camcorder.
And I don't care for your Apples, I want my Apples. Stick to your iMac, I want an expandable desktop, and I would like video on my damn phone.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by cameronj

No no! Teckstud is buying an iPhone! I swear! Or at least he's really considering it. STRONGLY considering it. Does anyone have any last warnings before he does? He's 99.9% sure he's going to buy one, but JUST in case, if anyone can tell him ANYTHING bad about the iPhone he would LOVE to hear it. Once he's heard ALL of the complaints, then he'll go right out and buy one. He promises.

He told me so!

Right- and the first thing I'm gonna do is upload a video from it to youtube with me playing with it accompanied by the music "You know I'm BAD- you know it!"

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by cameronj

OK then!

^^ correct.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

I dont mind the video of the snake at all. And keep in mind, please, it is not "jackassery". Sometimes, it would be nice to shoot video, even if it is shitty video. Not a feature I would jailbreak my phone over, but there are times where even a shitty, choppy crap video would be better than none. For instance, I was watching these guys at home d**ot severely overload an S-10 full of bags of concrete and drive away. I had to settle for pics, when a horribly bad video would have been better than the pics.

That said, I don't think the link you showed me has any really terrible video on it. It's a phone, not an HD camcorder.
And I don't care for your Apples, I want my Apples. Stick to your iMac, I want an expandable desktop, and I would like video on my damn phone.

1) This line is jackassery: "I just don't see it, even through that thick line of crap you driveled all over the screen there.”

2) What part of over-clocking the phone which will drain the battery faster, low-bitrate, less than half the fps that one would expect for any video sound like “Apple-like” to you? Apple is making a smartphone for the average consumer, not some geeky device that people can drool over a spec sheet simply because the capability is technically possible, regardless of feasibility.

3) If you wanted a phone that did video two years ago there were plenty of options available to you, just like there are plenty of options for phones today that do video exceedingly better than the iPhone 3GS.

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I assure it’s not. That was only one of the issues. Did you ever run the iPod app while trying to use Safari or another app? Seriously, dd you not notice the slowdown and momentary stalling? There is only 128MB RAM in the first two iPhones and most of that was dedicated to the OS itself. Mobile OSes that started with 8MB RAM or less got to build up over time. The new iPhone now has enough RAM to potentially allow for a well sandboxed background app or two, though RAM is not the only issue to contend with on that front.

I'm aware of the slowness, yes. I was kind of hoping it was due to the OS not being fully optimized, kinda like Leopard going to Snow Leopard.

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by solipsism

1) This line is jackassery: "I just don't see it, even through that thick line of crap you driveled all over the screen there.”

Ah, yes...that jackassery. Good eye.

Originally Posted by solipsism

2) Did you read anything that was posted here? What part of over-clocking the phone which will drain the battery faster, low-bitrate, less than half the fps that one would expect for any video sound like “Apple-like” to you?

Not Apple-like, APP STORE-like.

Originally Posted by solipsism

3) If you wanted a phone that did video two years ago there were plenty of options available to you, just like there are plenty of options for phones today that do video exceedingly better than the iPhone 3GS.

Indeed, there are. But as you can see, I like my iPhone, and I'm not even willing to jailbreak it to get the already available crappy video recording. I would rather pay $1.99-$3.99 for a terrible yet approved version at the app store. I could see using it maybe once or twice a month, for 30 seconds at a time. I think you may be reading too much emotion into these posts.
Geeze.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

I'm aware of the slowness, yes. I was kind of hoping it was due to the OS not being fully optimized, kinda like Leopard going to Snow Leopard.

Don’t let the low price or lack of a new UI fool you, the move from Leopard to SL has nothing to do with a lack of optimizations in Leopard. SL is major low- and mid-level rewrite of OS X. There are plenty of new aspects to the OS.

iPhone OS X was and is quite impressive for what they were able to squeeze into a phone, but it’s still a very heavy OS for a phone.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

Not Apple-like, APP STORE-like.

Indeed, there are. But as you can see, I like my iPhone, and I'm not even willing to jailbreak it to get the already available crappy video recording. I would rather pay $1.99-$3.99 for a terrible yet approved version at the app store. I could see using it maybe once or twice a month, for 30 seconds at a time.

That is impossible since the SDK doesn’t allow 3rd-party developers access to areas of the HW or privateFramewoks.

I think you may be reading too much emotion into these posts.

Emotions are illogical.

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Emotions are illogical.

As are glossy screens with no alternative. And no video on my iPhone 3G.

Alright, that's it for me for this evening. Thanks for the chat (and the info on my hardware, seriously.)

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by technohermit

As are glossy screens with no alternative. And no video on my iPhone 3G.

Sheesh. Some never learn!

[TenoBell]

This isn't true, there are a lot of still cameras that don't shoot video. Just because a cameras can take stills does not automatically mean it can shoot video. The two are entirely different processes that have different requirements.

Originally Posted by teckstud

Any digital camera can record video - even if its crappy choppy video. It's always been available - just not in Apple software for the prior phones.

[TenoBell]

With the glossy screens and no video, Apple is making nearly as much money as Dell. Dell sells over three times the number of computers that Apple does.

Originally Posted by technohermit

As are glossy screens with no alternative. And no video on my iPhone 3G.

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally Posted by technohermit

My wife has Verizon, Solipsism, here ya go:

Monthly access charge: $59.99
Monthly allowance minutes: 450 general
Per minute rate after allowance: $0.45 peak , $0.45 off-peak

$0.20 per Text Message sent/received (unless you subscribe to a messaging bundle)
Message Waiting Indicator
3-Way Calling
Call Waiting
M2M NATIONAL UNLIMITED

Streamlined Billing
No Answer/Transfer
Call Delivery
Call Forward - No Answer
UNL TEXT MESSAGING
Additional Features Add/Remove Features
How to Use Features
TEC INSURANCE
Call Forwarding
UNL NIGHT & WEEKEND MIN
GENERAL IP ADDRESS
NATIONALACCESS ROAM-MB

Caller ID
NEW EVERY TWO TIERED
UNL PICTURE/VIDEO MSG
PAY AS YOU USE MEGABYTE DATA
Visual Voice Mail

She pays $81 a month for that (total bill including every fee etc.) No internet access at all. Trust me, Verizon costs more.

I'm moving from Verizon this Fall. They have spent the past 5 years offering me a POS upgrade to a new phone but only go from 400->450 minutes with a price bump.

Someone needs to do a parody of ``Can you Hear me now?'' that truly mocks the crap out of them.

[OC4Theo]

Apple Stores here in Orange County still have lines for iPhone purchase, day after day since the launch of the iPhone 3GS.

The best is yet to come! As for the so-called competitors, let's just say they have been busy accepting their returns. All touch screens are not the same. Most of all, all smartphones are not created equal.

Iphone has no equal. As simple as that.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer

Someone needs to do a parody of ``Can you Hear me now?'' that truly mocks the crap out of them.

Not quite what you asked for but I still love it...

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOrwRf8tLUM