iPhone 5 Delivery Backlog After Record Orders

Apple has said many deliveries of the new iPhone 5 will be delayed after it received more than two million orders in 24 hours.

The number of orders received was more than double that for the earlier model of the smartphone - the iPhone 4S - and meant that demand outstripped initial supply.

As a result, while most US pre-orders will be delivered on Friday, some devices will not arrive until October, the company said.

Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said: "iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal."

And a company statement added: "Demand for iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply and while the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October."

Apple unveiled its new smartphone, which has a bigger screen and is 4G-capable, last Wednesday and pre-orders began on Friday.

The phone is available in white and black and costs $399 (£247) for the 64GB version in the US, with less powerful versions selling for $299 (£185) and $199 (£123). UK prices have not yet been confirmed.

Apple said the device will be available in more than 22 countries on 28 September.

News of the delay comes as US telecommunications company AT&T said the iPhone 5 had broken its sales records.

Related stories: