iPhone 5 Release Date Delayed for Online Preorders From Apple

By Jim Gardner , Christian Post Contributor

September 16, 2012|4:24 pm

When the iPhone 5 was unveiled recently it was widely predicted that demand for the pre-order would hit the roof. The reality has seen these predictions come true, as demand has been as strong if not stronger than many had said.

Within an hour of pre-orders being available on Apple's website the iPhone 5 release date for online orders was pushed back two weeks. Those lucky enough to have pre-ordered the device in that opening hour will receive their next generation iPhones on Sept. 21 as Apple had initially announced. However, those who were late to pre-order theirs will have to wait longer if they want to order online. Although an alternative for them would be to queue up at a local Apple Store on Sept. 21 when the device becomes available for over the counter sales.

All three models of the iPhone 5 - the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions - have been hit by the two week delay for online ordering due to the high demand, and it is thought the date will be pushed back further still if people wait too long.

The delay has hit deliveries in the United States, as well as the U.K., France, Germany and Australia.

A similar incident took place when Apple release the iPhone 4S, however, at that time it took Apple about 22 hours to change the pre-ordering status to the delayed date. The same happened with the iPhone 4; with that device taking 20 hours before a delay in pre-ordering was announced on the Apple website.

Many analysts have predicted that Apple will easily ship more than 10 million iPhone 5's in September alone, which would smash all previous records for smartphone device sales.

The iPhone 5 is also available for pre-ordering from AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. However, if you are a T-Mobile customer you will have to wait a little longer for the unlocked version of the iPhone 5 to be released. The unlocked iPhone is expected sometime in October, about a month after the network-locked phones become available.

Another network to get the device will be Cricket, which has said it will have iPhone 5's available on its network from Sept. 28.