Apple, Verizon stop taking iPhone preorders on heavy demand

Initial demand for the Verizon iPhone appears to be strong, with Apple and Verizon seemingly having run out of pre-sale stock of the new CDMA iPhone and asking customers to wait until 9 February to purchase the device online or 10 February for in-store purchases, industry observers said.

Verizon and Apple started taking preorders for the iPhone at around 3 am Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, but this was limited to only existing Verizon customers. Initially, the interest seemed heavy with customers reporting difficulty accessing the Verizon website.

Though it was not clear as to how many units were on offer during Wednesday's preorder, sources say, Apple and Verizon have stopped taking orders for the device.

Customers looking to purchase the iPhone 4 on Verizon are directed to re-log on either the Verizon or Apple website starting 3:01 am Eastern Standard Time on 9 February. The phones would be on offer at retail stores a 7 am on 10 February.

According to AppleInsider website, Verizon had, in a countrywide email, urged employees not to buy the iPhone for themselves or their families as demand was expected to be unprecedented.

Meanwhile, Verizon has asserted that the launch of the iPhone will be executed without flaws, but has expressed concern that initially, CDMA version supplies of the iPhone 4 may be limited.