Orange claims iPhone first day sales record

Orange claims early sales a great success
Orange claims early sales a great success

Orange has claimed that it has broken sales records with its release of the Orange iPhone 3G and 3GS, selling 30,000 units in the first day of release.

"As of 4pm today Orange had sold more than30,000 iPhones across the UK – smashing what we believe is the previously published first day sales records for a handset in the UK."

However, it's unclear how this stacks up against rival networks, including O2's iPhone sales figures, as most don't publish such numbers.

O2 was rumoured to have sold 8,000 iPhones (although only the 2G version) on its first day of sales, but the network has told TechRadar that it was significantly more, although declined to give an actual figure.

Top app

Orange's first UK iPhone app, for links to Orange Wednesdays services, has also leapt to the top of the charts, with the network stating that it is top of the entertainment app charts, and second in the overall free applications run down.

Hardly surprising given the ease of which it give two for one cinema tickets, although don't forget this won't work with iPhones on O2.

Whether it has broken records or not, the early sales of the iPhone for Orange are encouraging in a market that has been offered access to the device for over two years.

It will be interesting to note whether Vodafone manages similar sales when it releases the iPhone early next year, or whether Orange has stolen the 'non-O2' iPhone crown.

Gareth Beavis
Formerly Global Editor in Chief

Gareth has been part of the consumer technology world in a career spanning three decades. He started life as a staff writer on the fledgling TechRadar, and has grew with the site (primarily as phones, tablets and wearables editor) until becoming Global Editor in Chief in 2018. Gareth has written over 4,000 articles for TechRadar, has contributed expert insight to a number of other publications, chaired panels on zeitgeist technologies, presented at the Gadget Show Live as well as representing the brand on TV and radio for multiple channels including Sky, BBC, ITV and Al-Jazeera. Passionate about fitness, he can bore anyone rigid about stress management, sleep tracking, heart rate variance as well as bemoaning something about the latest iPhone, Galaxy or OLED TV.

Latest in iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
The iPhone 17 Air looks impressively slim in this new comparison image, but that just makes me more worried about the specs
iPhone 16 Pro Desert Titanium in hand
I think the rumored iPhone 17 Pro redesign looks great – but is it Apple enough?
Apple iPhone 16 Review
New iPhone 17 report lends weight to rumors of major display and camera upgrades, and a pricey Apple foldable
Apple iPhone 16 Review
The latest iPhone 18 leak hints at a major chipset upgrade for all four models
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold main display opened
Apple is rumored to be prioritizing battery life on the foldable iPhone – which could also feature a liquid metal hinge for added durability
The home screen on an iPhone 16e smartphone
I think the iPhone 16e is too expensive – and as it turns out, so does nearly everybody else
Latest in News
A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.
I’ll admit, Microsoft’s new Windows 11 update surprised me with its usefulness, providing accessibility fixes, a gamepad keyboard layout, and PC spec cards
inZOI promotional material.
inZOI has become the most wishlisted game on Steam, but I wouldn't get too caught up in the hype
Xbox Series X and Xbox wireless controller set to a green background
Xbox Insiders are currently testing a new Game Hub feature that looks useful, but I've got mixed feelings about it
A stylized depiction of a padlocked WiFi symbol sitting in the centre of an interlocking vault.
Broadcom warns of worrying security flaws affecting VMware tools
Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine in Candy Pink with coffee drinks and capsules
My favorite Nespresso coffee maker just got a fresh new makeover, and now I love it even more
Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices on a table.
Hate Windows 11’s search? Microsoft is fixing it with AI, and that almost makes me want to buy a Copilot+ PC