AT&T Executive: 'Amazing to See the Volume' as iPhone 6 Debut Tops 5s and 5 Launches

[TallManNY]

H&R Block and Turbo Tax scale up rented server capacity on a temporarily basis for tax season. Retailers do something similar between Black Friday and New Years for the Christmas holiday season. Amazon built their entire S3 web hosting business model around this, and other infrastructure hosting companies including Microsoft's Azure are getting into in a big way.

This is a SIX hour window, maybe ten. By 10:00 PST everything was unclogged on the electronic front and I suspect well before that. And by tomorrow customer service over the phone should be close to normal.
Yes other companies ramp up. But you are talking about them ramping up for a few months or even a few weeks. That is easier to justify than to ramp up for less than one full day.
And no one is processing as many customers in as short a period of time and no ever has than what Apple has done today. They've processed millions of orders already. Maybe even ten million by the end of the day. That would be insane, but not out of the realm of possible.

EDIT: Apple has said that the overnight sales was a record.

 

[TreyCox]

Does Verizon support simultaneous voice and data now?

It does not, but there is absolutely no AT&T service where I live. I want AT&T, but Verizon's speed and service in my area is top notch while AT&T's is pretty much nonexistent.

 

[Bazilemac]

Hmmm, well I was able to cancel mine by logging into my AT&T account, finding my order, and hitting the "cancel" button. Not sure why you're not able to do the same.

can you still cancel if they already took your money? I probably would have to wait for a refund if they could?

so messed up how they charge you BEFORE the product ships and if they think im paying for that NEXT plan before I get my phone in the mail, the jokes on them.

 

[ScubaMatt]

Payment Question

Odd question. Sorry if has already been asked. Waiting on a big check from a client but still want to get in on the pre-order. Do you know if that Apple store charges your credit card when you order or when it ships ? Thanks in advance !!!!

 

[Bazilemac]

That's what I did. I've been on the 4S since December 2011.

feel bad for you 4S folks. That screen is so tiny. I can't even use one anymore without squinting my eyes.

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Can't see it, the 4.7 will be the bigger seller because it's what "normal" people will use. In-fact I expect we'll see more phones start to come out at smaller sizes now the market is maturing and the "phablet" category has come into being.

The 5.5 is mainly for tech geeks and therefore people on sites like this so gets a skewed response here.

we'll see about that. Even the way they are marketing them "plus". people correlate that with being better even if it's not.

 

[OCMike]

Have you tried to confirm your order on AT&Ts site later this morning? Just curious if yours actually got through. Mine didn't process.

Got the emails overnight confirming my order being sent to the warehouse awaiting shipping

 

[N4v4rmind]

Order status page is available for my order and it says ship date 10/31-11/11

My order was for the 6+ 64gb space gray and I completed my order at 12:10am

I doubt any of these shipping estimates are set in stone.

It seems like people who ordered directly from Apple, get the iPhone 6 Plus sooner than AT&T customers.

 

[Brenster]

Pre-orders with Apple were fine here. But in the UK, the carriers are being a right bloody pain. None of them want to reveal their pricing - so it's several hours after launch, and we still don't know the pricing from the main carriers.

I hear you. Was happily with O2 from the 3G launch through the 4 launch. All started to go a bit pear shaped with the 5 launch as they were the last to declare their prices and wound up being the most expensive. Ended up arguing on the phone with them, successfully I might add, for contract handset parity for the 5 64GB with Orange, Voda etc.

Combined with O2's mid contract price rises and an unwelcome coverage blind spot whilst at the local hospital has led me to junk both O2 and handset+contract antics. Taken out a 12 month SIM only 4G contract with EE, got 4G coverage where O2 could only provide 3G with the iP5. In the fortuitous position of being able to afford the iP6 handset direct from Apple. Carrier demoted to data/voice pipe only (& Visual Voicemail host) whilst I deal directly with Apple for the hardware, servicing etc.

Take it the UK carriers are still being tardy about their contract handset pricing still?

 

[bradkrischel]

can you still cancel if they already took your money? I probably would have to wait for a refund if they could?

so messed up how they charge you BEFORE the product ships and if they think im paying for that NEXT plan before I get my phone in the mail, the jokes on them.

I don't think they charge you until the phone ships (although there might be a hold on your account for that amount until the cancellation is complete)

 

[buckydonegun]

If I were to get a 2 year contract my current bill would go up $25 per month, which means over 2 years I'd be paying $600. It is cheaper for me to just buy the iPhone full price. So I wouldn't be able to just put my current iPhone 5's Nano-SIM into the 6 Plus when I get it? My current 2 year contract ends in November, so I wouldn't get the 6 Plus until then.

To his point-

a great article on this

http://http://robservatory.com/the-atdont-get-burned/

 

[John.B]

This is a SIX hour window, maybe ten. By 10:00 PST everything was unclogged on the electronic front and I suspect well before that. And by tomorrow customer service over the phone should be close to normal.
Yes other companies ramp up. But you are talking about them ramping up for a few months or even a few weeks. That is easier to justify than to ramp up for less than one full day.
And no one is processing as many customers in as short a period of time and no ever has than what Apple has done today.

Amazon's AWS IaaS cloud service was purpose built for just such an occasion. Six hours, load balanced over several regions, scaled up as large as needed, is exactly what that was designed to do.

And with Azure, you can run the IaaS model with various flavors of Linux or Windows, or you can run their PaaS model with the Azure database. They would be more than happy to scale up and out for a big six-hour roll out. Billed by processing power, network utilization, and storage utilization (in order of cost).

I'm guessing that, for all of Apple's capacity in NC and OR, they weren't built to deploy this on a grand scale or the 3 AM EST experience wouldn't have been such a cluster**** for so many people.

Don't get me wrong, I love Apple, but they could really use some outside help on projects like this (or possibly better outside help than they had).

And don't get me started about the live stream... SMH

And no one is processing as many customers in as short a period of time and no ever has than what Apple has done today.

Source?

 

[solarguy17]

Uhh how did they step it up when my expected delivery date is the 31st of October? For AT&T. I pre-ordered at 12 Pacific time

Last year all orders sold out within 30min for the 5S. The year before the 5 was sold out in a couple of hours. This year with more sales potentially needed they built up a great stock of 6's and enough of the 6+ to last an hour or so before hitting back order.

My point. They did a good job anticipating need overall for the 6 and there is stock stock available. Yes they could have done more 6+ but overall with record sales this was a good stock management on apples part.

 

[Zxxv]

Nothing. They still look like an idiot.
Seriously though I suspect they will use it in speaker mode, making them even more obnoxious to the people around them.

how is that? it'd be less obnoxious now because you can hear two people as if they were both present.

 

[txford]

I haven't read through all the replies but did anyone else have a problem ordering through ATT and their premier website. I get a service discount on my rate plan so anytime I upgrade on their site it takes me there. When it finally let me in at 2:10 central time this morning it would send me straight to a 16gb space gray and would not let me have any other option. I wanted a 64gb and went round and round with the site, clearing my cache and history and still the same thing. I eventually caved at 4:30 and ordered the 16gb. Tried calling and chatting with customer service as soon as they were available and no help, just told me to go to a store.
So I went to the local att store as soon as they opened and they couldn't find the order I placed even though I had my confirmation email and order #. Ended up ordering the 64gb 6 in store to be delivered and then I was able to find my previous order and cancel it. The 16gb was showing launch day delivery, now the 64gb is showing 10/2 but of course that will probably change to later.

After I had ordered the 16 I went to att's site and just tried to create a whole new service account instead of an upgrade just to see and what do you know you could order just about whatever model you wanted that way.

 

[RLRabb]

I have a question... Does AT&T allow you to buy the iPhone outright (non-contract)? I have always gotten a 2-year contract with each new iPhone, but this year I want to just buy the iPhone 6 Plus in full with no 2 year contract/commitment. Is this possible with AT&T?

Order it using AT&T Next, then when it arrives, pay it off in full rather than make the monthly installment payments. Ordered two like that at the physical store just an hour ago, they knew that I was going to pay in full when they arrive, and they had no problems with it.
Once I pay for the phones, I will be moving them to cheaper ATT GoPhone plans.

 

[anek007]

I doubt any of these shipping estimates are set in stone.

It seems like people who ordered directly from Apple, get the iPhone 6 Plus sooner than AT&T customers.

With apple site being down I couldnt wait. I had no problem ordering from att and was done in a min. The apple site still says 3-4 weeks if I ordered right now. Hopely its sooner than the expected date.

 

[rjjacobson]

So I ordered the + last night from AT&T's site, and switched to the Next plan. At the end of the checkout, the total due was $0. Perfect.

This morning I check my email and see that there is a pending charge of $76.00 from AT&T EStore. WTF is this for? This is not the same CC as my service billing, and I have no email, invoice, or other document showing what this $76 charge is for.

Since it is still pending, not much I can do other than wait and see if it goes away. Otherwise - dying to know what AT&T is actually charging me for.

Anyone else see this or know what the charge is?

Yes in the fine print of the Next plan it is clearly stated they will be charging you tax on the new phone that you are buying on time. Got the same charge. But was expecting it.

 

[andreiru]

All good but they'll say demand is high regardless of what it actually is, of course. High demand implies popularity thus sparlking interest, sometimes even where there is none. psychology and marketing. Exciting products sell like hot cakes.

 

[rxse7en]

AT&T Order

Got in on the pre-order by 3:15AM EST, notification said "7–X Days" delivery. Then I got the email—"2-3 weeks" for delivery. Just checked online status at ATT.com and it now says:"Oct. 31–Nov. 11" delivery. Unbelievable. I'm hoping it's just SOP crap with ATT as they won't even let me cancel my order and order on Apple.com. Anyone else experience this?

 

[the8thark]

I think maybe he meant that you seem mad because people that aren't bitter don't get off from laughing at other people & generally can feel happy without making ridiculous general sweeping statements about others steeped in opinion, yet presented as fact, and don't need to stand on a pretentious "moral superiority" pedestal, talking smack like a grumpy old man, shaking his fist at the sky.
At least that's what I took from what he said.

I look mad from what I say. And what you say I believe is correct. But in reality I'm slightly disappointed that the phones exist but mostly laughing at the mess that all of this has become.

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The role of smartphones and mobile devices has changed in the last few years. I was happy with the 3.5" screen, then 4" screen, and my needs seem to change so that it's much more convenient to do more on my phone. With that convenience, I also wanted more screen real estate to do more of those tasks more easily. At least we have screen options now so there's something for everyone.

People are not buying smartphones anymore. They are buying mini computers that just happen to take phone calls also. The phone call part is the added bonus these days.

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Some would ask, does this make you an iTroll?

According to the MR moderators yes (but that was for another post).

 

[drbrekke]

I order from the ATT site at 2:05am CST. 64GB Silver iPhone 6 - eligible for an upgrade. I didn't get my order confirmation email until 5:30am and the order status now says Expected Ship Date: 09/23/2014 To 10/02/2014. ******** - I can order from Apple.com right now and still pick it up or have it shipped ON THE RELEASE DATE! I tried to cancel my order via ATT's site and it does not work. I called them and they could not do it either. My upgrade status will be ****ed up now for up to 24 hours if I was able to cancel it.

Ugh. Thanks AT&T.

 

[kazmac]

Same boat. $650 is hard to swallow.

I agree (cubed.) $350 I could justify, but not more than some iPads.

 

[drbrekke]

Yes. EXACT same problem. Really pissed.

Got in on the pre-order by 3:15AM EST, notification said "7–X Days" delivery. Then I got the email—"2-3 weeks" for delivery. Just checked online status at ATT.com and it now says:"Oct. 31–Nov. 11" delivery. Unbelievable. I'm hoping it's just SOP crap with ATT as they won't even let me cancel my order and order on Apple.com. Anyone else experience this?

 

[rjjacobson]

The iPhone 6 , 128gb, space gray I ordered est. ship date is 9/17-9/19

The iPhone 6 Plus , 64gb, Gold I ordered est. ship date is 10/13-10/22

Called AT&T this morning and was told all their iPhone 6 Plus are 35-42 days out.

Yeah well I had my order done at 2:10 AM central (12:10 Pacific) on AT&T. Got a confirmation page and number but did not get email til 9 AM today. and confirmation of ship time a hour later of Oct 31 to November 11, so for some reason I am even further out by 1 to two weeks and I had order in that early. Not sure why I was one of those who got confirmation much later I wonder if it was the $1 charge to my checking account that i used my Visa debit card for order and when the bank would respond? Oh well... the tax and the $1 are now charged to my debit/checking account sucessfully (never got an error though)

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Order status page is available for my order and it says ship date 10/31-11/11

My order was for the 6+ 64gb space gray and I completed my order at 12:10am

Yes same for and same time, your order must have slowed mine down

 

[jrswizzle]

If it hasn't processed yet, there should be an option to cancel the preorder online. If it's not there to cancel, they probably have processed it

Yup - I got it taken care of! I was nervous I wouldn't be able to get my wife what she was wanting....

Now I just have to get myself a Space Gray 64GB 6 unlocked....Apple.com says 7-10 days for both the 16 and 64GB. Looks like I'll probably stick to standing in line for it.

I feel a lot better about standing in line for a space gray versus a gold....I was 7th at my Apple Store last year and they (the APPLE STORE) were out of gold...

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I order from the ATT site at 2:05am CST. 64GB Silver iPhone 6 - eligible for an upgrade. I didn't get my order confirmation email until 5:30am and the order status now says Expected Ship Date: 09/23/2014 To 10/02/2014. ******** - I can order from Apple.com right now and still pick it up or have it shipped ON THE RELEASE DATE! I tried to cancel my order via ATT's site and it does not work. I called them and they could not do it either. My upgrade status will be ****ed up now for up to 24 hours if I was able to cancel it.

Ugh. Thanks AT&T.

Ha, AT&T took my preorder at 2:01 am Central and promptly canceled it at around 2:45 am. Luckily I was still up and I saw it.

AT&T never had stock of the 6+. It went live a little early and right off the bat the ship date on all 6+'s was 2-3 weeks. I went straight to Apple and just decided I'd bite the bullet and have them shipped to my house. Got the 6+ order in for launch day.

My wife's 6 on the other hand was a pain....at around 3 am this morning Apple.com still wasn't up and the Apple Store app said almost nothing was available. So I kept trying to force it through ATT.com but didn't have any luck....

Ended up just ordering the 6 (space gray 64gb ATT, one of the only models it said were available at the time) on Apple.com I was planning to buy outright on my wife's Next upgrade and was desperately hoping I could be one of the first in line to grab a gold next Friday.

Lucky for me I read Macrumors this morning which said pretty much all 6's were available. After a little trouble, I was able to cancel my space gray 6, get a 16GB Gold 6 and now I just have to decide if I want to wait in line or wait 7-10 extra days for the space gray one....