How Many iPhones at Launch?

There are over 170 Apple Retail stores and 1,800 AT&T stores across the country that will be selling iPhones. Apple’s goal is to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of the year of 2008. With any large-scale introduction of an ultra-hyped product, there’s always a mass frenzy at the start. Let’s assume that Apple wants to sell 1.5 million iPhones on the first day. That translates to over 750 iPhones per store. Granted, all stores are not created equal — some will get more, some will get less. Still, if Apple’s production lines have been pumping out at capacity, that’s a huge number of iPhones that will be available. Even if the total number of units available is cut in half, there’ll be 380 iPhones per store. Any way you cut it, that’s a long line outside an AT&T store or Apple Retail Store on Friday afternoon!