Korea takes 110K iPhone 4 pre-orders as Galaxy S hits 800K
updated 10:25 am EDT, Wed August 18, 2010
KT overwhelmed by iPhone 4, but Galaxy S closing
KT's servers were overwhelmed with pre-orders for the September South Korean iPhone 4 launch, officials said Wednesday. About 110,000 pre-orders went through in just nine hours, causing enough congestion that it bogged down the company's servers. The online pre-orders are due to last for another week and could mark a record for one-day sales in the country.
The iPhone 3GS has been unusually successful in the country, which has traditionally been resistant to foreign brands. Over 850,000 Apple devices have shipped since the original November and made for considerable embarrassment for lcoal powerhouse Samsung. In spite of its near-institutional role in the country, it sold roughly half as many Omnia II models.
Apple may have much stiffer competition, however, as Samsung today said it had already sold 800,000 Galaxy S phones in its native territory in less than two months. For now, the figure makes it the fastest-selling device in the country. The large Super AMOLED screen, fast processor and use of Android have all helped spur sales. Most of Samsung's recent struggles have been due to its previously heavy dependence on the aging Windows Mobile platform.
To help spur sales, Samsung has just launched a white version of the Galaxy S in Korea through KT's main rival, SK Telecom. The device still uses a plastic back but comes just as Apple has had to delay white iPhone 4s to much later in the year.
