iPhone 4S Sales Slow As Networks and Retailers Run Out of Stock

The new Apple iPhone 4S has proved to be the most popular iPhone model released to date with over one million units sold in the first 24 hours of going on sale further bolstered by a four million handsets ordered over the following three days.

This has apparently now caused a serious stock shortage problem in the UK with many suppliers now out of stock of the new iPhone 4S as they await further deliveries, and to further compound the problem there is still a huge demand for this latest Apple iPhone model.

As it currently stands, the dedicated 3G network; 3 Mobile has today stated that they only now have enough stock of the iPhone 4S to fulfill existing orders and will be removing the 16GB edition from their website, this is mirrored across many of the other networks with only the less popular and more expensive iPhone 4S 32GB and 64GB models available.

Vodafone have also now updated their online shop to show all iPhone 4S models as 'limited availability', T-Mobile are showing a note to consumers on their checkout page for the 16GB edition that reads 'Please allow 7 days for delivery' whilst Orange go one step further and do not actually state a delivery date but instead:

'Demand for the shiny new iPhone 4S has been huge, so we can't tell you exactly when we'll be able to deliver yours at the moment. Please feel free to complete your order, and we promise to get it to you as soon as we can.'

O2 have taken a different route and now offer a 'Stock availability update' service which consumers can register for, again they claim that demand has been high for iPhone 4S sales and will now only sell the new smart phone to existing O2 customers whilst new customers will have to wait for a later date.

They are updating their website with further information about iPhone 4S stock levels every half an hour between 11am and 7pm, seven days per week.

So where can consumers get their hands on an iPhone 4S in the UK?

Well, some independent retailers do have stocks of the phone, one such company is BuyMobilePhones.net who show the iPhone 4S as 'In Stock' on Orange deals although 'Stock Due Soon' on T-Mobile deals.

The Phones4U Group are showing the iPhone 4S 16GB as available to buy on both Vodafone and Orange contract offers whilst the SIM free specialist; Expansys state that they will have stock arriving in 4 days time for an unlocked version of this latest Apple phone.