New iPhones set to break records

SALES of Apple’s new iPhones were on pace to beat the 10 million units the previous versions logged in their first weekend last year, the company said yesterday, sending its shares up nearly 2 percent. Apple did not disclose the specific number of advance orders it received. Analysts had expected about 4.5 million for the first 24 hours, compared with 4 million during the first day last year. The company said it was working to catch up to demand for the iPhone 6S Plus, the larger of the two new phones, which exceeded its forecasts for the pre-order period. “Customer response to iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus has been extremely positive, and pre-orders this weekend were very strong around the world,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said. Apple began taking pre-orders on Saturday for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, which will begin shipping on September 25. After shattering sales records last year with the iPhone 6, Apple has been dogged by questions of whether it can sustain the momentum this year. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus touched off a sales frenzy that led to a 32.5 percent revenue rise in the latest quarter from a year earlier. – Reuters