With more than three-quarters of first-day iPhone 4 purchasers upgrading from a previous iPhone, Apple has successfully built a recurring revenue stream in which most users will upgrade every one to two years.
Responding to growing concerns that holding the iPhone 4 in the left hand results in poorer signal performance for some, Apple has said that all cell phones experience a similar issue.
In addition to its oddly secret 512MB of RAM, iPhone 4 also packs another important feature Steve Jobs gave only brief mention of during his introductory keynote at WWDC: support for High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).
The iPhone 4 launch is expected to far exceed last year's debut of the iPhone 3GS, as Apple could see as much as 1.5 million units sold, with users said to be most excited about the addition of FaceTime.
New iPhone 4 devices plagued with a yellow discoloration of the screen could be the result of a temporary problem that will alleviate itself in a matter of days.
Demand for both the iPhone 4 and iPad has constrained the availability of supplies from Apple's overseas partners, suggesting shortages could continue for some time.
Some users have experienced poor signal and dropped calls when holding Apple's new iPhone 4 in their left hand, which makes their palm cover a seam that separates the device's two perimeter radio antennas.
Across the globe, Apple launched the iPhone 4 in five countries Thursday, generating long lines and unparalleled buzz, as only an Apple product launch can do.
Coinciding with the official debut of the new iPhone 4, Apple released its new mobile iMovie application, exclusively for its new handset, onto the App Store.
Some of the first iPhone 4 units shipped to customers have problems with yellow tinted displays and disappearing signal bars, users have reported.
A review unit sent out by Apple has managed to collect "incredibly minor" scratches on its back made of hardened glass after just a few days of heavy use.
Apple on Wednesday released an official statement on availability of the white iPhone 4, noting that production of the device proved difficult, pushing its release back to late July.
International expansion of the iPhone is the single most important driver of Apple stock in 2010, with overseas sales predicted to account for 80 percent of all of the company's handset sales by the end of 2010, one analyst believes.
Less than 24 hours before the official launch of the iPhone 4, lines of customers camped out at Apple stores continue to grow, while many who preordered online began receiving their handset Wednesday.
To obtain one of the first iPhone 4 smartphones for teardown, Kyle of the iFixit team flew to Japan with a tent, planning to camp out in front of the Ginza Apple Store. FedEx ended up delivering early shipments to some users two days in advance, making the trip unnecessary.
The first reviews of iPhone 4 are beginning to appear, including Walt Mossberg's in the Wall Street Journal, David Pogue's in the New York Times and Ed Baig's in USA Today.
AT&T announced Wednesday that customers who preordered the iPhone 4 on June 15, both for in-store pickup and home or business delivery, should receive their handsets this week, while new orders will be offered first come, first served starting June 29.
A number of people received their iPhone 4 shipment early on Tuesday — two days before the handset's official launch — and managed to successfully activate the device [Updated].
The official packaging of Apple's iPhone 4 has been revealed days before the product is set to launch, thanks to a photo taken at a Walmart where the devices have already arrived.
An official e-mail from Apple sent to iPhone 4 purchasers specifically states that delivery of the handset will occur a day early, on June 23.
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Neil Hughes
Sam Oliver
Daniel Eran Dilger
Slash Lane
Katie Marsal
AppleInsider Staff
