iPhone 5 tops 2 million preorders in 24 hours

Apple on Monday announced that iPhone 5 preorders topped the 2 million mark in just 24 hours, which the company says more than doubles the last iPhone preorder record set by the iPhone 4S.

In a press release, Apple says that it has sold out of its available inventory for preorders of its new, taller iPhone, and that "while the majority of preorders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October" instead.

AT&T, one of the three nationwide US carriers for the iPhone, also reported that the iPhone 5 was the company's fastest-selling iPhone ever. The carrier says that customers ordered more iPhones from AT&T on the first day of preorders and over the weekend than had ordered any previous versions of the phone.

The iPhone 5 is due to arrive in stores - and the homes of at least some preorderers - on September 21, and starts at US$199 with a two-year contract.