Apple sells record nine million new iPhones

Apple yesterday announced that it has sold a record 9 million of its new iPhones in just three days and its iOS 7 operating software has been downloaded 200 million times since being released on 18 September, making it the biggest software launch for the company.

The 9 million new 5s and iPhone 5c models sold over the weekend is way above the 5 million pieces of the iPhone 5 sold last year in the first weekend the device went on sale and surpassed the 6 million projected by analysts.

''This is our best iPhone launch yet,'' said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, in a statement. ''While we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5S, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.''

The record sales were helped by rolling out two iPhones simultaneously – the top-tier iPhone 5S and cheaper, multi-coloured iPhone 5C. This time Apple included China in the rollout along with Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, Australia, Japan, the UK, Canada, Germany, France and Puerto Rico.

Earlier, Apple started selling iPhones in China only months after the global launch.

Another reason that might have boosted sales was that Apple signed on NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest mobile carrier, for selling the new iPhones.

The technology giant did not give separate sales figures for the 5S and 5C.

For the first time Apple introduced a gold-coloured version of the iPhone in its 5S model, apart from the usual silver and gray. There was a huge demand for the gold-coloured 5S, which was completely sold out.

Apple said that it will now ship for the golden handset only in October along with the two other colours.

iPhone 5S is available in the US for $199 for the 16GB model with a two-year wireless contract, and $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model. iPhone 5C comes in blue, green, pink, yellow and white and is available in the US for $99 for the 16GB model and $199 for the 32GB model.

iPhone 5S cases are available in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and red for $39 through the Apple Online Store.

Apple also said that more than 200 million iOS devices are now running the completely redesigned iOS 7, making it the fastest software upgrade in history. The new software were doenloaded on all the iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices.

The new iPhone 5s has the Touch ID, which includes a fingerprint sensor to unlock the smartphone.

According to Apple, fingerprints are encrypted and stored directly on the iPhone's A7 chip, but over the weekend, a German hacker group claimed to have broken the fingerprint security system days after other hackers started posting rewards to anyone who could break into Apple's new system.