Apple starts taking orders for iPhone 5, delivery time climbs up

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Apple began taking orders for the phone at 12 am Pacific time on Friday. It initially promised delivery by next Friday, when the new phone also goes on sale in stores.

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Four hours later, the expected delivery time had grown to two weeks, according to Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White.

White said the quick rise in the expected delivery time suggested much stronger demand than Apple expected. Last year, one-week delivery of the iPhone 4S was available into the afternoon of the first order day.

"Clearly, iPhone 5 fever is in full swing," White said.

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