Apple’s Verizon iPhone May Sell Out in the First Week

Apple and Verizon will top the 1 million mark during the first week, RBC Capital Markets’ Mike Abramsky told investors Wednesday.  Assuming Verizon’s smartphone customers grow from the current 26 percent to 40 percent in  2011, Abramsky foresees the carrier and partners selling at least 9 million and 10 million handsets. However, Verizon’s iPhone launch may not match that experience when the iPhone 4 first launched with AT&T in 2010.

Sales reports still aren’t available to show whether the rush to the iPhone is from Verizon customers looking to finally get their hands on the legendary device or AT&T customers seeking better service.  My bet is on existing Verizon customers because of being privy to pre-order prior to the launch.

Verizon has been making a heavy marketing push to sell the device. Reports noted that the company gave the iPhone prime real estate on it’s main website and launched several TV commercials touting the advanced features and better service.  Moreover, Verizon’s voice network actually works, which may prompt some iPhone users to switch to Verizon now that the iPhone is available on the network.

Apple and Verizon haven’t disclosed the official numbers of pre-orders for the iPhone 4 yet, but these figures will probably be available as soon as next weekend.

So now what?  Will the full roll out of the iPhone on Verizon set for tomorrow (February 10) signal the beginning of the end of Android’s rapid ascent? Will Verizon be enough to put a dent into this growth or will Apple need to have the iPhone available to all users at all wireless providers like Android devices currently are in order to compete?