Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) made it clear that the release of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is its biggest event this year by making the launch a memorable one. The pre-order sales didn’t disappoint either as the company made over 4 million within just 24 hours. As if that wasn’t enough, thousands of people, if not millions, lined up in the night just to snap up the highly hyped smartphones.

Was that the end of it? Not yet! On the day the smartphones were availed in stores, it was already clear that the supply wouldn’t meet the demand. At the end of it all, some people who had traveled long distances to be among the first ones to own either of the iPhones was disappointed to find that there wasn’t enough in stock. The Cupertino, California-based company even had to delay deliveries for people who had ordered for the product online.

While all these were happening, BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) launched a smartphone called Passport, which only a few people gave attention to. It’s barely two weeks and it already feels like Passport came and left.

Don’t forget that all that was happening when the closest the largest consumer market could find the device was Hong Kong. Yes, that market it China! Finally, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are set to be launched in China next week on Friday after the company was cleared by the Chinese authorities to launch the smartphones. The demand is said to be so high that it’s highly likely that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) won’t be able to satisfy it, at least for some time.

Several news websites have reiterated that the reservations for iPhone 6 has already reached 4 million; something that might pose a challenge to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) if the company doesn’t prepare well.

“If Apple sells 10 million in its first weekend world-wide without China, and now China by itself wants 4 million? Hold on to your hats,” said Ramon Llamas, a research manager of smartphones at IDC.

Pre-orders for the new iPhones in the Chinese market will only open from October 10. Big carriers in the Chinese market will start selling the device in their stores from October 17.

The company still has an event this year for the launch of new products. That launch hasn’t been given much weight as had been given to the iPhone 6 launch. The new products are said to be an iMac desktop, iPad Air, iPad Pro and later iOS X Yosemite.

This article has been written by Victor Ochieng.

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