What's Most Impressive About the New Apple iPhone

It's finally coming ... and are we going to expect Apple to hit the $1000 mark soon? 

Full article here: CNBC

It's not the new and improved features of the iPhone 5 that got the most attention from Wall Street analysts Wednesday, but rather the mass global rollout of the new device and the speed of that availability around the world.

Source: Apple iPhone 5

By the end of the year, the phone will be available in 100 countries through 240 carriers, according to analysts. And there’s hope for an official China launch soon as well. (Read more:iPhone 5 Reactions: The Buzz on Twitter)

“In particular, the velocity at which Apple[AAPL  669.79    9.20  (+1.39%)   ] will distribute the product globally was a positive surprise to us,” said ISI Group’s Brian Marshall, in a note to clients he wrote shortly after leaving the much-anticipated introduction of the product in San Francisco.

Shares of Apple closed on their highs of the day as analyst commentary highlighting the global nature of the phone hit investors’ desks.

“Overall the iPhone 5 announcement was in-line with previews, though we think the phone is launching at more carriers and sooner than many investors expected,” wrote Peter Misek, an analyst with Jefferies. “We believe the launch schedule implies that supply constraints are not as bad as some feared.”

Apple Inc (AAPL) 669.79     9.20  (+1.39%%) NASDAQ

Customers can pre-order the phone, which is thinner and longer than its predecessors, as early as this Friday in the U.S., as well as many other countries, the company said in a release. It will be available in stores on Sept. 21. More availability in more countries will follow in coming months.

The iPhone 5 is “the largest consumer product launch in history,” said Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray. “We are raising our September iPhone estimates from 22 million to 27.2 million units given the confirmation of the iPhone 5 launch on September 21.”