It's already well known that the latest Apple smartphone is a big hit. Preorders at the Apple online store sold out within an hour of the iPhone 5 going on sale.

Within 24 hours of Apple CEO Tim Cook's unveiling of the iPhone 5, Toluna QuickSurveys (www.Toluna.com) undertook the first large scale consumer reaction to the launch. Overwhelmingly, the survey of 2000 Americans found consumers reacted positively to the announcement with half of consumers saying they were extremely satisfied with the features unveiled.

In particular, 58% were impressed by the new look, with consumers between the ages of 18-34 (61%) slightly more impressed than consumers over 35 (55%). Other findings included:

° Extended battery life was the favorite element of the new phone followed by the enhanced processing power and speed.

° People who already own an iPhone are more likely to upgrade to the iPhone 5 with 76% saying they would definitely upgrade.

° Android users had a mixed response: 32% say they would buy it and 33% say they definitely would not buy the iPhone 5.

° More than half (56%) of Blackberry users would give up their current device for an iPhone 5.

° The biggest disappointment from the launch was the lack of wireless charging (24%) and not having micro-USB capability (also 24%).

The iPhone 5 is poised to become the fastest selling consumer electronics of all time.

Until the iPhone 6.

(Toluna is an online panel and survey-technology provider operating across 39 markets with 17 offices in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Toluna clients include the world's leading brands, market research agencies, management consultancies and marketing communications firms.)

-- Dennis Sellers