Despite less than impressive pre-launch queues and payment problems, official UK iPhone carrier O2 is hailing the launch of the cellphone as a huge success.  Analysts and pundits alike, expecting perhaps the same flurry of activity and even handset shortages as during the US launch, were beginning to view the first weekend of official UK availability as something of disappointment, a fact O2 CEO Peter Erskine has been quick to counter:

"It has been the fastest-selling device we have ever seen [and has sold] in the tens of thousands" Peter Erskine, CEO, O2

Erskine revealed today that two-thirds of iPhone customers migrated from other networks, although he coyly refused to be drawn on which rivals exactly had lost users.  Both O2 and Apple - as well as third retail partner Carphone Warehouse - have declined to release official sales figures, although early estimates suggest 70,000 of the handsets were sold.

[via MacNN]