iPhone 4’s sales raise Apple shares

Apple shares hit an all-time high a day after it said pre-sale orders for its new iPhone 4 set a single-day sales record.

Renewed rumors that Apple is working on a version of the iPhone that would be compatible with Verizon’s network also goosed the shares — sending them up 1.7 percent to close at $271.87.

Although AT&T is the exclusive service provider for the iPhone in the US, there is persistent speculation that Apple will expand the list of carriers to gain customers.

Moreover, Apple appears to be working on new features for its handheld devices. The company filed a patent application that suggests it is looking to add HD radio to future iPods and iPhones, tech blog AppleInsider reported.

The radio upgrade, which sounds better and offers more channels than traditional radio, is a selling point for Microsoft’s Zune music player.

Apple said it took 600,000 advance iPhone orders on Tuesday — the first day customers could sign up to receive the phone before its June 24 ship date — despite ordering system malfunctions that shut out many potential buyers.

Overwhelming demand rapidly drained Apple’s phone supplies, causing the company to push back the ship date for the phone to July 14. AT&T, which also experienced its own systems snafu, said it suspended pre-ordering to make sure it could fulfill the orders it had already received.

One analyst forecast the number of people owning iPhones would reach 100 million in 18 months, from 30 million at the end of 2009.