Via Macworld UK:

Apple’s new iPhone sold out online in Britain ahead of its Friday launch, defying general consumer gloom as the country’s economy threatened to tip over into its first recession in more than a decade.

Carrier O2 said on Tuesday its website had been unable to cope with demand, which peaked at 13,000 per second. It later said it had sold out. Carphone Warehouse said the level of interest was 10 times that for the original iPhone last year.
[From iPhone U.K. Web Sites Swamped Before Friday Launch]

Holy smoke! I think the Brits have gone crazy! 13,000 per second?!? I wonder how it is going to play out in the other countries. Yes, yes, I know: Luxemborug is still not on the map…