China Unicom reports iPhone 4 sales have hit 100,000 units during the device's first four days on sale – but the firm admits it could have sold twice that amount.

Demand for Apple's new handset is outstripping supply, with the carrier revealing that more than 200,000 pre-orders were placed in the weeks leading up to launch.

Pre-order painsThe bad news for the remaining 100,000 customers is that it will be some time before their new handsets reach them, with China Unicom confirming that it doesn't expect to meet all of its pre-orders until the end of October.

It equates to something of a surge for iPhone in China.

As reported by Apple Insider, even discounting missed pre-orders, iPhone 4's launch total by far eclipses the 5,000 units its predecessor amounted when it made its debut in the region in October 2009.

Apple, however, has been far less forthcoming regarding launch figures, refusing to reveal the number of units it's managed to sell directly from its four stores in China.

[source: Apple Insider]