We recently wrote that following all the leaks and rumors leading up to the iPhone 5 unveiling, the only thing more predictable than the new iPhone itself was people’s reactions to it. Well, the only thing even more predictable than response to the iPhone 5 was the fact that preorders would sell out quickly. Apple (AAPL) made preorders of its new iPhone available on apple.com at 3:01 a.m. EDT, 12:01 a.m. PDT and in less than one hour, the company’s initial stock of new iPhones for Verizon Wireless (VZ), AT&T (T) and Sprint (S) was depleted. Disappointing indeed. Shipping time for new orders placed on Apple’s website slipped to two weeks just before 4:00 a.m. EDT, where it remained at the time of this writing. Verizon, AT&T and Sprint each still quoted launch-day delivery for new iPhone 5 preorders placed as of 8:15 a.m. EDT Friday morning.

UPDATE: Verizon ran out of launch-day stock late Friday morning, and AT&T sold out of its preliminary iPhone 5 inventory just before 1:00 p.m. EDT on Friday.

UPDATE 2: Sprint is now quoting delivery times of up to 2 weeks for new iPhone 5 preorders.