Apple Inc sold more than 1 million units of its newest iPhone, the 3GS, in the first three days of launch, the company said on Monday.

The news sent Apple shares up nearly 1 percent, after the stock had been trading down about 1 percent following a Wall Street Journal report over the weekend that said Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs had undergone a liver transplant two months ago.

Apple has declined to comment on the report, saying only that it expects Jobs to return to work by the end of the month as planned.

Six million customers have downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software in the first five days since its release, Apple said in its statement on Monday.

The iPhone 3GS, which offers faster speeds, longer battery life and the ability to take videos, hit stores last Friday, drawing plenty of fans but not the crowds that had swarmed previous iPhone releases.

Shares of Apple were quoted at $140.28 in pre-market trading, compared with their Nasdaq close on Friday of $139.48.

(Reporting by Tiffany Wu, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

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