The brand spanking new iPhone 4 is due to hit the shops in the UK on Thursday June 24...but stocks are going to be very very very low. Did I say very?
This is how it stands if you want to get an iPhone 4 at launch:
Apple have run out on-line. They're taking orders but delivery will be half way through July at the earliest. Not good.
If you were lucky enough to order one from Apple for delivery on the 24th, good news. The phones are now shipping! And if you're trying to get a microSIM from your network to stick in your pride and joy, ignore their warnings that they don't have any and iPad microSIMs won't work in the iPhone. They will. Just persuade them to send you an unactivated iPad microSIM, and call them to activate it on your contract when you get the iPhone.
Apple stores will have "some stock" and will be opening at 8am on the 24th. BUT lots of people managed to reserve phones for launch day and it seems they will be dealt with first. If there are any left over, you might get one if the queue isn't too long.
O2 are probably the best organised of the mobile networks. Well I say best...but it's best out of a very bad bunch. They haven't taken pre-orders but you could "express an interest" on line and get emails saying launch day is the 24th. Doh.
Basically, O2 will only be selling the new iPhone to existing customers (a loose term which includes contract customers as well as broadband and might - just might - include PAYG customers) until mid-July. They say they have "very limited stocks" and "some" stores will be opening early.
It's the same story for Orange. "Very limited stocks" so get on-line or to a store early, but they are signing up new customers as well as existing ones.
As for Vodafone...all they're saying is they will have stock. They have not been taking pre-orders, so it's first come first serve and thair shops will apparently be open at 7am. They will not be selling PAYG iPhone 4s on launch.
Of the smaller networks, the only one offering iPhone 4s for order now is Tesco Mobile. It's difficult to work out exactly, but they seem to be the most competitive price-plans of the bunch. And they're doing PAYG.
Carphonewarehouse and the dreaded Phones4U say they will have some stock and will be signing up contracts for O2, Orange and Vodafone.And that's about it.
For the launch of probably THE mobile gizmo of the year, it's pretty shambolic. But no doubt it will increase the hype...and Apple's princely profits.
PS Only the black iphone at launch, of course. That's why S Jobs held up a white phone to show us how magically beautiful it was! If you want white, it's looking like mid-summer at the earliest.
PPS It's only a phone, you know.
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