AT&T Blocking Out June 15-July 15 for iPhone Launch

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Boy Genius Report (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/05/05/apple-iphone-to-launch-june-15th/) posts an internal AT&T email to employees limiting vacation requests during the June 15-July 15th timeframe, citing the likely "biggest selling period we have seen in a few years."
To ensure proper staffing during the product launch period, Sales personnel planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their vacations before June 15 or after July 15 to participate in the iPhone launch.

Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling is not feasible

No additional vacation requests will be approved during the launch period (6/15 – 7/15).

An earlier report (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/05/03/apple-iphone-display-hitting-your-local-att-stores-soon/) from the same site indicated that AT&T was also planning large iPhone displays for the launch:
Apple iPhone displays will soon be hitting AT&T stores across the country and yes, we got some details! First off, it was relayed to us that many stores will actually have to be rewired because the display demands its own power supply, and even requires a network cable. As far as the size of the iPhone display itself, get this — 7 ft tall, and 3 ft wide! Many stores have already started installing the necessary power systems which means that working displays should be here within the next few weeks.Apple has stated that the iPhone is on track for a "late June" release.

[capone2]

they're expecting that big of a deal? Its almost scary?


i give this article: :apple: :apple: :apple: :apple:

[flopticalcube]

I can see why they limit vacation requests during periods of heavy sales but I always hated when it was done to me. Really sucks if you have a family and they black out half of July.

[Telp]

They do seem to making a huge deal about it. Do they think it will sell so well? I love just as much as the next person, but 500-600 is a lot of money, especially in todays society. I guess we will just have to see what happens.

[05elstonc]

Wow. Things are getting exciting. This is the first major Apple product where Apple does not have full control over the flow of information which is great for us, since we will get leaked memos like these from AT&T picking up over the next 2 months.

[blaaat]

So if it starts @ 15 June, the iPhone sales begin at the end of WWDC?
looks strange if the keynote is @ 11 June.

[swingerofbirch]

This makes me like Cingular/ATT (pick one already) a little less. They should cut fat off the executives' salaries and HIRE some new employees instead of torturing the ones they have now AND their families--summer should be about spending time with family on holiday, not working nonstop.

[Doctor Q]

As part of the group looking forward to the launch, I feel guilty for causing those poor employees to have to delay their summer vacations. :(

[adamcz]

summer should be about spending time with family on holiday, not working nonstop.
I disagree. Summer should be about them making me money.

[Jarcrew]

There's going to be one hell of a lot of sickies pulled that month.

[dontmatter]

I disagree. Summer should be about them making me money.

Sarcasm?

[GanleyBurger]

.

Every advertising guy and gal out there knows that getting rid of the name CINGULAR is the stupidest thing that AT&T could do.

Every teen in the USA knows Cingular, raising the bar. AT&T was for like us 80s kids.

And I dumped Cingular because I could never get reception. Fewest dropped calls my arse. Of course you have the fewest dropped calls if you can't get get calls.

Why Apple insisted on only working with one company, I understand, but hate them for. This will for sure limit my purchase of one uuurrrrggghhhh...:mad:

[scrambledwonder]

Just in time for my birthday!

Excellent.

Although I probably won't get an iPhone, to be honest.

But I will drool over them.

[PlaceofDis]

This makes me like Cingular/ATT (pick one already) a little less. They should cut fat off the executives' salaries and HIRE some new employees instead of torturing the ones they have now AND their families--summer should be about spending time with family on holiday, not working nonstop.

its AT&T, they're in the middle of a name change. and well no, these people signed up for the job. and its not torture at all. people have to work during the summer too. for some people its the heavy work season too. get over it. if they're that distressed about this they can leave their jobs and find a different one. but its a business, and its supposed to make money.

[tribulation]

This makes me like Cingular/ATT (pick one already) a little less.

So I am not the only one that doesn't know their name? Unless their plan was to confuse everyone, I have no idea who approved the horrible new slogan "Cingular is the new AT&T". What the $#$$ does that mean?

Seriously. Does that mean AT&T is now called Cingular [it's the NEW AT&T's name]. Or does it mean that Cingular is now called AT&T [Cingular is now part of the new AT&T]?
A great conundrum slogan. But I doubt that's what they were going for?

[Jarcrew]

This will for sure limit my purchase of one uuurrrrggghhhh...:mad:To be honest, if I lived Stateside I wouldn't buy an iPhone during this period out of general principle. It's disgusting to block out an entire month in the middle of summer, especially - and I'm guessing here - as a lot of their employees are probably college kids and stuff.

[jwa276]

Wohoo! Go iPhone! I've been ready to buy this thing for way too long!

[MattyMac]

lots of excitement!

[MacbookSwitcher]

I am intensely curious. How many people will be lined up to pay $500 or $600 for a cell phone? This is Apple's big gamble. They have a tremendous amount of hubris about this product, let's see if it lives up to their expectations of grandeur.

[PlaceofDis]

I am intensely curious. How many people will be lined up to pay $500 or $600 for a cell phone? This is Apple's big gamble. They have a tremendous amount of hubris about this product, let's see if it lives up to their expectations of grandeur.

the media has built this product up 10x more than Apple have, mind you.

[ITR 81]

I'm looking to get a new iPhone sometime this yr to replace my old Nokia.

My bill from Cingular still says Cingular the new AT&T.

But my BellSouth bill is now completely AT&T.

My cell phone sims card got updated about 2 weeks ago to an AT&T logo. No more Cingular logo.

Cingular is pretty good here.

[koobcamuk]

As part of the group looking forward to the launch, I feel guilty for causing those poor employees to have to delay their summer vacations. :(

It'll be cheaer to holiday outside of this period. I had to work 3 summers for 10 weeks straight, 12 hour shifts in a factory everyday. That's life. Gave me good money too! They'll get over it. They can always get a different job.

[QCassidy352]

As part of the group looking forward to the launch, I feel guilty for causing those poor employees to have to delay their summer vacations. :(

I don't... one month is not that much. There's a ton of time before and after this period for summer vacations. Nobody's going on 2 month long vacations anyway.

[macphin]

Oh boy, every new story about iphone getting me more exciting and more curious about how will I get this damn phone in my country where we don't have cingular or even vodafone...

[siurpeeman]

So I am not the only one that doesn't know their name? Unless their plan was to confuse everyone, I have no idea who approved the horrible new slogan "Cingular is the new AT&T". What the $#$$ does that mean?

Seriously. Does that mean AT&T is now called Cingular [it's the NEW AT&T's name]. Or does it mean that Cingular is now called AT&T [Cingular is now part of the new AT&T]?
A great conundrum slogan. But I doubt that's what they were going for?

"cingular is the new at&t" = cingular is becoming at&t. pretty soon, they drop cingular from the name and all branding will be labeled at&t.

I am intensely curious. How many people will be lined up to pay $500 or $600 for a cell phone? This is Apple's big gamble. They have a tremendous amount of hubris about this product, let's see if it lives up to their expectations of grandeur.

i don't think i'll be lined up to buy one; i'll just order one online from the apple store.

[es2mac]

I think I see why they'd want more manpower... if everyone who wants to buy an iPhone just drop by the shop, pick one up and leave, there's no problem. But all those not buying one are still drooling... and will go to the stores just to play with them. Imagine how many people might do just that.

[/dev/toaster]

I just hope they are going to launch with a large number of phones. I would hate to see people camping out the iPhone.

[Rot'nApple]

I am intensely curious. How many people will be lined up to pay $500 or $600 for a cell phone? This is Apple's big gamble. They have a tremendous amount of hubris about this product, let's see if it lives up to their expectations of grandeur.


I agree, 500 to 600 is a lot to put down for an Apple Smartphone, but to ALL who question the 500 to 600 price tag, I feel sorry for!

They have known about the iPhone, it's release date, roughly, and it's price since January 9, 2007, when Steve first introduced it at MacWorld '07. If they were so thouroughly intrigued in buying one but cost was a factor, haven't these people ever heard of the concept of putting aside a little bit of their paycheck each pay period to save for one?!

If they put just 50.00 aside each pay period, starting in January '07 and ending June '07, that's what, two pay periods each month at 50.00 each or 100 a month at six months, how about that 600 at the end of June! Can't afford 50.00, use 25.00, it will take twice as long but think of the benefits. The iPhone having been out for some time on AT&T, you get the opportunity to hear all the rants and raves of the AT&T service, miss any possible bugs from the iPhone and possibly enjoy the second generation that comes with more memory than the 4 and 8 GB, comes with 3G, and costs less.

Why do I say I feel sorry for those who raise concern over the iPhone price... if they are not geared to put money into savings and investments for their future use, be it a rainy day, emergency fund and retirement, then Heaven help us when the next crop of generation Xer's retire and think that their 401K and Social Security will suffice!

[Rot'nApple]

I'm looking to get a new iPhone sometime this yr to replace my old Nokia.

My bill from Cingular still says Cingular the new AT&T.

But my BellSouth bill is now completely AT&T.

My cell phone sims card got updated about 2 weeks ago to an AT&T logo. No more Cingular logo.

Cingular is pretty good here.


Where is HERE that Cingular is pretty good???

[Max Payne]

excellent news. Now I hope it will be a success so I can buy one when it arrives in the UK.

[mac jones]

I wonder if at the time of the iPhone launch they also release this thing with hard drives as the Video Ipod for around $350-$400US.

those would sell pretty well I would think and would be a trojon to upgrade to the phone model.

It also would suprise everyone a bit (BUT NOT US!!) and probably cause a stampede.

$600 is just a bit of a bitter pill, but one i'll swallow.

just dreamin eah? (but that's what this forum is for!)

[floatingspirit]

Oh man! It's almost here! THis is better than when Viagra came out! :)

[Cassie]

summer should be about spending time with family on holiday, not working nonstop.

I have never had a vacation during summer in my life, because my dad is the owner of his company, and it requires him to take no vacations from March to about October. From November to February, we're basically never home.

[billyîMac]

To be honest, if I lived Stateside I wouldn't buy an iPhone during this period out of general principle. It's disgusting to block out an entire month in the middle of summer, especially - and I'm guessing here - as a lot of their employees are probably college kids and stuff.

When I worked at UPS vacations were restricted between Thanksgiving to Christmas. Volume would double during those times. Every business has their busy season, or in this case, a launch of a new product. What's disgusting is that customer service is only important to some people if THEY are the customer. Be honest...all of us want to be treated with great customer service no matter what the product or service. Companies SHOULD do this and employees can always find a different employer if they are unhappy. And as for the college kid remark - when are college kids suppose to work? I am a university professor and all the college kids I talk to make most of there money in the summer.

[aLoC]

The display is 7ft tall and 3ft wide. Maybe it is a giant iPhone?

So I was thinking lately that they may have optimized OS X and Safari somewhat to get them to run on the little computer in that phone. Maybe some of these optimizations will be rolled back over to the Mac?

[mrat93]

Damn! I was going to post this earlier. I was at Cingular with my Dad to get my grandma a Pay-as-you-Go phone. The guy told me about this and some other things I didn't know. These include: SIM card slot, yes. June 15 release. Possible Pages word processing in the future on iPhone. Family plans, yes. I know people say still that the people in the store don't know much about it so I or the manager may be wrong.

[mac-er]

This makes me like Cingular/ATT (pick one already) a little less. They should cut fat off the executives' salaries and HIRE some new employees instead of torturing the ones they have now AND their families--summer should be about spending time with family on holiday, not working nonstop.

And, then lay off the extra employees they hired?

Vacation blackouts are common in the corporate, and especially the retail world.

[mister880]

Step One

Keep product total secret to let customer speculation build the product up past the point that anyone can meet the customers vision of the product.

Step Two

Announce product and promise a vague ship date with a short but incredible presentation of the product.

Step Three

Build a huge release date with less than 1% of the product in the pipeline for delivery. This way June, July all go buy with people wanting iPhone. Then when product actually starts to arrive in volume the negative reviews of the people from step one have started to eat at the demand for the new product.

Step Four

Announce that demand for product has been sluggish and that new models will better meet customer demand.

Step Five

Repeat steps 1 through 5 on all new product launches!

[Di9it8]

they're expecting that big of a deal? Its almost scary?


i give this article: :apple: :apple: :apple: :apple:

:apple: :apple: :apple: :apple: :apple: ???

[Naomi]

In the portion of at&t I used to work for, time off was requested based on senority starting the november preceding the actual year you were requesting for. This blackout won't ruin any planned/scheduled vacations. It will only stop people from requesting time off on short notice.

[kresh]

So I guess this puts to rest the rumor that iPhones are going to trickle into the stores and that there will be a severe inventory shortage.

Why have your whole retail services (at&t) put on alert, prevent new vacation applications, ect... if the stores won't have enough inventory to support such maneuvers.

[mi5moav]

The hype has been dying down the last couple weeks. Though ATT hired a couple of gorilla marketing groups and said they are going to pay people to sleep in front of our stores at night before the launches to ad to the hysteria. They will have the Loomis trucks drive up with the iphones and they are going to have 500 iphones given away the first 3 weeks of launch. They are also going to have a data only plan no voice which is kinda of cool if you just want to use the iphone as an internet communication device and ipod. This will help bring people over from Verizon and what not since they might still be in contract. This way they can still get the iphone and still be able to use the iphone through the verizon network. I honestly don't know how this is going to work, I'm assuming some sort of bluetooth voice tethering.

[swingerofbirch]

its AT&T, they're in the middle of a name change. and well no, these people signed up for the job. and its not torture at all. people have to work during the summer too. for some people its the heavy work season too. get over it. if they're that distressed about this they can leave their jobs and find a different one. but its a business, and its supposed to make money.

Their slogan says Cingular is the NEW ATT. It can't be the "NEW" ATT for 6 months! Every commercial on TV has both slogans--the thing they don't get is that a transition means you eventually have to stop using the old name! That was the reason for my snarky comment about them not having decided on a name yet (not to mention Cingular previously was ATT wireless).

And yes I know businesses are supposed to make money. But I like to support businesses that treat their employees well; ergo, I shop at Costco over Walmart etc. I think a business can be more prosperous in the long run if they treat their employees ethically.

[RRK]

The hype has been dying down the last couple weeks. Though ATT hired a couple of gorilla marketing groups and said they are going to pay people to sleep in front of our stores at night before the launches to ad to the hysteria. They will have the Loomis trucks drive up with the iphones and they are going to have 500 iphones given away the first 3 weeks of launch. They are also going to have a data only plan no voice which is kinda of cool if you just want to use the iphone as an internet communication device and ipod. This will help bring people over from Verizon and what not since they might still be in contract. This way they can still get the iphone and still be able to use the iphone through the verizon network. I honestly don't know how this is going to work, I'm assuming some sort of bluetooth voice tethering.

Wow, is this stuff true? Its better then the original rumor. :cool:

[shawnce]

they're expecting that big of a deal? Its almost scary? ...and now folks can understand why Apple didn't want to miss the release date. AT&T and Apple are putting a lot of resources on this release.

[PlaceofDis]

Their slogan says Cingular is the NEW ATT. It can't be the "NEW" ATT for 6 months! Every commercial on TV has both slogans--the thing they don't get is that a transition means you eventually have to stop using the old name! That was the reason for my snarky comment about them not having decided on a name yet (not to mention Cingular previously was ATT wireless).

And yes I know businesses are supposed to make money. But I like to support businesses that treat their employees well; ergo, I shop at Costco over Walmart etc. I think a business can be more prosperous in the long run if they treat their employees ethically.

transitions for companies like this take months. and it hasn't been going on for six months. more like 4. and they'll probably stop in a couple more. and Cingular bought AT&T Wireless with help from their parent company, SBC, and now they are merging with AT&T and consolidating their branding awareness.

and treating their employees ethically? its not like the employees aren't being given prior notice. and its a month. its not the whole summer. last time i checked, people can take vacation time just about any time of year.

[Rot'nApple]

So I guess this puts to rest the rumor that iPhones are going to trickle into the stores and that there will be a severe inventory shortage.

Why would this rumor be put to rest based on AT&T 's memo to emloyees regarding staffing and no vacation time. If for some reason rumors regarding limitied quantities of the iPhone become true, who do you think won't have that inventory. The AT&T stores or the Apple Stores? Apple has, in the past, stiffed other outlets when inventory was in short supply. Why would or should this be any different?


Why have your whole retail services (at&t) put on alert, prevent new vacation applications, ect... if the stores won't have enough inventory to support such maneuvers.

AT&T is doing what it SHOULD be doing for a new and original product launch. It is up to Apple to make sure the companies it has selected to manufacture their product get all the necessary components and start producing this phone in mass quantities, right? Apple with it's well known passion for secrecy probably wouldn't tell AT&T if quantities would be limitied anyway for fear of "leaked" memos and hysteria amongst the Apple faithful.

[kresh]

Why would this rumor be put to rest based on AT&T 's memo to emloyees regarding staffing and no vacation time. If for some reason rumors regarding limitied quantities of the iPhone become true, who do you think won't have that inventory. The AT&T stores or the Apple Stores? Apple has, in the past, stiffed other outlets when inventory was in short supply. Why would or should this be any different?

Because (hopefully) a company the size of at&t would have concrete inventory numbers from Apple before keeping everyone at their desks. I don't think Apple will screw their only vendor from the outset.

If at&t knew that inventory was going to be spotty, why keep people chained in the retail stores?

[inkswamp]

I am intensely curious. How many people will be lined up to pay $500 or $600 for a cell phone? This is Apple's big gamble. They have a tremendous amount of hubris about this product, let's see if it lives up to their expectations of grandeur.

I think people are totally overstating this supposedly high price on the iPhone. John Gruber makes a very compelling case about how the price is not only reasonable for what it is, but comparable to other phones in the same market. You can read it here.

http://daringfireball.net/2007/05/iphones_funny_price

[WebHead]

ATT hired a couple of gorilla marketing groups

They must've paid peanuts if they got monkeys!! :D

[roland.g]

That's great. I will get one. Either this summer or next March depending on if I buy out my current contract. Wouldn't mind waiting on a revision, 16GB high end.

In the meantime. New Macs please.
As in the old company name. Apple Computer Inc.

[slffl]

I think people are totally overstating this supposedly high price on the iPhone. John Gruber makes a very compelling case about how the price is not only reasonable for what it is, but comparable to other phones in the same market. You can read it here.

http://daringfireball.net/2007/05/iphones_funny_price

Ya. It's amazing people can only remember about a weeks worth of history. When the RAZR first came out, it was $500, and $800 unlocked. I personally think the iPhone is a good deal.

[Rot'nApple]

Their slogan says Cingular is the NEW ATT. It can't be the "NEW" ATT for 6 months! Every commercial on TV has both slogans--the thing they don't get is that a transition means you eventually have to stop using the old name! That was the reason for my snarky comment about them not having decided on a name yet (not to mention Cingular previously was ATT wireless).

I don't know about your comments being snarky, but it's only been 6 months, according to your post, since Cingular has been touted as the NEW AT&T. Has that been enough time to brainwash the new brand into the mind of the consumers?

Hell, it's just now the democrats in Congress are calling the mess in Iraq as all but lost. But it was funny how in the spring/summer before the elections they were stressing that there was not enouogh troops to do the job. Why didn't more troops go in? Military leaders on the ground in Iraq didn't want more troops because their presence would agitate the Iraqi populace, supposedly. Now, we are told that we can't be involved in Iraq's civil war. But who fomented the Iraqies into this secular violence? Al-Qaeda in Iraq by doing things like the Golden Mosque bombing, etc. According to the dems, the war is lost even though their concerns of last year regarding more troops has not been fully implemented. So if we pull out of Iraq's so called civil war, ergo, Al-Qaeda defeats America?:confused: But this "lost" mentality doesn't resonate overnight. It needs collusion of the individual democrats in congress along with the help of repetition by the mainstream media. It is the only way to brainwash the will of the people. As is the need to say "Cingular is the New AT&T", they have to brand that into peoples minds and it must be spoken often and repeated often. You got it right off the bat, congratulations, but AT&T wants to make sure others get it as well.

[mi5moav]

Not only will Apple's iphone be on Cingular but it looks like starting in July their macbook pros will also have a cingular chip in them so they will trully be mobile. This is kinda of cool, do any other laptops have this ability?

[slffl]

Not only will Apple's iphone be on Cingular but it looks like starting in July their macbook pros will also have a cingular chip in them so they will trully be mobile. This is kinda of cool, do any other laptops have this ability?

Yes, other laptops can do this. What I've been wanting Apple to do for a while is have a new special slot inside the computer, much like the airport card slot. This way you could stick a card in there for which ever carrier you wanted. And you wouldn't have to use your express card slot.

[skullsplitter]

Why don't they just choose to work hard for Summer and come out to New Zealand in their winter for our summer? A great reason to start saving and make a go of travelling to see the world they live amongst, except their iPhone won't work here for probably a few years, shame that.

[segfaultdotorg]

negatives

And all the Internets was like, "WTF, mate?" Are there people who hit "negative" on every article? Ain't that a bit racialist?

I have Singulair (http://www.singulair.com/) cell phone service (which can't give me a local number out in Flyover Country), but will still upgrade to the iPhone.

[sinisterdesign]

Ya. It's amazing people can only remember about a weeks worth of history. When the RAZR first came out, it was $500, and $800 unlocked. I personally think the iPhone is a good deal.

yes, and somehow people forget that even ipods were that expensive at one point. i paid $600 for my ipod photo. was that crazy expensive for an ipod? yup, but you gotta pay to play on the cutting edge of technology. this time next year they will be $350-400.

[inkswamp]

yes, and somehow people forget that even ipods were that expensive at one point. i paid $600 for my ipod photo. was that crazy expensive for an ipod? yup, but you gotta pay to play on the cutting edge of technology. this time next year they will be $350-400.

Yep, and on top of that, the cool technology in the iPhone will obviously trickle down to the iPods (i.e., a high-end iPod with the widescreen and the touch interface and maybe some wifi stuff but without the phone features) which will likely spur high-end iPod sales. That's where Apple is going to have a crutch that the other smart phone makers don't. Those features may catch people's interest enough to make them consider jumping to the iPhone in the long-term. People may start talking about the iPhone halo effect moving even more high-end iPods and vice-versa. Hell, I have no interest in the iPhone as I generally detest carrying phones around with me to begin with, but if Apple were to introduce a $400-$450 iPod with all the rest of the iPhone's features, I'd be first in line. And that's saying a lot. As it stands, I wouldn't spend more than $300 on an iPod.

[maniacmedia]

I think they should keep going with the "Cingular is the new AT&T" slogan for another year and a half. That way, they'll have been changing it as long as the old AT&T was Cingular.

As for the vacation blackout, the only thing it means is that you'll have to wait longer on hold after July 15th. Oh wait, it's "The New AT&T", you'll have to wait on hold a ridiculous amount of time anyway.

I am anxiously awaiting the iPhone. But there's a part of me that just doesn't want to spend that kind of money. I'm hoping that AT&T will see the value in dropping the price for a long time customer who has never upgraded his phone.

[peestandingup]

its AT&T, they're in the middle of a name change. and well no, these people signed up for the job. and its not torture at all. people have to work during the summer too. for some people its the heavy work season too. get over it. if they're that distressed about this they can leave their jobs and find a different one. but its a business, and its supposed to make money.
Oh, shut up. You're talking like their employees are all robots designed to be the ultimate selling machines. They're people, dude. They have lives, families, things they like to do outside of work, etc. To set aside an ENTIRE month to where NONE of their employees can take time off just shows what kind of company they are, only worried about their bottom line. Yeah, its gonna be busy. But, they should have taken the necessary steps to ensure things would go smoothly by bringing more people in, instead of screwing their current crop of employees for the summer. They've certainly had time.

"Sorry kids, we cant go on that vacation this year because daddy has to sell some iPhones".

Do you have a REAL job? Do you have a family of your own that depend on you?? If not, then zip it, junior. People in the USA are way to focused on work anyways. Look at European countries & you will see what I mean. A full time work week there is like 30-35 hours & a CRAPLOAD of vacation time.

[Mr Skills]

Do you have a REAL job? Do you have a family of your own that depend on you?? If not, then zip it, junior. People in the USA are way to focused on work anyways. Look at European countries & you will see what I mean. A full time work week there is like 30-35 hours & a CRAPLOAD of vacation time.

That's a bit of a generalisation about Europe. France famously has a 35-hour week, but it looks like it's on its way out (their Presidential Election is today). And the USA has federal laws mandating 1.5x overtime pay, which would be nice.

On the other hand, am I right in saying the U.S. has only 2 weeks statutory holiday leave? That would make it the lowest in the Western world :(

[richinspace]

Do you have a REAL job? Do you have a family of your own that depend on you?? If not, then zip it, junior. People in the USA are way to focused on work anyways. Look at European countries & you will see what I mean. A full time work week there is like 30-35 hours & a CRAPLOAD of vacation time.

Uuh... yes we have kids here in Europe too Mr USA, and not all of them are selling Italian pizzas either. But it's a great life anyway. I for example remember the year 2003 here in Sweden because I had vacation that particular year. I can tell you, my family was thrilled - two weeks are better than nothing. But again, it's a great life anyway. You see, I have a job, I can raise a family and even enjoy some vacation with them from time to time. During the rest of the year I live in the society I helped building and can stay healthy, have evenings and weekends ends off, and have fun with my family and all our :apple: toys.

Looking forward to December 2007, when my Christmas holidays are cancelled, but when we can all buy our first iPhones around here.
:)

[grahamtearne]

Oh, shut up. You're talking like their employees are all robots designed to be the ultimate selling machines. They're people, dude. They have lives, families, things they like to do outside of work, etc. To set aside an ENTIRE month to where NONE of their employees can take time off just shows what kind of company they are, only worried about their bottom line. Yeah, its gonna be busy. But, they should have taken the necessary steps to ensure things would go smoothly by bringing more people in, instead of screwing their current crop of employees for the summer. They've certainly had time.

"Sorry kids, we cant go on that vacation this year because daddy has to sell some iPhones".

Do you have a REAL job? Do you have a family of your own that depend on you?? If not, then zip it, junior. People in the USA are way to focused on work anyways. Look at European countries & you will see what I mean. A full time work week there is like 30-35 hours & a CRAPLOAD of vacation time.

People planning summer vacations should have already booked it off, and the email states existing vacation requests will not be changed. If you were planning a summer vacation and havnt booked it off yet thats your own problem, heck Ive booked mine off and I dont go until August/Sept. I work part time for a cinema and we are strongly urged not to take holidays in December as its a really busy period, does it mean they are a bad company? no. Means they are a business out to make money, but they are also pretty good to work for. You talk about Europe, well you dont mean England! We have the longest working hours over here and least holidays in Europe. Just because they cannot book 2 weeks off during this time doesnt mean they will be living at work, get real, they will still have there usual days off to spend with family etc.

People like you need to realise just because a business is out to make money it doesnt make them bad for it. They could be earning nice bonuses etc that we dont know about. I really hope you dont have a business, youll be sending everyone home and wondering why you can keep up with demand.

[bogg]

Do you have a REAL job? Do you have a family of your own that depend on you?? If not, then zip it, junior. People in the USA are way to focused on work anyways. Look at European countries & you will see what I mean. A full time work week there is like 30-35 hours & a CRAPLOAD of vacation time.

In Sweden: 40h/week and 25 days (5 weeks) paid vacation (you can save from previous years to get much more than that).

Personally i'm taking 24 days paid vacation this summer, saving 6 days (had 5 from last year). Going home from work June 14 and won't go back until July 23.

[rdowns]

Oh, shut up. You're talking like their employees are all robots designed to be the ultimate selling machines. They're people, dude. They have lives, families, things they like to do outside of work, etc. To set aside an ENTIRE month to where NONE of their employees can take time off just shows what kind of company they are, only worried about their bottom line. Yeah, its gonna be busy. But, they should have taken the necessary steps to ensure things would go smoothly by bringing more people in, instead of screwing their current crop of employees for the summer. They've certainly had time.

"Sorry kids, we cant go on that vacation this year because daddy has to sell some iPhones".

Do you have a REAL job? Do you have a family of your own that depend on you?? If not, then zip it, junior. People in the USA are way to focused on work anyways. Look at European countries & you will see what I mean. A full time work week there is like 30-35 hours & a CRAPLOAD of vacation time.

There's no reason to tell someone to shut up so zip it.

Did you even read the article? If you have vacation scheduled, you can take it. They won't allow new requests. You could still take vacation from July 16 on, plenty of summer time left. This happens all the time in companies.

Do you really think many Cingular store workers have families? This is not a "REAL"job that allows one to support a family.

[richinspace]

In Sweden: 40h/week and 25 days (5 weeks) paid vacation (you can save from previous years to get much more than that).

Personally i'm taking 24 days paid vacation this summer, saving 6 days (had 5 from last year). Going home from work June 14 and won't go back until July 23.

Yes, that's very nice. Maybe you have your own company that has reached a state where it can do without you for a while, or you work for a company and use the socialistic labor-union to put pressure on your poor employer until he gives you the vacation you insist on. Either way, your company's survival must come first and the vacation last. Otherwise, you may wind up in a situation where you don't even have a job to take vacation from ...and no iPhones.

[bogg]

Yes, that's very nice. Maybe you have your own company that has reached a state where it can do without you for a while, or you work for a company and use the socialistic labor-union to put pressure on your poor employer until he gives you the vacation you insist on. Either way, your company's survival must come first and the vacation last. Otherwise, you may wind up in a situation where you don't even have a job to take vacation from ...and no iPhones.

The 25 day paid vacation is required according to law (You are not required to take it as you can save it from year to year to some degree, but it is required for the company to give it to you).
And companies have gone just fine with it for decades now, so it won't exactly ruin the companies as they just need to plan ahead a while.

No "Socialist Worker Unions" or whatnot, but a law passed by the government. And it has worked fine here in Sweden since the 1970s...

I thought you, as a swede, knew this?
And also that the company isn't required to allow you to take your vacation whenever you please, but they do need a damn good reason not to let you+

[peestandingup]

Didnt mean to get everyone in an uproar. And yes, I was talking about France so I should have pointed that out instead of all of Europe about the work hours thing.

However, most of Europe does indeed get more vacation time than Americas measly 2 weeks a year. And almost ALL of Europe get health care no matter how many hours they work. There is a reason why we are fatter, have more health problems, are sadder, die early, etc you know.

All im saying is that its a well known FACT that we Americans work way too much & are way to business goal oriented, putting business first & our lives/well being second, and its things like this that just reiterate that.

BTW, the USA is now tied with Japan on average hours worked. South Korea is #1, but thats no shocker. Here (http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/06/pf/work_less/) is an old article on it, but its now outdated (as we are ranked higher now), but still worth a read.

But, carry on with the iPhone talk, consumers. ;-)

Oh, and thats pretty disrespectful saying that Cingular/AT&T retail isnt a "real" job. Cant wait until some of you guys get out in the real world.

[richinspace]

The 25 day paid vacation is required according to law (You are not required to take it as you can save it from year to year to some degree, but it is required for the company to give it to you).
And companies have gone just fine with it for decades now, so it won't exactly ruin the companies as they just need to plan ahead a while.

No "Socialist Worker Unions" or whatnot, but a law passed by the government. And it has worked fine here in Sweden since the 1970s...

I thought you, as a swede, knew this?
And also that the company isn't required to allow you to take your vacation whenever you please, but they do need a damn good reason not to let you+

I hear you are defending this way of running a country, but in no way can you seriously claim it has brought us success. Sweden has lost nearly all of its societal safety-net (medical service, health insurance, pension benefits), and at the same time people show employer disloyalty and work reluctance as never before.

This is in no way typical for Sweden, but rather for all people that have become too comfortable with all benefits of living in the industrial world. If we don't change this attitude we will soon see ourselves being run over by ambitious people from less fortunate countries. We will be forced to borrow money from the Chinese or go bankrupt.

This is exactly the reason why we are trying to change political direction today and burry the socialistic flower-powering once and for all. People in all western civilization, like Bogg need to wake up and smell the coffee, as long as we can still afford to buy it, and stop moaning about your vacation that needs to be delayed a few weeks. I'm sorry but this is not my way, it's the way of the world - and it always has been. We've just been living in a bubble during the last few generations.

[johnee]

That's it, i'm naming names to the house un-american business committee. :mad:

:D

I hate working for a company and i'm starting to despise a social economy which uses money. I'm planning on becoming amish. I'm sick of depending on some company to tell me if i "can" work for them or not.

BUT... getting back on track.

iphone announced at WWDC, for sale immediately, shipping late june? Apple said late june, but if they go on sale after WWDC, guess they need people there to take the order/make the contract deal...

[Mr.A]

Cingular/ATT (pick one already)
I have no idea who approved the horrible new slogan "Cingular is the new AT&T". What the $#$$ does that mean?
-------
A great conundrum slogan. But I doubt that's what they were going for?
the thing they don't get is that a transition means you eventually have to stop using the old name!



Primary reason.... NASCAR sponsorship. If the courts rule in favor of the Nextel/NASCAR deal...expect the Cingular name to stick around in some aspect until mid-November.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cingular#NASCAR_lawsuit

[iEric]

aw man i am so excited that i am going to pee in my pants! i can't wait till it comes out in canada!

[zac4mac]

I see no problem with AT&T's policy - Like others have said, big vacation plans are already made, or they're not big(emergencies come up and it looks like they'll be dealt with accordingly)

Sucks to be you guys with only two weeks vacation - stick at your job awhile.
Been at my current employer for 9 years and get 20days vac, 2 personal days, 10 paid holidays and 56hrs PTO. No gripes here.

Of course I work in the Socialist Republic of Boulder... seven square miles surrounded by reality.

Z

[mi5moav]

Though this has less to do with the iphone and more about pleasing stock holders. ATT will be running a month long promotion in June where you can get out of your contract with other carriers.

If you have a single line and stay with ATT for 3 months you will be credited $100 if you port your number over or the full amount after 1 year.

multi line plans will also get the the $100 3 month full after 1 year Visa Check card rebate however each additional line that is cancelled from the other carriers will recieve $75 and nothing more.

They will also give 3 months of free push to talk features for anyone coming over from Sprint/Nextel.

Going to be a busy busy month for them.

[icaruscollapse]

.

Every advertising guy and gal out there knows that getting rid of the name CINGULAR is the stupidest thing that AT&T could do.

Every teen in the USA knows Cingular, raising the bar. AT&T was for like us 80s kids.

Well, yeah, every teen in the USA knows Cingular. But AT&T is like the third most recognized logo in the world, so it's a bit more important. It's going along with Verizon's whole deal, where they are going to offer TV, internet, home phone, and cell phones all combined into one bill, where you get discounts for getting all of the above.

I don't think it was a bad move at all.

[devilot]

ATT will be running a month long promotion in June where you can get out of your contract with other carriers.

If you have a single line and stay with ATT for 3 months you will be credited $100 if you port your number over or the full amount after 1 year. Do you have a link that shows that this will be an official promotion? I was already about to wait for my Verizon contract to end and then switch to AT&T, but hell, if they'll pay the full $175 for the termination fee if I stay with AT&T for over a year? I'd sign up today! :D June is too far away. :o

[grafikat]

...shuffles off to the AT&T store to see if they are open on Sunday....

[LxTxNx]

"cingular is the new at&t" = cingular is becoming at&t. pretty soon, they drop cingular from the name and all branding will be labeled at&t.



i don't think i'll be lined up to buy one; i'll just order one online from the apple store.

Yes as of mid May "Cingular Now The New ATT" will be just AT&T. I for sure know that the phone would ONLY be for sale with 2Year Contract. I heard rumors that the Radio part of the phone wont work with out the 2year on the customers account. Somehow the SIM card will communicate between the network and the phone telling the phone if there is or thete isn't a 2 yr. But there will be lines at the stores...

[bretm]

They do seem to making a huge deal about it. Do they think it will sell so well? I love just as much as the next person, but 500-600 is a lot of money, especially in todays society. I guess we will just have to see what happens.

Someone's been drinking the kool aid. "In today's society?" Playstation 3 costs just as much. Many of the Palm and Blackberry type phones cost this much (or real near it) and they're not even comparable in most areas of their use. More on today's society - Dow just set record high in record time. Inflation is low. Unemployment is low. Seems like no better time to release the iphone to me.

[Telp]

Someone's been drinking the kool aid. "In today's society?" Playstation 3 costs just as much. Many of the Palm and Blackberry type phones cost this much (or real near it) and they're not even comparable in most areas of their use. More on today's society - Dow just set record high in record time. Inflation is low. Unemployment is low. Seems like no better time to release the iphone to me.

Also keep in mind that the PS3 is not doing so well.

[MacbookSwitcher]

Someone's been drinking the kool aid. "In today's society?" Playstation 3 costs just as much. Many of the Palm and Blackberry type phones cost this much (or real near it) and they're not even comparable in most areas of their use. More on today's society - Dow just set record high in record time. Inflation is low. Unemployment is low. Seems like no better time to release the iphone to me.

The Treo does not cost $500. The Treo 750v came out for $99 or free with Vodafone in Europe, when it was first released. Most Treos these days go for about $249 with contract plus mail-in rebates, making them about half the price of the iPhone. Most Blackberry devices are going for $99-$199 with contract plus rebates.

So the iPhone is in fact significantly more expensive than pretty much every available phone right now.

Also remember that the Playstation 3 is not selling well for $600.

On the other hand, alot of people will say how the iPod originally cost $499 when it came out. But one discongruity here is that the iPod did not require you to buy a potentially expensive monthly service plan that was locked in for 2 years.

So I believe the iPhone will sell out initially at launch purely due to pent-up hype and popularity, but continued sales will depend on price decreases, and how good the device actually is once people start using it.

[LxTxNx]

...shuffles off to the AT&T store to see if they are open on Sunday....


Yes Most stores are open on Sundays 11am-6pm

if you guys have any questions about AT&T you guys can PM me and I'll be more than happy to help you answer any questions. I work for AT&T by the way.

[TechnoLawyer]

Oh, shut up. You're talking like their employees are all robots designed to be the ultimate selling machines. They're people, dude. They have lives, families, things they like to do outside of work, etc. To set aside an ENTIRE month to where NONE of their employees can take time off just shows what kind of company they are, only worried about their bottom line. Yeah, its gonna be busy. But, they should have taken the necessary steps to ensure things would go smoothly by bringing more people in, instead of screwing their current crop of employees for the summer. They've certainly had time.

Are you serious? First, many of these people are probably very excited about the launch. You make it seem like work is never any fun. Second, those upset about this minor inconvenience (if you can even call it that) can always quit and work at Verizon. There's a month called August in which kids are still out of school -- perfect for a summer vacation. Sorry, no sympathy here.

[adamj]

I don't understand how Apple kept this a huge secret, but they are letting this little stuff slip out. Seems very...strange...

[LxTxNx]

I don't understand how Apple kept this a huge secret, but they are letting this little stuff slip out. Seems very...strange...

What little stuff is slipping out? Are you talking about the news that it will be released June 15th - July 15th? if so they got that info from an internal EMAIL to all AT&T employees. No leaks really just info we already know. A June release! It looks like it'll be a mid to late June release but they are expecting a lot foot traffic increase between June 15th thru July 15th.

That's all...

[Cult Follower]

Well i suppose this means apple will be on time with it. I am so excited, only a little more than a month to go.

[twoodcc]

wow, this is a big deal. can't wait to get my hands on one :) :cool:

[maniacmedia]

I've been patiently waiting for the iPhone. But I'm also curious to see what price tag that AT&T is going to put on the monthly plan. Considering their lowest plan is now $39.99 (around $50 per month after "taxes and other charges" are added), they could be hitting iPhone users up for between $49.99 and $69.99. That would end up in the $60-80 per month range after "taxes and other charges".

No matter how cool, I can't justify that kind of expense for a mobile phone.