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

[MacRumors]

Boy Genius Report 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 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:

[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]

Originally Posted by swingerofbirch

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]

Originally Posted by adamcz

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...

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by swingerofbirch

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]

Originally Posted by GanleyBurger

This will for sure limit my purchase of one uuurrrrggghhhh...

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by tribulation

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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