Time of iPhone 3G Launch Remains Unclear

[MacRumors]

Unconfirmed reports claim that the U.S. iPhone launch will take place starting at 8AM at AT&T stores nationwide. A screenshot posted to our forums claims to depict the actual email sent to AT&T managers. Even if you accept the letter as true, it's not entirely certain that the 8AM time was sanctioned by Apple. When the iPhone first launched in 2007, there were multiple reports of AT&T stores planning on opening first thing in the morning, only later to find out the actual launch time was 6pm.

Apple's own retail stores have not yet been briefed on the exact launch time of the iPhone 3G, though it had been previously suggested that it would again happen at 6pm.

Apple is expected to brief their retail stores on July 6th regarding both the iPhone 3G and MobileMe, so more details should be available after that time.

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[sunfast]

The uncertainty of timings seems odd to me. Surely clear information has to be the way forward - I'm awfully surprised if they are still yet to decide

[Chundles]

Don't know what time, don't know what price, don't know diddly squat.

[DMann]

It would make more sense to make it at 6:00 PM (productivity would take a big hit due to absenteeism if launched in the AM)

[arn]

Originally Posted by DMann

It would make more sense to make it at 6:00 PM (productivity would take a big hit due to absenteeism if launched in the AM)

Apple's pretty consistently launches products (OS X, iPhone) at 6pm, so I would think it would hold true for this. Especially since it seems it will be an "event" release with a set launch day on a Friday.

arn

[queshy]

does 5 hours really matter anyways? Think about how much time we will have AFTER it gets released, haha.

[clarkysdonga]

Those in Australia can expect to be the first ones with it!

[theappleguy]

Those in Australia can expect to be the first ones with it!

Not quite right. If it is the same local time in each timezone, it will be New Zealand.

http://www.maccrazy.net/2008/06/25/n...-iphone-first/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/i...before-the-us/

[aswitcher]

Originally Posted by queshy

does 5 hours really matter anyways? Think about how much time we will have AFTER it gets released, haha.

Fine by me, good luck if supply doesn't meet demand to when you join the queue?

[yyy]

Originally Posted by clarkysdonga

Those in Australia can expect to be the first ones with it!

Actually, New Zealand will be the first, but does it really matter? Some people don't even know when and if the iPhone ever going to be released in the country they live in. They'll have to pay triple only to get an iPhone with no warranty or insurance whatsoever.

[clarkysdonga]

Originally Posted by yyy

Actually, New Zealand will be the first, but does it really matter? Some people don't even know when and if the iPhone ever going to be released in the country they live in. They'll have to pay triple only to get an iPhone with no warranty or insurance whatsoever.

Notice how I said, first ONES? not THE FIRST ONE!

Cant wait still...

[thecritix]

I'd launch it at the time of day that hits Cupertino first.

That way the focal point is on Apple headquaters rather than some backwater in the southern hemisphere.

[johnnyjibbs]

6pm would be great for the UK (I think that was the case for the November iPhone UK launch). I finish work on a Friday at 5pm so would have ample time to get to an O2 store - I think my nearest one is Notting Hill Gate, which would hopefully be less busy that Oxford Street!

[mucker29]

if they are requiring in-store activations this time around, it only makes sense to open earlier to allow more time to complete the activation process. that is unless they plan on staying open until the wee hours of the morning...

[queshy]

Originally Posted by aswitcher

Fine by me, good luck if supply doesn't meet demand to when you join the queue?

For me, it depends on how badly rogers decides to screw everyone over. If they pull their usual stunts, there won't be any queue at all :P

[imwoblin]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

I'll be watching this from the sidelines this go around, not waiting in line as I did for my 1.0 on launch day last year, I'm almost certain there will be plenty of iPhones for each store, so since Im still on the fence about upgrading, I'll just pop in to the store the next day, learned my lesson after standing on line for 6 hours last year. The real question is what time is Appple going to release the software update and the app store?

[Chic0]

know I probably going to get slated for this, but is this really so important thats it page 1 news?

I mean for sake of few hours or whatever, who cares........

[clarkysdonga]

Originally Posted by thecritix

I'd launch it at the time of day that hits Cupertino first.

That way the focal point is on Apple headquaters rather than some backwater in the southern hemisphere.

Backwater? Australia deserves it first after having to wait this long. And since it is the best country in the world it makes sense to put focus on the launch here.

I love the Apple website, 'The wait is over'.......July 11th. Is it me or is it not July 11th yet so we are still waiting?

[michaelsviews]

Originally Posted by theappleguy

Not quite right. If it is the same local time in each timezone, it will be New Zealand.

http://www.maccrazy.net/2008/06/25/n...-iphone-first/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/i...before-the-us/

I thought I read somewhere that Australia's getting them first and before the end of June.

I will say that after talkiing to business sales for AT&T the latest email they have in house is that activation is done through I tunes, and that they have not been sent anything else. The most the rep can do in store is verify that your qualified for an upgrade of equipment and if they scan the IMEI number into the system as your primary phone I believe that would disable your current device.

I will say that business sales has not mislead me or screwed me before so I'll go with what they say ..................

Personally I don't think there's going to be enough to go around on the initial release

[ashjamben]

so as long as the launch time is the same in all countries, USA will actually be the last to get the iphone? in fact, apple hq in Cupertino will officially be one of the last places to get it (i think hawaii, alaska and vancouver in canada will be after it)

[mwazowski]

Originally Posted by michaelsviews

I thought I read somewhere that Australia's getting them first and before the end of June.

I will say that after talkiing to business sales for AT&T the latest email they have in house is that activation is done through I tunes, and that they have not been sent anything else. The most the rep can do in store is verify that your qualified for an upgrade of equipment and if they scan the IMEI number into the system as your primary phone I believe that would disable your current device.

I will say that business sales has not mislead me or screwed me before so I'll go with what they say ..................

Personally I don't think there's going to be enough to go around on the initial release

All retail stores in the silicon valley have a mandatory meeting on july 6 at 7:30-9:30 pm. July 11 has been blocked off for day off request. Schedule shows everyone working but duty is blank. From what I've seen in the back so far, it goes as:
-6pm launch time
-phone will be activated at the apple store and at&t. iphone can be taken home to activate from the apple store. At&t WILL hassle you to activate it at the store. We do not want to train our employees to activate the phone or hire at&t employees to activate the phone in store.
-June29 (sunday meeting date) within retail stores from 7:30pm-9:30pm to talk about the iphone within the store (if you don't believe me stay after mall hours and watch the floor. they will surround inside and have a meeting).

no pictures, no proof. but i said it and i will quote once the date pass. just a friendly heads up.

[yyy]

Originally Posted by clarkysdonga

Notice how I said, first ONES? not THE FIRST ONE!

Cant wait still...

Right, I missed the "s" in "ones".

[matt archbold]

I really think they should open their doors early in the morning. With the new activation procedures, it will take a while to get thru all those in line on release day. For the first one, it was just a pay and go. Now its sign a contract, activate the phone, pay and THEN go. If they started again around 6pm, i could see it being a looooong night for some.

Just my opinion.

[lonepilgrim]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Apple is expected to brief their retail stores on July 6th regarding both the iPhone 3G and MobileMe, so more details should be available after that time.

Why don't you just wait until then, instead of wasting all this time speculating now, and perpetuating all of these pointless rumours?

If misinformation is being spread, it's only being spread by the likes of this site. When Apple and/or its partners are ready to announce the details, I'm sure they will do so in a clear and consistent way.

You guys are just making yourselves look silly at the moment. And this certainly isn't page 1 news.

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

Originally Posted by thecritix

I'd launch it at the time of day that hits Cupertino first.

That way the focal point is on Apple headquaters rather than some backwater in the southern hemisphere.

That's the problem with being in the western time zone in the western hemisphere, almost everyone gets to a particular time before you do. There is no way to find a time that occurs first at Apple headquarters.