Apple Limiting Retail Store Staff Vacations Ahead of Verizon iPhone Launch?

[cmichaelb]

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Why would this be news that Apple is limiting their employee vacations? Does the internet get updates when Macy's limits the employee vacations during the busy holiday shopping season?

Every retail company does blackouts during the holidays.

But this is not the holidays. That is why it is news

However on several other sites, folks claiming to be Apple store employees have said there is no blackout. That they have received approval for time off during the period in question. In some cases after AI broke their big story

Stop with the iPad 2 speculation. That CANNOT be the reason for restricting employee vacations. Those can be sold in seconds at the store, no problem. It's only a new phone on a new network that takes time to handle in the store.

Of course it can be the new iPad. Because it takes more than seconds. And when they have huge lines that need to be managed etc, they need staff for that. And after last year they would have reason to expect long lines over several days, larger than normal shipments requiring more staff to help open them etc

+1

 

[mlts22]

That's the inherent problem with the notion of a CDMA iPhone: increased cost with a much smaller audience in regard to the worldwide market.

Sure, T-Mobile USA has about 40% of the subscribers as Verizon's share. However, the engineering costs should be nominal.

If Apple is to market a CDMA iPhone, it would have to be for multiple markets. I think there are a few left in South America and Asia. Would these be sufficient to justify a CDMA handset? That's up to Apple, but so far, the answer appears to be no.

CDMA is still a big player in Asia where in China, Japan, and Korea. However, the US implementation of CDMA is fundamentally crippled; all the other nations use R/UIM cards which are functionally identical to SIM cards. This allows for device upgrades without having to beg for the device to be authorized onto a provider's network.

US CDMA has no real point because it is incompatible with the standard implementations across the globe. If one wants a phone that works outside of the US, they have to buy a "global" phone with a GSM radio in it, and pay the roaming fees.

With the advent of LTE-Advanced, that will alleviate issues somewhat, so an unlocked device can work across more than just AT&T/T-Mobile. However, this won't be complete until the backlevel protocols go away, just like AMTS.

 

[NebulaClash]

Of course it can be the new iPad. Because it takes more than seconds.

No. It does not. I remember some Christmas seasons when the Apple store had massive lines for iPods. They set up special piles of iPods and were selling them left and right. When I got to the front of the line I picked my iPod, handed my credit card over, was done in less than 1 minute.

Seconds.

The only device that requires manpower at the store are the phones. Nothing else ever gets non-holiday vacation attention.

 

[cmichaelb]

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Of course it can be the new iPad. Because it takes more than seconds.

No. It does not. I remember some Christmas seasons when the Apple store had massive lines for iPods. They set up special piles of iPods and were selling them left and right. When I got to the front of the line I picked my iPod, handed my credit card over, was done in less than 1 minute.

Seconds.

The only device that requires manpower at the store are the phones. Nothing else ever gets non-holiday vacation attention.

You don't think they would need extra employees to help with questions and to set up 3G service on the 3G+wifi models?

It's possible.

 

[bpjauburn]

How much time could it honestly take to introduce a Verizon iPhone...it appears to be very similar to the GSM AT&T version. I figure 10 minutes introducing it and then 5 minutes listening to Verizon's CEO about how much they love Apple and are excited about the partnership..blah, blah, blah.

Most Apple events are 1 1/2 hours so the remaining time will be spent on introducing the new iPad.

Here is my prediction on how it will go down...

10 minutes: Stats
15 minutes: Verizon iPhone
60 minutes: iPad 2 (complete with Verizon CDMA version)

Agree. Apple's not going to have a special event for a Verizon launch. If anything it's the Verizon iPhone AND iPad 2.

 

[bpjauburn]

iPad 2 is much more likely. With the announcement of ATT going to LTE I doubt we will see a Verizon iPhone till summer of 2012, and as I've said many times before, a mid-cycle release does not make any sense and will probably anger more people than make happy.

I sure hope it is iPad 2, because I've been waiting very patiently since September!

My wife and kids gave me the cash for my birthday in late August... I'm dyin' here...

 

[NebulaClash]

You don't think they would need extra employees to help with questions and to set up 3G service on the 3G+wifi models?

It's possible.

I don't see why they would. They aren't doing that with 3G models on AT&T. iPads get sold as is and the buyer can decide later what they want to do about 3G service. That was the big difference between an iPhone and the iPad. With the iPhone you have a contract (extra employees), but with the iPad you have no contract (just another box to sell).

 

[Profbx]

I have some friends at stores who say two things:

1.********. People are taking vacation left and right.
2.One knows the person who shot the iPad 2 commercial, though that was for a March release.

So, there you go.

 

[troop231]

I have some friends at stores who say two things:

1.********. People are taking vacation left and right.
2.One knows the person who shot the iPad 2 commercial, though that was for a March release.

So, there you go.

Dude, this is your first post?

 

[Profbx]

Dude, this is your first post?

Yes, it is. I've been a lurker for way too long, and this is my first post because it was the first time I actually had something to contribute to a rumor. Reason I asked my friends is that I have been waiting for a new Macbook for 6 months (2008 MBP), and I annoy the hell out of them for news. I realize that you don't have to believe me, but when I saw this I was asking them if it is true. I was told that not only is it not true, but that people are taking plenty of vacations in the LA stores.

 

[inkswamp]

Why would this be news that Apple is limiting their employee vacations? Does the internet get updates when Macy's limits the employee vacations during the busy holiday shopping season?

all you want but Macy's doesn't make any products (if any) that affect people's day-to-day lives and unofficially dictate the direction an entire industry will move for the next year. Macy's is just a retailer. How does that compare to Apple?

 

[sclawis300]

iPad 2 is much more likely. With the announcement of ATT going to LTE I doubt we will see a Verizon iPhone till summer of 2012, and as I've said many times before, a mid-cycle release does not make any sense and will probably anger more people than make happy.

I sure hope it is iPad 2, because I've been waiting very patiently since September!

Well I have been waiting for the Verizon iPhone since January OF '07!!!!!!!!!

 

[GoCubsGo]

Not iPad 2. Would irritate ones that just got an ipad1 for Xmas ... Like me.

Right and it would likely see a small price drop thus creating rage like with the iPhone 1.

 

[winty03]

X2 Stuck in Verizon country

well i have been waiting for the verizon iphone since january of '07!!!!!!!!!

 

[alexhasfun28]

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they're so dumb! it's for the iPad.

 

[DrRadon]

If Apple introduces a new iPad two months after Christmas people will go nuts.

It will happen.

 

[Peppy690]

Hey everyone, first post in a while, but visit daily. I have a friend who works with verizon tech support and they were told today that there was a lot of OT available and closed vacations for the 11th. Also he said they trained them today on device presales and pulled all meetings for the 11th. Like said above, definitely looks like the ipad2 and/or cdma iphone 4. Something is definitely going down on the 11th.

 

[shadrap]

Geez, you at&t lovers don't believe crap stinks. There has never been this much evidence of an iphone release on verizon.

WSJ reported in October that it would happen in January. WSJ is Apple's preferred source for releasing info.

Verizon begins selling bundled ipads. The first apple product through Verizon. Assumed to get the companies working together.

AT&T begins heavily marketing other phones including Android and WP7.

AT& T cuts the price of the 3GS to $49

Verizon changes its upgrade policy and replacement policy to save money on the Verizon iPhone converts.

Apple blocks employee vacation.

A video of an improved iPhone antenna is posted on you tube and quickly pulled.

Financial advisers are concurring with the rumors driving stock prices of Verizon and Apple upward. Verizon and Apple continue to remain silent.


Its coming no matter how much you AT&T lovers want to keep it to yourselves.

 

[Mattsasa]

January 11th seems like a reasonable date, but.... no Media Event?!

This would be the first rumor giving a specific date, all other rumors were either january or Q1...... or before valentines day.

So I am not sure about tuesday seems kind of close.... but I hope its true

Geez, you at&t lovers don't believe crap stinks. There has never been this much evidence of an iphone release on verizon.

WSJ reported in October that it would happen in January. WSJ is Apple's preferred source for releasing info.

Verizon begins selling bundled ipads. The first apple product through Verizon. Assumed to get the companies working together.

AT&T begins heavily marketing other phones including Android and WP7.

AT& T cuts the price of the 3GS to $49

Verizon changes its upgrade policy and replacement policy to save money on the Verizon iPhone converts.

Apple blocks employee vacation.

A video of an improved iPhone antenna is posted on you tube and quickly pulled.

Financial advisers are concurring with the rumors driving stock prices of Verizon and Apple upward. Verizon and Apple continue to remain silent.


Its coming no matter how much you AT&T lovers want to keep it to yourselves.

BOOM!

At&t had that free 6 month early upgrade to iphone 4 if you sign new contract

IGN, Fortune, many other analysts expect it

Verizon CEO asking for iphone, and Verizon prepared for traffic

 

[dampfnudel]

I'm a Verizon customer and would like to get an iPhone. I currently have a 3rd gen Touch with about 150 apps/games installed. I would like to upgrade with all of my apps along for the ride which is something I couldn't do if I got an Android smartphone. My only main concern would be the possibility of my vPhone getting replaced by a newer model only 4 months later. I don't think (hope) Apple wants to piss off new Verizon customers like that. I'm hoping Verizon gets the next gen iPhone with AT&T getting the same phone at the same time or 2-3 months later.

Maybe I'm hoping too much.

 

[URFloorMatt]

I'm a Verizon customer and would like to get an iPhone. I currently have a 3rd gen Touch with about 150 apps/games installed. I would like to upgrade with all of my apps along for the ride which is something I couldn't do if I got an Android smartphone. My only main concern would be the possibility of my vPhone getting replaced by a newer model only 4 months later. I don't think (hope) Apple wants to piss off new Verizon customers like that. I'm hoping Verizon gets the next gen iPhone with AT&T getting the same phone at the same time or 2-3 months later.

Maybe I'm hoping too much.

You can all but guarantee they will do precisely that, unless AT&T has re-negotiated from full exclusivity down to timed exclusivity, which is not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Presumably, if there are any "catches" to Verizon picking up the iPhone, they will be announced at launch.

 

[Goldinboy17]

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Not iPad 2. Would irritate ones that just got an ipad1 for Xmas ... Like me.

That doesn't mean much to Apple.

 

[MarximusMG]

Geez, you at&t lovers don't believe crap stinks. There has never been this much evidence of an iphone release on verizon.

WSJ reported in October that it would happen in January. WSJ is Apple's preferred source for releasing info.

Verizon begins selling bundled ipads. The first apple product through Verizon. Assumed to get the companies working together.

AT&T begins heavily marketing other phones including Android and WP7.

AT& T cuts the price of the 3GS to $49

Verizon changes its upgrade policy and replacement policy to save money on the Verizon iPhone converts.

Apple blocks employee vacation.

A video of an improved iPhone antenna is posted on you tube and quickly pulled.

Financial advisers are concurring with the rumors driving stock prices of Verizon and Apple upward. Verizon and Apple continue to remain silent.


Its coming no matter how much you AT&T lovers want to keep it to yourselves.

It's always refreshing to see posts like this on this forum. Let's look at all of the signs pointing toward it and stop whining that "it'll never happen!"

 

[Goldinboy17]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Geez, you at&t lovers don't believe crap stinks. There has never been this much evidence of an iphone release on verizon.

WSJ reported in October that it would happen in January. WSJ is Apple's preferred source for releasing info.

Verizon begins selling bundled ipads. The first apple product through Verizon. Assumed to get the companies working together.

AT&T begins heavily marketing other phones including Android and WP7.

AT& T cuts the price of the 3GS to $49

Verizon changes its upgrade policy and replacement policy to save money on the Verizon iPhone converts.

Apple blocks employee vacation.

A video of an improved iPhone antenna is posted on you tube and quickly pulled.

Financial advisers are concurring with the rumors driving stock prices of Verizon and Apple upward. Verizon and Apple continue to remain silent.


Its coming no matter how much you AT&T lovers want to keep it to yourselves.

You're a Verizon fanboy just like the At&t ones. Either way both suck kiddo, k? AT&T's coverage is spotty and Verizon has many faults. Crappy customer service, no upgrades and you'll more than likely be stuck with the older iPhone for now. The upgrades alone is a deal-breaker. At least with AT&T I can upgrade every 12 months.

 

[Goldinboy17]

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Not iPad 2. Would irritate ones that just got an ipad1 for Xmas ... Like me.

Right and it would likely see a small price drop thus creating rage like with the iPhone 1.

You can not compare the two. Apple dropped the price on the original iPhone because it was too expensive to appeal to most consumers. The iPad was simply upgraded, the consumer should have been better informed.