How Apple Ships Millions of iPhones for Simultaneous Delivery

[fark]

I wouldn't doubt it. I'll be one of those preordering a 5S tomorrow.

Please let everyone else know how you're pre-ordering a 5S tomorrow.

 

[Medic311]

let's hope that FedEx actually makes delivery attempts and not pull the shiittt where they say they attempted delivery but they didn't even knock or ring the door bell despite both of your cars being in the drive way

 

[StyxMaker]

But isn't FedEx Smartpost where FedEx takes the package from the source to the local US Post Office and then the USPS takes the final delivery?

I hate seeing FedEx get a shipment 3 miles away and then see the USPS say it could take 3-5 days from that point.

Though I get it, FedEx has nice local hubs everywhere and the USPS doesn't extend too much in transport costs...it just irks me as an end user.

When FedEx gets it to the local USPS, I've always received the package the next day.

 

[kdarling]

You may be underestimating the full depth and complexity of Cook's logistics skill. It's not just down to those specifics you mention, and end-user shipping is but one tiny piece of the logistics challenge.

The same challenges go for other manufacturers as well.

As for Cook, he goofs up like anyone else. For example, last year's Foxconn debacle over the powder coating assembly mistakes. Apple got a black eye as far as not meeting expected sales shipments because of the initial low factory output, and supposedly millions of phones had to be returned to be redone.

Even a logistics non-genius would make sure that the first batches, especially, could be made correctly, and were being made correctly.

That said, I think the idea of basically putting last year's model into a plastic case in order to make more profit is brilliant, if he came up with it.

Logistics…

What version are the phones when they come out of the factory? All unlocked and then locked to a specific carrier at point of sale or are they all different? Some locked on AT&T, some on Verizon, some on sprint etc?
Does anyone know?

Physically, there are multiple models meant for different carrier frequencies and modes.

AFAIK, whenever an iPhone is (re)activated, it consults the central Apple IMEI database to see whether it is locked to a carrier or not.

 

[Sterkur]

AFAIK, whenever an iPhone is (re)activated, it consults the central Apple IMEI database to see whether it is locked to a carrier or not.

So does that mean that all phones are probably unlocked at point of sale and as the sales clerk scans the phone's barcode for sale and registration in the Apple IMEI database, he is asked to specify the phone as unlocked or onto which carrier the phone should be registered/locked?

 

[kdarling]

So does that mean that all phones are probably unlocked at point of sale and as the sales clerk scans the phone's barcode for sale and registration in the Apple IMEI database, he is asked to specify the phone as unlocked or onto which carrier the phone should be registered/locked?

You could be right.

If you buy from the Apple website, they ask what carrier you want it for. Presumably that's both for choosing the right model, and for presetting the phone's entry in the Apple database as locked to that carrier (unless you buy it as unlocked)... so the phone gets the right info on activation.

I don't know about stores. They might have stock already preset in the Apple database as locked to various carriers, to save time and errors.

Any Apple store employees here who can give us details on carrier locking or not during a store sale? Thanks!