Yes and no.
This is a *guess*, but based on some experience in commercial shipping the order flow goes something like this:
[These are made up dates...just to help illustrate. Let's pretend we're ordering a Unicorn that hasn't been born at Apple yet.]
9/9 - I order phone from AT&T.
Order Status: In progress | Pending | Submitted
9/10 - A human at AT&T processes my order (this could be 9/9, but can be next business day).
Order Status: In progress | Preparing to ship (depending on which order status checker being used)
...an eternity passes while Apple get's their %@$# together and actually makes my phone...
10/11 - Apple loads up a plane full of phones for multiple customers (AT&T/BB/Retail/etc...) and it departs for Anchorage, AK. The phones then get on the first available flight to Louisville, KY after clearing customs inspections.
10/11-12 - Apple sends an advanced shipment notification to AT&T with a list of details on each phone they're getting on that plane (color/size/serial #/imei/etc...).
10/11-12 - AT&T loads that info into their system and starts matching available phones to orders - including mine!
Order Status: Backordered
10/12 - As phones land in Louisville, KY they're put on first available flight to TX, headed for AT&T fulfillment center.
10/12-13 - Phones are received by AT&T, boxed up and shipped on orders they were assigned to above.
Order Status: Shipped (tracking # available, but has no info yet)
10/12-13 - Phones are picked up by carriers at AT&T, then processed at carrier point of origin.
Order Status: Shipped (my tracking # works - the phone is really on it's way to me)
...ok, that's my theory - right, wrong or sideways.
