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O2 Limiting iPhone 4 Orders to Existing Customers in UK as Rumored Display Shortages Cramp Supplies

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Apple's tight supplies and high demand for iPhone 4 aren't limited to the United States, as UK carrier O2 has announced that its initial launch quantities of the device will be limited to existing wireless or broadband customers who have been with the company since at least May 24th, 2010.
iPhone stock will be extremely limited in the UK at launch and not everybody who wants one will be able to get one straight away. We want to make sure that our existing customers get priority so until at least the end of July, only existing O2 customers will be able to get an iPhone 4 from us.

Whether you're an existing O2 mobile customer looking to upgrade, or one of our broadband customers looking to move your mobile to O2, our iPhone stock is reserved exclusively for you.
Click to expand...
O2 notes that iPhone 4 will be available as of June 24th in O2 shops, Carphone Warehouse, Best Buy, Phones4U and Apple stores, but will not be available through O2's website until at least late July.

While iPhone 4 supplies are tight in the UK, carrier availability for the new device has been expanding. In addition to existing UK iPhone partners O2, Orange, and Vodafone, both T-Mobile and Three are coming on board, with Virgin also looking to offer the popular device.

According to The Street, Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar claims that display screen shortages are contributing to the tight supplies, cutting in half Apple's planned production rate for iPhone 4.
Apple's iPhone production has hit a speed bump due to display screen shortages, says Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar, whose sources include Apple supply and manufacturing partners.

Kumar says the shortage has forced Apple's contract manufacturers to cut the iPhone's monthly production rate to 2 million a month, down from the planned rate of 4 million iPhones a month.
Click to expand...
Any production shortages would be particularly unwelcome given the high demand for the new handset, with multiple carriers claiming ten times the traffic of the iPhone 3GS launch as Apple and its carrier partners struggled to keep up as pre-orders went live earlier this week.

Article Link: O2 Limiting iPhone 4 Orders to Existing Customers in UK as Rumored Display Shortages Cramp Supplies
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/18/o2-limiting-iphone-4-orders-to-existing-customers-in-uk-as-rumored-display-shortages-cramp-supplies/
It should be noted that Scott Moritz is the author of this article.

Reader be ware!
 
Wow, someone is actually organizing a launch event instead of blindly taking preorders that they have no way of guaranteeing the customer will actually get it. It's amazing what can be accomplished if certain company heads would use their brains.
 
I think the key news on this is

4 MILLION a MONTH was the expected demand, and that they likely only have a 2Million a month run rate now.

Thinking they plan to crank out 2 Million by July 1, with GSs running at $99USD, Apple could be selling 3-5Million Phones a month worldwide, once they get production up.

As for O2, well, here in the states, the sell as much as they can, and then ATT can't route phone calls for them ;-(.

But my iPhone4 16 is waiting for me at 7am at my local Apple Store... I'm happy.
(I'm selling my iPhone 3 and then buying 2 8GB 3GSs for my fiance' and my son)

And my new Mac Mini shipped today!!!!
 
I think you should still be able to order online. I'm not gonna get a chance to get one as I'm stuck at work.
 
Does that mean that we can upgrade out existing o2 contracts at carphone warehouse stores too?
 
Wow, O2 is dealing with shortened supplies as well?

Three things about these issues:

1. Apple said that this was their biggest update since the iPhone was released, surely they should have known that it would have sold like hot cakes from the very beginning.

2. The carriers shouldn't have dropped the prices on renewals for existing customers, this has really caused a lot of the sales in my opinion.

3. Apple should up the price of iPhone by at least $100-$200 dollars, so fewer people can access them and they can ensure enough supply. They could always drop the price later in the life cycle of the product.
 
Does that mean that tier two countries like Sweden will be pushed back? Because I really want and iPhone 4 as fast as I can get one.
 
Interesting.

Either apple screwed up equating supply and demand - which is unlikely. Or, they think the shortage will increase awareness and desirability of the iPhone and increase their profits by a larger amount than equating supply with demand at launch (either through price or quantity).
 
CJM said:
They better supply microsims before the 24th...
Click to expand...

They are (sort of), they're available from Monday 21st at your local O2 store.
O2 Micro Sim Swap said:
Buy your new iPhone 4 from O2 (on sale from 24 June). You'll get a micro sim when you buy iPhone 4 in the shop, right on the spot.

If you order iPhone 4 through customer service (or online, when it's available), your micro sim will come with your iPhone 4.

If you have pre-ordered iPhone 4 directly from Apple you can get an O2 micro sim from any O2 shop. Simply go to an O2 shop any time from Monday 21 June and bring along your pre-order confirmation email from Apple. You'll need to show it in order to get your micro sim.
Click to expand...

http://shop.o2.co.uk/new-iphone/aboutsimswap.html
 
staveb said:
2. The carriers shouldn't have dropped the prices on renewals for existing customers, this has really caused a lot of the sales in my opinion.

3. Apple should up the price of iPhone by at least $100-$200 dollars, so fewer people can access them and they can ensure enough supply. They could always drop the price later in the life cycle of the product.
Click to expand...


Those are some terrible business suggestions.
 
ChazUK said:
That's crap news. :(

I hope everyone who wants an iPhone 4 manages to get their hands on them.
Click to expand...
They will. Too bad they will have to wait a little longer, but eventually everyone will get their's.

That includes me. I've sat out the previous three iPhones, however I'm going to buy this new handset. This simply pushes back my acquisition by a month or two. Not a big deal. It's just a phone.
 
At least there is no danger that some unfortunate soul will be camping for a week outside of any UK Apple Store or O2 outlet. Unless there is a festival nearby, that is.
 
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