I'm sort of a newbie when it comes to iPhone launches, but I had a few questions if someone didn't mind helping me out:
- A few people have referred to a 3AM (PST?) launch time, but no one has mentioned a date yet. Is this the morning after the Sept. 12 iPhone announcement (i.e., on Sept. 13 at 3AM PST)? Or is it on another date?
- Can pre-ordering be done in person at an Apple Store, or is that only for lining up to buying release-day iPhones? Or do you have to pre-order to be allowed to get in line at all? Or is there a separate line for pre-orders only? Or do pre-orders only ship straight to your doorstep? I'm really confused about this part.
- Does being a part of the IUP automatically pre-order the newest iPhone model for you (if currently eligible)? Or does it at least give you priority registration in the pre-order battle?
Preordering cannot be done in person at the store, you can only buy a phone from them once released. Online preorders in the past have had two options: order for delivery to your doorstep, or order for pickup from a specific local Apple Store (note, delivery is only to your doorstep, not to your office or a shipping company). Both options are done from either the Apple.com website or the Apple Store phone app. When you choose pickup from store, that reserves a phone for you at that store on launch day - you are guaranteed to get it as long as you show up within 24 hours (maybe 48 hours, don't remember). Each store has a limited supply of phones, that is separate from the limited online order supply; the stores will sell out, while the online orders will get later and later shipping dates.
On launch day, there are two lines at the Apple Store, a short one for online orders for pickup, and one for walk-in purchasers (stores always reserve more phones than were preordered, for those walk-ins). That line is very long, and you need to get there plenty early to manage to get one before they sell out.
Note, phone carriers and big-box stores such as Best Buy also sell the phones; that is another option, though it tends to be not as well organized as Apple.
iUp is a program where you can choose to upgrade to the newest iPhone model if you wish - if you do so, that resets your two year payment plan and you trade in your old phone. It is not automatic, and last year existing iUp members actually had less priority than everyone else (and were pissed!)