AT&T Sells Out of Initial Batch of iPhone 3Gs Pre-Orders

Signaling a likely repeat of Apple's iPhone sell-outs of the past two years, AT&T is already warning that those making iPhone 3G S pre-orders that they won't get their handsets on launch.

The US carrier's internal sales system is asking staff to tell customers that any pre-orders made on Saturday the 13th or later won't ship on launch and instead will reach retail locations between 7 and 14 days after the order is made, overshooting the release date.

Those who delayed their pre-orders long enough but who still want an iPhone 3G S the same day will have to wait at an AT&T (or Apple) store until regular availability starts at 8 a.m. rather than the 7 a.m. early access time touted earlier this week, Boy Genius hears. Any pre-orders, however, will receive an e-mail once their device is in stock.

While unfortunate for those who hadn't already set aside money for the faster, more feature-laden Apple smartphone, the sell-out bodes well for early sales, which will include not only retail pick-ups but, unlike last year, online pre-orders. Some had feared that high upgrade fees for customers who bought a previous iPhone too soon to qualify for a full discount would deter many from queuing up in the same way they had in 2008.

Besides Apple and AT&T outlets, Best Buy and Walmart locations should also have the iPhone 3G S for sale on June 19th, albeit with regular store hours.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/06/13/att_already_sold_out_of_launch_day_iphone_3g_s_pre_orders.html

I guess people have no choice but to wait in line now -- long lines -- again.

I guess it was worth the 2 hours it took me to order one right after the keynote.

I dont think anybody will have trouble finding one on the 19th with all the stores selling them. I have 1 bestbuy 1 walmart 1 apple store and probably 15 att stores in a 10 mile radius of my house.

Russia on the other hand will probably still have a stockpile of unsold 3GS's this time next year :D

Glad I order mine already.:D

No surprise here, really. It's great to signal how well things are selling. I'm just hoping to god this won't effect my order of two iPhone 3G S' made around 5PM Friday night (last night)...

Do you guys think there will be as much mayhem for the 3G S as there was for the 3G? Like I remember there being huge lines for up to like 2 weeks of people trying to get phones. But now that pre ordering is available and 4 stores are selling them I don't think there will be as much chaos.

I pre ordered mine on the 10th to pick up at apple and I pre ordered again today another one but in white so I have 2 saved for me. Hopefully I get the white but if not I wont be to disappointed

Assuming they fill preorders on a first-come-first-serve basis, I wonder where I will stand since I ordered on the 10th, but the order status page says the 12th since it took a few days to process. Hopefully I still count as the 10th

I believe if you order in store (AT&T), they just put your name on the box and you have 7 days to pick it up. Good thing I was first to order at my local store.