iPhone in Short Supply in Canada and Australia

The Globe and Mail reports that Rogers Wireless, the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in Canada has run out of stock of all iPhone models, notifying potential customers that they may have to wait several weeks before availability resumes.

Rogers is advising shoppers that it is out of stock of Apple's latest device, the iPhone 3GS, which was launched in June, as well as earlier models introduced last summer. The wireless carrier is telling visitors to its website that the newest device will be available again in the coming weeks. Rogers' discount brand, Fido, is also out of stock, although some Fido stores said they had older devices, with significantly less memory, available.

A Rogers spokesperson notes that while the company does have additional stock coming in on a regular basis, that supply is primarily being used to fill back orders, leading to delayed shipments for those ordering at this time. Apple has reportedly maintained a steady supply of iPhones to its own retail stores in Canada, evidently taking care of its own needs as a first priority before distributing the remainder of its Canadian iPhone allocation to Rogers.

The report also notes that Australia has also run dry of iPhones in recent weeks as Apple struggles to satisfy demand. Apple noted on its most recent earnings conference call last month that supplies of the iPhone 3GS were constrained in the wake of robust demand.