Customers in China and Hong Kong who are aiming to purchase an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c in an Apple Store are now able to make reservations for the device on Apple's website.
Reserve iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c online today for pickup at an Apple Retail Store beginning September 20. When you come in, we'll help you pick the right rate plan, transfer your contacts, set up your email, and more.
Apple's reservation system, which was revamped last year, is designed to thwart would-be scalpers, an issue that has plagued Apple releases in China for years.
Under the system, consumers are able to reserve a phone for pickup, but are still required to visit an Apple Retail Store on launch day to purchase and setup the device.
It appears that initial supplies of the iPhone 5s are limited, and multiple stores have sold out of all models of the iPhone 5s, though some are still offering the "Space Gray" 16GB version. Most models of the iPhone 5c remain in stock.
Apple is not accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5s. Instead, U.S. customers will be able to purchase the device online beginning at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on Friday, September 20 and at 8:00 AM in retail locations. Order periods for the rest of the world appear to be staggered, with online ordering times varying based on local time.
Top Rated Comments
The reservation opened at 6am in Hong Kong and the server was instantly overloaded probably by traffic from mainland China and was not accessible until after 7:30am when the mainland Chinese realised that they could not simply reserve phones by automated process ("bots").
Apple must to Kill the 16GB model already :mad:
32, 64, 128.
"We dont make cheap phones" Tim Cook.
5C is not a CHEAP phone. It is better than most androids out there. It is a improved iÜhone5 in a new case.
Same was true when they were selling the 4s as the premium product and the 4 for $100 less, and even more so with the 5 and the 4s. People continue to buy the cheaper one in large numbers, even when it's the older model, not a "new" model.