iPhone 3G shortages causing major delays for AT&T, businesses
Apple promised that iPhone 3G and its iPhone 2.0 software would be more suited to business, but a severe shortage of the device could force companies to wait as long as two weeks before they see their orders, and is forcing many home customers to go without at the same time.
The telecoms company isn't asking orders to be halted but says new orders will immediately appear as backordered.
And while both AT&T and its corporate clients are aware that sheer demand is the cause, the delay is severe enough to frustrate corporate buyers, few of whom are used to seeing unexpected shipping delays.
"I have an enterprise account and could not get an iPhone for any price," one such buyer tells AppleInsider. "I thought Apple had finally figured out the whole business thing but alas it seems not."
The situation is little better for AT&T's bread-and-butter personal customers. An informal poll of 50 AT&T stores nationwide by CNET reveals that not one of the locations has any iPhone models to sell, and none of these stores can promise new shipments within the week.
These stores are receiving short term shipments but can't guarantee a minimum amount. As little as 10 may ship one day, while 100 ship the next.
For its part, AT&T spokesperson Jenny Parker says the carrier is delivering "tens of thousands" of the new iPhone per day but will only add that it hopes to restock stores as quickly as possible.
Apple, by contrast, still has at least some of its own stores that claim to have iPhones, though these are also running low with multi-hour lineups a frequent sight.
65 Comments
Two weeks???!!! We're all doomed!!!!
I know someone who works in shipping/logistics who told me that they had large crates of iPhones sitting in warehouses at their terminal up to two weeks before the launch - and some of those crates are still sitting there. Didn't press the person any further about where the delay is coming from, but it does seem kind of strange that these things aren't getting to the retailers or the retailer's distribution centers.
I was the first in line Friday morning to NOT get a phone. After people started getting their phones the Sales Rep came out and told me that I would get one (8gb) because someone changed their order. Happy me! Get in the store to find out that someone in the line had cut in front of me further up and as a result no iPhone. I was O.K. with that as my father was the last to get one and that was the most important thing. I have an original iPhone so it was not a problem.
The sales rep that took my order said that I should have one by Wednesday (yesterday) I also know that there are people who ordered after me that have received their phones. So the wait continues.... I probably will not get it until next week. (I Hope)
I was the first in line Friday morning to NOT get a phone. After people started getting their phones the Sales Rep came out and told me that I would get one (8gb) because someone changed their order. Happy me! Get in the store to find out that someone in the line had cut in front of me further up and as a result no iPhone. I was O.K. with that as my father was the last to get one and that was the most important thing. I have an original iPhone so it was not a problem.
The sales rep that took my order said that I should have one by Wednesday (yesterday) I also know that there are people who ordered after me that have received their phones. So the wait continues.... I probably will not get it until next week. (I Hope)
Everyone should just go to ATT, get on a direct fulfillment list and stop wasting time in line. It's so easy, who has the time for all this line waiting?
88 stores are totally sold out as of 9 pm tonight . Was 118 2 nights ago.
65 stores still have 16 gig black, most sold out iphone. Tuesday will be fun in the AAPL market