Every Apple store in the United States will open at 7 a.m. this Friday morning to begin selling the long-anticipated new version of the iPhone. Six stores will be closed for renovations on the day that the iPhone 3G-S debuts. However, the remainder of the 205 U.S. stores, including those within malls, have made arrangements with local jurisdictions and mall security to open early. Stores in Canada will hold their first-ever iPhone debut event, but will open at 8 a.m. on Friday. Unlike AT&T, Apple stores will have a single opening time and waiting line to buy an iPhone, both for those who pre-authorized via Apple’s Web site, and those who are just “walking in.” Check this Web page for a complete list of stores, and then check specific store pages to insure your local store will be open. Update: The Digital Lifestyle Web site will broadcast live from the Fifth Avenue (NYC) store starting on Thursday. IFO will be reporting on waiting lines at stores in the San Francisco area. Keep an eye on Twitter for my updates Thursday evening and Friday morning.
It appears that Apple is using pre-authorizations and pre-orders to more efficiently distribute the supply of iPhones to the appropriate stores. Previously, Apple’s stores received a supply of iPhones based on routine sales metrics. But even with the sales experience of two previous models, Apple isn’t taking any chances about being under-supplied on Friday. United Parcel Service has been delivering iPhone handsets to AT&T stores via Next Day Air Saver, arriving on Thursday, June 18th. Presumably the same type of deliveries are being made to Apple stores.
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