Check iPhone 3GS Availability On-Line

Once again, Apple has posted a Web page for iPhone buyers to check the availability of the newest model at their favorite Apple store. Previously, the availability numbers were updated at the end of each shopping day. But this newest iPhone 3GS page is linked directly to Apple’s internal point-of-sale system, allowing hourly updates for each store based on sales. It’s not clear if–or how–the availability page is linked to Apple’s supply chain, to indicate when stores receive new shipments of iPhones. As of Friday evening after closing time, only 29 of the 257 stores reported out-of–stock status on any model. There is barely a pattern of shortages among the various versions of the iPhone, but white models and 32 Gb models seemed to be most commonly out-of-stock. Update: As of the close of business on Sunday, June 28th, 10 days of customer purchases and the efficiency of Apple’s supply chain had created very low supplies of the 16 Gb white model iPhone 3GS. Just 19 perent of stores has the lower-priced model on hand. Other availabilities were: black 16 Gb = 35 percent of open stores, white 32 Gb = 52 percent, and black 32 Gb = 35 percent. Overall, there were 39 stores with no stocks of an iPhones, including all three stores in Oregon. Download (pdf) the availability list.