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iPhone ‘Currently Unavailable’ via U.S. Apple Store online
Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 09:17 AM EDT

Want an Apple iPhone in the U.S.? Don't bother trying Apple's online store which lists both the 8GB and 16GB iPhone models as "Currently Unavailable."

Get ready: Apple's next-gen iPhone doesn't get more imminent than this!

The U.S Apple Store is here.

MacDailyNews Take: Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC - starts June 9th) sure seems far away, doesn't it?

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Mike in Helsinki" for the heads up.]


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May 10, 08 - 09:30 am Comment from: hmmmm

How is that possible? Are they going to waste one month of sales just to introduce it on June 9th?

May 10, 08 - 09:31 am Comment from: jltnol

I'm in the market for a new phone.... if the new iPhone is half as good as everyone's making it out to be, I may be first in line....

kind of like this is the first post. . or the second..

May 10, 08 - 09:31 am Comment from: kanada

i find it hard to believe they will go 45-60 days with none available. I hope they have an early surprise in hand.

May 10, 08 - 09:32 am Comment from: B

Yeh, what's that all about... Unless they're releasing it earlier... :D
Keyword: Suddenly, as in, suddenly apple released the new iPhone. :0

May 10, 08 - 09:42 am Comment from: TowerTone

Like I said, I wouldn't think releasing a new iPhone, an update for the original, and a ton of software for both all at the same time is a good idea. They needed to be staggered for customer support.

May 10, 08 - 09:45 am Comment from: Cubert

My guess is a simple storage bump - 16 GB and 32 GB models - otherwise the same.

May 10, 08 - 09:54 am Comment from: muncher

obviously the 3g phone will be available on 6/9. Smartly they want to minimize returns and old stock. Enough info has been leaked so that anyone interested in buying a phone now will wait for the imminent release. Duh!

May 10, 08 - 09:57 am Comment from: TowerTone

Still available from AT+T Online Store

May 10, 08 - 10:02 am Comment from: flashxl

New iPhone now, and then something else later in June. Maybe new hardware or something bigger. Maybe a tablet, or a next gen iPod. I would like an integrated washer dryer. Bluetooth communication. Tells one to speed up if the cycle is finishing sooner.

"many" as in many new things coming!

May 10, 08 - 10:06 am Comment from: Wish I Was Here

The most interesting thing here is that it says 'unavailable', rather than giving a several day shipping delay. Every day it looks more like 2.0 will be out sooner rather than later. And it looks like that 10 million sold in '08 will be a no brainer if all of these countries we've been hearing about actually do start selling it. If Apple gets something worked out in China and Russia, you can just forget it, they won't be able to make iPhones fast enough. I can't wait to see what that Nokia boss has to say about iPhone around mid December. My guess is that it will be something along the lines of 'No comment'. The second half of the year is shaping up to be a blockbuster for Apple.

May 10, 08 - 10:09 am Comment from: JAYGEE

It's Currently Unavailable on the UK store as well.

May 10, 08 - 10:18 am Comment from: Kone

iPhone is also unavailable at the UK Apple Store. It would seem that the new phone will arrive sooner as opposed to later

May 10, 08 - 10:26 am Comment from: OldMacFan

Where there not rumors of a May release several weeks back? Yes, they were centered around Italy. By May 20th we should see iPhone 2.0. That doesn't mean software 2.0...That would be at the WWDC along with what ever else Steve has up his sleeve.

May 10, 08 - 10:43 am Comment from: John Appleseed

Ooooo, this is unexpected! Is Steve about to spring a big surprise on us?

June does seems quite far off. It's very possible the iPhone 2.0 is imminent.

Interesting times ahead!

May 10, 08 - 11:19 am Comment from: Famous Grouse

Better to make people wait than have them buy the outdated model a week before the new model is introduced and then winge and whine about how Apple hoodwinked them. This is especially true if big price cuts are coming. Sure Apple will loose a few sales to RIM, LG and the other sucky look-alikes, but those customers will either come crawling back to Apple or they weren't really going to buy an iPhone anyway.

May 10, 08 - 11:21 am Comment from: Yours Smugly

Maybe this is just a way to prevent the enormous whining that would follow when people who just bought a 1st gen iPhone realized that a new version has been introduced. By not selling any iPhones for a month or so before the launch of the 2nd gen iPhone Apple eliminates the whining. Ha!

May 10, 08 - 11:35 am Comment from: R2

Frankly I like my iPhone so much as is, the only thing that could get me to upgrade is a 32gb capacity. Otherwise I'm fine with 2.0 which hopefully has a universal landscape keyboard, like the latest iPhone ripoffs have shamefully beat Apple to, among other improvements.

May 10, 08 - 12:05 pm Comment from: MizuInOz

It is currently unavailable in the Australian and New Zealand Stores, too.

tongue wink

I feel so so like we are part of the global Apple Family for this short moment! BUT these feelings of false euphoria will soon fade!

May 10, 08 - 12:12 pm Comment from: Shakeel Naim

I love my current iPhone, but so many times I've wished for more capacity. If the new phone has a minimum of 32GB AND a decent 3MP or 5MP camera, then it's a no brainer for me - instant purchase grin
Although if there's a new design MacBook Pro anounce at WWDC then, god, it's gonna be an expensive month for me ...

May 10, 08 - 12:12 pm Comment from: jaybrad

Same here, AT@T's 3g coverage doesn't reach out to my area (I live outside the Dallas/Fort Worth metro) so I'm looking for more capacity (32g) for more storage of apps/media.

32g or nothing. cool smirk

May 10, 08 - 12:21 pm Comment from: LiM

Upgrade in storage to clear out the older models?

May 10, 08 - 12:23 pm Comment from: maria

I'm an Apple sales rep. and I know something you don't know. HA HA

May 10, 08 - 12:29 pm Comment from: Sixvodkas

@ switcher,

Unless you're on a different calendar than the rest of us, Dec 31, 2008 is still in 2008.

Doesn't matter whether or not Dec 31st is the end or not, it's still within the calendar year.

May 10, 08 - 12:29 pm Comment from: nytesky

I think Apple underestimated the demand for iPhones leading up to inevitable introduction of the new 3g version. They are trying to parcel it out slowly to carry them through till WWDC where they will introduce the new one, but won't actually start selling until the end of the month.

May 10, 08 - 12:31 pm Comment from: Madmax

Perhaps it will get an early release so that everyone at the WWDC has a chance to play with it before they release all the games !

May 10, 08 - 01:03 pm Comment from: eMax

They dont want another Refund complaint on their hands.....They are going to make sure no one buys one within anyones return policy.

May 10, 08 - 01:04 pm Comment from: R

Expect FCC announcement anytime. Apple's keeping the channel empty because they know that sales will automatically fall off.


MDW "say," as in "it isn't so!"

May 10, 08 - 01:05 pm Comment from: aka Christian

maria:

It's a good thing you're not in a room with any of us right now. We'd beat the livin' snot out of you, tease.

May 10, 08 - 01:07 pm Comment from: aka Christian

MizuinOz:

I always enjoy reading your posts and getting a global perspective. Same goes for all of you who post from outside the U.S. Thanks for hanging around.

May 10, 08 - 01:27 pm Comment from: MizuInOz

@aka

Thanks for that...

As you all know, when the iPhone is finally released in Oz (Australia for the uninitiated) all of the buttons will be upside down and the gestures will be back to front. Also Starbucks will not have iTunes deals and AT&T;will not have WiFi (thank God!) We are saddled with AT&T;'s evil twin Telstra. worse than Rogers and Telus in Canada - combined.

BUT we will not have a locked phone here (it is against the law) and I don't have to pay for incoming calls.

AND we are getting most movie releases in the theatre the same as the States now (usually) but we are still a year behind on most television shows. (They have to translate into Australian) tongue wink

Cheers!

May 10, 08 - 01:48 pm Comment from: Javbw

It is called bleeding the channel.

Th online store doesn't have any because they are

a) low on stock because of demand and

b) what inventory they do have they are sending to the stores to clear their inventory by late may.

by then channel partners will be clear, and a week later or so we'll hear about the new phone.

Apple bleeds their sales channels on almost every new product except the ipods. They will certainly do that with a launch as big as a new iphone

May 10, 08 - 02:00 pm Comment from: 6dog

<quote>...but we are still a year behind on most television shows. (They have to translate into Australian)</quote>

Funny as hell... and actually very true. When I stepped off the plane in Sydney the very first time a few years ago and went to get a sandwich and coffee, it took me 5 minutes and lots of hand signaling to finally understand what the lady behind the counter was saying - and, No! I didn't want butter on my sandwich or white coffee..."

Gimme an iPhone!

May 10, 08 - 02:20 pm Comment from: Sqewie

Apple is probably doing this so Steve Jobs doesn't have to give people $100 who says " I just bought the old iPhone within a month".

May 10, 08 - 03:21 pm Comment from: john

Word here in Spain is that it is comming out on Tuesday with Telefonica. However, unless they bring out cheaper data plans I cant see it being a big success over here.

May 10, 08 - 03:28 pm Comment from: ElderNorm

BUT PEOPLE!!!! Just because Apple may produce a 3G phone for Europe and Japan and for the people that live in cities here in the USA,..... us poor folk that live in the country and have to use only the old current iPhone system and will still need the old iPhone.

Now if there is a way to put both systems in the same phone, great, but I need a phone that works and all the rest that is iPhone. Web, maps, mail, etc. So what if its a little slow, I can live with slow but NO connection is a killer. My iPod touch is great but NO CONNECTION. since its got no phone.

Take a big breath folks. Its either next tuesday or in June. What do you think.??? grin

May 10, 08 - 03:30 pm Comment from: Micro Me

@MizuInOz. Shouldn't be too long before the iPhone appears downunder (officially that is; I've seen a few hacked examples). Vodafone have pretty much promised to to release it this year.

Interestingly, across the ditch here in Godzone, Telecom have also hinted at supporting the iPhone when they (finally) roll out their 3G network.

May 10, 08 - 03:35 pm Comment from: paradox

It is called bleeding the channel.

Agreed. Which is the worse of these evils:

1. Having no product to sell over a limited time.

2. Having a channel stuffed with older product, that's either unsellable, or sellable only at a steep discount (and loss). Which in turn marginalizes your own brand & product...

3. Having a just-in-time channel, with huge sour grapes from customers who bought the now-obsolete product literally yesterday.

Not a very appealing choice of options, IMO.

May 10, 08 - 03:37 pm Comment from: 50/50

Either an update is imminent, or a couple cargo boxes of iPhones took a wrong turn somewhere in the Pacific.

May 10, 08 - 04:10 pm Comment from: Nuke

This is very interesting. Especially when you consider the supposed memo ATT sent out last week.

May 10, 08 - 04:12 pm Comment from: peragrin

actually I thought the early cut-offs for the iphone were kind of odd. They started in the beginning of April. 4 weeks later they are gone.

i just hope they do something unexpected I have $600 from bush to speed.

May 10, 08 - 05:16 pm Comment from: Barron

They will probably release the new phone with 3G and GPS. Then in June they will release a bunch of software for it.

May 10, 08 - 05:35 pm Comment from: Danno Bonano

1) They are building up excitement and momentum for the 3G in June
2) They want to deplete all existing stock
3) They need to separate the release by 30 days so people will not be able to return the current iPhone

Hmmmm let's see. Today is May 10th. The WWDC 2008 starts June 9th. The difference is 30 days. This one is a complete no brainer guys.

May 10, 08 - 05:37 pm Comment from: Hanz und Franz

Lots and lots of them in Germany!

May 10, 08 - 05:44 pm Comment from: st1

I checked, there is also no iphone for the moment in Belgium!!!

Wooohaaa, my mac feels snappier!!

May 10, 08 - 05:51 pm Comment from: sapiens

There are still places around USA and around the world where 3G is not an option. If Apple wants to expand to these markets (and I don't see why Apple shouldn't want to do that) then producing more EDGE iPhones is a must. Therefore, if it is correct that Apple is bleeding the channels we can only come to one conclusion. We will see a second generation of EDGE phones sometime next week. Possibly with 32GB or a 3 megapixel camera, and even lower prices.

May 10, 08 - 06:03 pm Comment from: Blue Dream

Is Apple, the king of creating hype and free press, going to abandon a month's worth of sales in doing so.
Or, or they going to release the version 2 hardware iPhone this Tuesday and then have a mass hype buildup for the software release for the hardware at the WWDC? I think the 30 day complainers of version 1 iPhones is low priority for Apple. I think an international world release of version 2 in simultaneous countries across the world would be highest priority. Leaving China out for now is probably necessary, but leaving out Japan would be terrible in an international release. Question is: Just how many iPhones can they make to supply an international version 2 hardware release? It is truly amazing that we either a month or 3 days out and they have been able to kee the next iPhone that secret. Truth is, noone really knows anything. A possible international release, and noone knows squat...simply amazing, Jobs.

May 10, 08 - 06:05 pm Comment from: Blue Dream

kee=keep

May 10, 08 - 06:46 pm Comment from: R2

I can't believe it's been a year and still no universal landscape keyboard.

I mean I can't even view email in landscape mode? WTF?

At Macworld 2007 when Steve introduced it, a keynote I must have watched 20 times now mostly between January and June in anticipation of the iPhone, he touted that his wonderful mobile wouldn't have keys and therefore wouldn't be stagnant. Well one of the ways the iPhone could've exploited that idea is with its landscape keyboard. You can't turn a BlackBerry 9000 on its side and instantly have spacier, more comfortable keys. That should've been a major point.

Instead, outside of Safari, I can't type dick. Here I am at this moment typing whole paragraphs but if this was an email or text message I wouldn't bother. It's the most disappointing thing of all when it comes to the iPhone because it's such a simple, obvious enhancement.

May 10, 08 - 06:46 pm Comment from: Rayzor

Why don't they simply state that delivery is 30 days and then send the customer a new iPhone 2.0 after its release, simple.

May 10, 08 - 07:45 pm Comment from: asn_d

So perhaps that May rumor is true. I've only seen one site mention that Apple may release it in May and now today's news makes me believe it

3G iPhone in May, new mobile device at WWDC 2008?

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