“iPhone support individuals are being hired. Training will reportedly begin on May 30th and will continue through June 20th. The actual launch should presumably be expected after the June 20th date,” arn reports for MacRumors.
“Meanwhile, Apple Stores have begun seeing Cingular technicians visiting the store to test network (mobile) connectivity throughout the store. This move, of course, makes sense in that customers will expect good Cingular reception at the stores in which they will be buying the iPhone,” arn reporrts.
In addition, “Apple appears to still be building up their core iPhone team,” arn reports.
Full article here.
Via The Boy Genius Report an official AT&T memo to employeees (MacDailyNews has independently confirmed that this memo is authentic):
To: All Company Owned Retail Employees
From: [Name removed]
Subject: iPhone Launch Period
Date: May 4, 2007
As previously announced, Apple and AT&T will soon debut the iPhone, which combines a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and breakthrough internet communications into one small and lightweight handheld device. The new AT&T has a multiyear, exclusive agreement to provide U.S. service for the iPhone.
To ensure proper staffing during the product launch period, Sales personnel planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their vacations before June 15 or after July 15 to participate in the iPhone launch.
Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling is not feasible.
No additional vacation requests will be approved during the launch period (6/15 – 7/15).
I want to thank you in advance for your understanding as this is likely to be the biggest selling period we have seen in a few years.
Happy Selling,
[Name removed]
Full article here.
At least Apple and AT&T know how big iPhone will be.
Ballmer will find out when someone takes his picture while he’s waiting in line to buy one next September.
Well whoopie doo da.
Ok, I have some serious issues with the iPhone.
Storage space is very limited, which means constant hookups to a computer.
You can’t “gift it”.
People are stuck in their own contracts with present phone plans.
It’s going to be expensive and slow to view web pages.
Storage space is limited.
What I think?
People by far are going to wait and see and watch carefully for any and all clitches, bugs and limitations BEFORE switching their precious phone over to a more complicated device.
I don’t think there will be much of a “rush”.
People need reliability in their phone.
Translation: Oh, my gawd, the iPhone’s coming, fer real! How’s this thing work anyhow? <crickets chirping> Anybody? <crickets chirping> All right, dammit, no vacation time until someone can figure out how to use this gizmo.
“Storage space is limited.”
Right. So many other phones have much more than 8GB of memory…trolll.
It’s going to be very popular. There, I said it.
Unpwned.
“Biggest selling period we have seen in a few years.”
Bring. It. On.
MDN “really” as in this is going to be “really” big!
Hey “PWNED” why don’t you post your email address so we can email you when your FUD proves to be not only wrong, but embarrassingly so?
“pwnd” indeed.. I think you’ve just been pwnd.
Hey at least I am not hiding behind anonymity here, feel free to email me to gloat if I’m wrong, but I think the iPhone will prove to be one of the greatest successes in the history of the phone industry. It might take a couple years as the price comes down, but I think it will be surprisingly big even in the first year at its current price.
Oh, and: “People need reliability in their phone.”
How about people need a phone that is USABLE and not a PAIN IN THE ASS to do even basic stuff with. Many people I know want to chuck their expensive so-called “smart” phones in the dumpster they hate them so much.
MDN “summer” as in this is going to be the summer of the iPhone.
The Nano has limited storage and is THE best selling ipod.
How are contract obligations iphones problem?
Who said the iPhone is unreliable? Steve Ballmer?
Webpages slow? Have you already used this phone?
I understand what bugs and limitations are but WHAT is a “clitch”??
tri two prufe reed necks tyme before spewing crap.
I don’t even live in the US but have let my previous contract expire as I think the phone is going to be the dogs bollocks (eng term, meaning the best thing since sliced bread) can’t wait for it to get to Europe. Bring it on Apple!
Storage space is limited for the capabilities of the device
In other words people are going to be pissed off they need to constantly hook up the iPhone to a larger device in order to use the first device adequatly because they keep running out of room.
People want to carry all their content with them all the time.
Battery time is limited on the iPhone as well.
It’s just too much to do on it and the technology is limited.
Of course if there is a Dot Mac storage option from the iPhone that would help. BUT that will RACK UP A FORTUNE IN ACCESS FEE’S AND BE SLOW AS HELL.
So look for a change in DOT MAC soon and expect Google apps to run on the iPhone too.
Microsoft is scared.
OMG! OMG! Why didn’t I see it before! No one wants this thing! No one!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
The whole world is pwned! Pwned, I say! Will someone please think of the children!
PWNED = Steve Ballmer
Fscktard, don’t you have a company to run (into the ground)?
PWNED salt.
I agree the iPhone will be, the dogs bollocks, smashin’, luverly, sweet, the bee’s knees, the cat’s whiskers and also quite good .
“Of course if there is a Dot Mac storage option from the iPhone that would help. BUT that will RACK UP A FORTUNE IN ACCESS FEE’S AND BE SLOW AS HELL.”
You do know that the iPhone is 80211 enabled don’t you?
Idiot, it will cost pennies to have superfast access at any wi-fi hotzone, or at our friends house, or indeed your own wireless network.
You do know about wireless networks don’t you?
@bizarro ballmer
‘I understand what bugs and limitations are but WHAT is a “clitch”??’
Could that be short for “clit glitch”?
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
The 20th is BEFORE the 15th this year?
That screws up my meetings that week, I’d better fix that.
@ PWNED
“Storage space is very limited”
are u completely insane ?
ok, after reading the rest of PAWNED’s messages i realized he actually does not know what the iPhone is, or the internet, or a computer.
@ PWNED
It’s going to be expensive and slow to view web pages.
That is why you have a WiFi on the iPhone so you can hook on any available hot spot.
Freaking reatrd!
MW : Before you “report” stupid information, check your sources and information first.
AT&T needs to update their website. If you use their site to search for “iPhone” it comes back with the message “Did you mean: phone?” The least they could do is redirect you to Cingular’s website. From what I can tell there’s not a single page about the iPhone on AT&T’s site.
That is why you have a WiFi on the iPhone so you can hook on any available hot spot.
WIFI?? PWNED!!!! HAHAHAHA!
I think we are all missing something here.
‘pwned’ misspelled his name.
He gets ‘P’ and ‘O’ confused.
‘owned’.
There, that’s better…..
Oh, in order to have a Dot Mac account, one needs a computer with broadband account.
So in order to use the full facilities of the iPhone one will need a computer because the iPhone is LACKING on storage space.
THE PRICE OF THE iPHONE JUST SKYROCKETED!!!
HAHA PWNED! Suckers!!
One million new customers? Try a few hundred thousand in the first couple of years and then slowly grow from there.
People want smaller phones without a lot of cost and gizmos.
People just want a PHONE!! Surfing on a tiny 3″ screen? HAHAHA!!!
The iPhone will FUSTRATE PEOPLE because it contains so much but not really be useful. Short battery life, lack of storage, huge cost and tie-in with a computer.
MALWARE!!! DIRTY SCRATCHED SCREENS!!
DROP IT!! CONSTANT SOFTWARE UPDATES!!
Oh the iPhone will sure be a adventure, it will suffer quite a bit before it’s a useful tool.
I have no idea what “people” want, but I’ll buy one just as soon as storage goes to 16GB, which, with NAND flash prices falling through the floor these days, should be around, oh, July.
I’ve got a 10GB 2nd Gen iPod, and I really wish I could take more of my music collection with me. For me, the iPhone will be a replacement for my iPod and Powerbook when I go on the road.
Fsck off, pwned4$10G.
We don’t want trolls here, regardless of wether or not they know what they’re on about… (which you don’t)
iPhone will be the dogs gonads.
I’m a student, probably can’t even afford to own an iPhone, but I’m still gonna get one at the end of the year (or whenever they come out in the UK). Debt is worth it.