Same. I was half-paniced that I would be screwed because I didn't cough up any pennies when Optus had their pre-registration thing going then realised Voda haven't done anything about pre-rego, so we're all in the same boat.

This might sound stupid but, let's say hypothetically Vodafone have a $79 24 month contract and I sign up to that on Friday, does one actually hand over any money on the spot?

I've ALWAYS been prepaid, and I don't use credit cards, so I just hope I can get one... what with all the chatter about credit checks. :S

No they wont!!

I spoke to Apple Japan and they aren't either.

Want proof?



for further evidence go to the Apple site (australia) and click where to buy.. no mention of the Apple Store. You can't even order them from Apple Online.

I don't think you hand over cash at all, bunkey.... expept if there's an upfront concerned. And even then they may just add it to your first bill.

Sweet.

ditto

I went to a few optus stores in Sydney CBD today. One on the guys working at Pitt St., Westfield's said that they would have around 100 pieces. But he was all confused and said that the Optus outlet on George St (near Circular Quay) might open at midnight.

Then I went to the store in Hay Market, George St. He said that they might just have a few pieces left for walk in customers. he took my name & phone no. and what model I was after. They were a few people's name already on the sheet. I don't know if putting my name on the sheet is going to make any difference though. He said that better chances are at the stores in the suburbs. No idea how he came up with that.

I'm confused between the store at Broadway, George Street and the Pitt St. one. I wish bloody Optus would have worked it out, something on the lines of like - between this & this time only the deposit clients should come and certai stores should only sell to deposit people and certain to the walk in's.

It's gonna be freakin crazy that day !!!

anyone lining up in bendigo at either Telstra, Optus or Vodafone? i don't think ill line up. but if someone will join me? i would come down.

Spoke to our Optus rep yesterday and he has said that all Optus store he has spoken to are only getting about 5 iPhones for demo units. Any one going into a store on Friday will not be walking home with an iPhone. A contract will be signed and a phone ordered which will be delivered the following week. He also said that everyone who has paid a deposit should get a Phone.

Although I hope this is not true, it makes sense. To much time will be wasted in signing up, activating the Phone etc. This way they will get through a lot more and the stock will be distributed to the shops that need them.

It'd be nice to have a clearer idea about opening times, which stores will have it, and how many they'll have on the day. I assume we'll know more by the time Friday arrives. I'd like to believe that I'll just be able to wander out of work and into Brisbane CBD at lunchtime on Friday and get one, but that might be wishful thinking.

I'm out-of-contract and my only concern is making sure I can port my number across to a new carrier (if need be) without any hassles. Is that going to be the same for everyone else? Or will current phone contracts and the like take the edge off the immediate demand?

Launch day sales of the original iPhone were estimated at 200,000 in the US. That's a lot, but we're obviously a much smaller market. Google suggests that first day crowds weren't that huge in the UK, with sales of around 10,000 (but that was with a 6pm Friday evening launch). If stock levels here are in the tens of thousands (and I don't know if they will be), surely that will be enough to satisfy demand for the first weekend, let alone Friday. Or will it?

Gah, it's doing my head in. I'd like to get one without:

a) Having to take the day off work; or
b) Lining up for hours; or
c) Having to wait weeks for the next shipment.

Then no iPhone for you until late August

That would be a public relations DISASTER. I hate to say it but I think that person is full of BS. Worldwide launch, but no one going to Optus stores will be getting a phone? Hogwash! It would effectively push thousands of customers into Telstra and Voda's arms. I really don't think they're *that* stupid.

Are they?!?!

No, I probably don't deserve one given my lack of, ah, dedication to the cause...

If they'd sold them in pubs that night they would have done 100 times that number.

I haven't seen it asked on here yet and I'm curious: Why is there such a desire to have the iPhone next Friday? Is it a pissing contest so you can go on forums and say "I've got one"? Is it a psychological issue where you feel that having the latest gadget will make you popular or cool? Or is just having something that others want provides some schadenfreude? There may be other reasons: I'd like to understand what they are.

I'll probably be lining up somewhere in Melbourne...dont know where tho...somewhere in the sticks...wish Tullamarine had some sort of store recieving iPhones

It's a good question Graham. It seems like it is various things to various people.

Overwhelmingly, I think for most of the people on this forum, it would be sheer technolust (and I said it elsewhere, given the fact that even the original iPhone has been available and accessible to Australians for a year, this is far more muted than it was last year).

Secondly, there's obviously an air of concern about the shortage of supply and the possible wait times for the next batch of units. Apple dealt with this really well over last year's iPhone launch, but then again this is Australia, we are a smaller market, and they are servicing a nearly global launch this time around, so there may be a bit of a justifiable air of desperation about this now too.

Having said that, there are always undoubtedly some people who are in it for the schadenfreude and just want to be walking down the street on Friday with a shiny new toy that makes others green. Which I guess they're entitled to, if it works out for them.

Of course, it goes without saying that I'm rooting for the people in the first two categories to sneak in before supplies run out