iPhone iGone?
By Troy on Apr 3, 2008 in Blog
I wrote a few months ago, before my trip to PodCam, about my iPhone Buying Nightmare. Now it seems as though there are new things afoot at the old Apple HQ.
In scanning the news articles, it seems as though the conspiracy theorists are surmising that Apple is purposefully creating/pulling back iPhone stock in order to rush the deployment of 3G versions of the iPhone sooner than people were originally anticipating (summer 2008). That’s all fine and dandy, but there is no proof.
What has come out of the discussion, however, is a general agreement among those closely watching iPhone developments, that there is some kind of “deal” that is causing the shortage. It has been suggested that there is a tax/sales reason why the units are easier to find at AT&T stores. Apparently, iPhones that are kept “in stock” at Apple stores are not recorded as “sales.” Whereas units kept in stock by AT&T stores show as sales for Apple. Therefore, keeping less stock at Apple stores and more at AT&T could inflate sales figures.
So is Apple a) Inflating sales figures by intentionally shipping more units to AT&T than its own outlet stores? or b) Suffering an actual shortage of phones or c) none of the above?
Id say a combination of a and b. I bet manufacturing has slowed down on the older models intentionally, and sales figures are being boosted by shipping/selling to AT&T.
Only time will tell.
Similar stock shortages of apple products are nearly always caused because they’ve already switched over production to the new model, and are building up stock for a release. So, if you want to know if something is going to get speedbumped sooner rather than later, check to see if it is hard to get at a time it should be plentiful.
Honestly, while I really like the iPhone, I am not willing to pay that much for a phone. I do, however, really want the iPod Touch. Unfortunately, I need a different car, first, so it is highly unlikely I will ever get one.
PS: T minus 28 hours until season 4 of BSG!!!! Are you coming over to watch it?
The main thing I am liking the iPhone for is the visual voicemail. I really want to use it as a second “business” phone line, and having visual voicemail, and the ability to play youtube videos is great. Plus, im looking for something that will allow me to twitter more easily.
My current phone isnt very twitter friendly.