Why Wait if There Are No Phones?
News Analysis. The iPhone shortages have started at Apple retail stores. Can you get a phone? |
If you're a business customer, the answer is almost certainly no. People with business plans or adding Exchange sync must go to an AT&T store. Most of them were sold out by early Friday afternoon.
But many Apple Stores continued to stock phones, even as long lines continued at many locations. I called stores in five different states yesterday to check on lines. People were waiting at all five locations. Today, many people will wait in vain. Many stores have no phones or only the 16GB white model. Best availability is California and New York.
By my count, as of store openings today, the iPhone 3G was sold out in 20 states: Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. That means the iPhone 3G isn't available in more than half the states with Apple Stores. Apple has retail locations in only 38 states.
Here's availability as checked at 10:30 a.m. ET using Apple's online utility (Apple updates at 9 p.m. local time the previous day, so many Eastern locations with limited supply may already be sold out as of this posting):
Alabama: sold out two locations, but 16GB, white, Huntsville.
Arizona: sold out four locations, but 16GB, white, Phoenix.
California: available most stores.
Colorado: sold out four locations, but 8GB and16GB, white, Denver.
Connecticut: sold out two locations, 16GB, white, Danbury.
Delaware: 16GB, white, Newark.
Florida: limited availability most locations.
Georgia: sold out two locations, and limited availability two other stores.
Hawaii: sold out.
Illinois: sold out five locations, but 8GB, Schaumburg store; all models, Chicago.
Indiana: sold out.
Iowa: sold out.
Kansas: 16GB, white, Leawood.
Kentucky: sold out.
Louisiana: sold out.
Maryland: sold out.
Massachusetts: sold out seven locations, but 16GB, white, Cambridge; 8GB and 16GB, white, Natick.
Michigan: sold out.
Minnesota: sold out.
Missouri: sold out two locations, but 16GB, white, St. Louis.
Nebraska: sold out.
Nevada: sold out one location; limited availability at one Las Vegas store, but all models at the other one.
New Hampshire: sold out.
New Jersey: sold out eight locations, but 16GB, white, Rockaway.
New Mexcio: sold out.
New York: sold out six locations, limited elsewhere but all models in NYC stores.
North Carolina: sold out two locations, but 8GB, Durham.
Ohio: sold out.
Oregon: sold out.
Pennsylvania: sold out.
Rhode Island: sold out.
Tennessee: sold out.
Texas: sold out five locations, but limited availability in seven stores.
Utah: sold out.
Virginia: sold out.
Washington: sold out.
Wisconsin: sold out.
