AT&T recommending "Crowd Control Devices" for iPhone launch

***AppleInsider*** · 06-20-2007, 06:55 PM

Wireless carrier AT&T is recommending that its retail store managers acquire stanchions ahead of next week's Apple iPhone roll-out in order to assure an orderly and successful launch.

"You and your landlord need to determine an area outside the store where customer lines should form and whether or not stanchions (standards & ropes or chains) for crowd control are needed," AT&T's corporate offices wrote in memo to store managers.

"Unless you expect a low turn out at your store, Corporate Security and Corporate Real Estate recommend that all Store Managers order stanchions to help form orderly lines as customers wait for launch time."

The memo, which was published over at the Boy Genius Report, also instructs managers to tell their landlord that the iPhone launch will begin on Friday, June 29 at 6:00PM.

"In order to prepare for the launch we plan to close our stores 1 1/2 hours prior to launch time, at 4:30 PM," the memo confirms. "If the landlord questions your plan to close the store from 4:30 - 6:00 PM, explain that all AT&T and Apple stores nationwide intend to follow this plan."

The AT&T communication applies to all AT&T retail stores except those located within enclosed malls.

"Reminder: Inform landlords in all locations that your store hours will be extended until 10:00 PM on Friday, June 29th," the memo added.

Downloads: AT&T memo on "Crowd Control Devices"; AT&T memo on "Sample Dialog."

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

BRussell · 06-20-2007, 07:02 PM

Huh, "stanchion." I learned a new word today.

mstone · 06-20-2007, 07:08 PM

Riot police! Bomb threats! Live at 5 news helicopters! What fun!

josa92 · 06-20-2007, 07:22 PM

lol. the dialog is like a bad commercial from the fifties. but it gets the point across...

SpamSandwich · 06-20-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRussell

Huh, "stanchion." I learned a new word today.

What? You didn't know about the stanchions? Everyone knows about stanchions!

EruIthildur · 06-20-2007, 07:56 PM

Well, I did too, I guess if you type as many posts as he has using a vocabulary without a word you forget what you don't use... Maybe he just forgot.

mrpiddly · 06-20-2007, 08:02 PM

This is why i have a stock pile of tear gas.

Everyone will be waiting in line all calm and ill be standing there in a gas mask. Then right before the store open i will "accidentally" let off some tear gas.

Actually, im waiting for the next gen.

DisneyEcho · 06-20-2007, 08:03 PM

Employees at the two AT&T stores in my area told me they'll be closing at 4 pm and reopening at 6 pm -- and that they'll have security guards there for the launch.

We should bring camcorders, take video of what goes on that night, then post it on YouTube and watch it later on our iPhones!

SpamSandwich · 06-20-2007, 09:29 PM

It's going to be the most incredible product launch since the first Apple Stores opened. ...the anticipation is giving me stomach cramps...

britwithgoodteeth · 06-20-2007, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DisneyEcho

Employees at the two AT&T stores in my area told me they'll be closing at 4 pm and reopening at 6 pm -- and that they'll have security guards there for the launch.

We should bring camcorders, take video of what goes on that night, then post it on YouTube and watch it later on our iPhones!

That would be totally awesome!!!1!!1

BRussell · 06-20-2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

What? You didn't know about the stanchions? Everyone knows about stanchions!

Before I saw the definition, I had actually pictured something like this:

meelash · 06-20-2007, 10:07 PM

lol at the sample dialog. They don't have much confidence in their managers' communication skills.

CharlesS · 06-20-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meelash

lol at the sample dialog. They don't have much confidence in their managers' communication skills.

I think they have even less confidence in their managers' landlords' communication skills.

"Unfortunately, we do not own any stanchions that you may be available to you."

fraklinc · 06-20-2007, 10:40 PM

all am really hoping to see is skype running on it, which will mean the end of the cellular age and the beginning of a new era $29 dollars for unlimited skype out for a year, and then $20 dollar a month for a unlimited data plan voip on a cell phone, already know of people doing it on smart phones

TBaggins · 06-20-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstone

Riot police! Bomb threats! Live at 5 news helicopters! What fun!

Actually, I bet someone does get

a) trampled by other customers
b) tasered by some dumbass cop/security guy
c) mugged/beaten/stabbed for their iPhone, or

d) all of the above (not the same guy though, lol. Now that would be unlucky).

It has all the earmarks of the Playstation 3 riots last Christmas, and that product wasn't even as hot as the iPhone. And its not like cellphone store managers know jack about crowd control.

Someone's gonna screw up, and someone's gonna get hurt. And its gonna be all over the news.

.

nvidia2008 · 06-20-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRussell

Before I saw the definition, I had actually pictured something like this:

Ha ha ah ha I was going to post a reply about Tasers too!!!! w00t

nvidia2008 · 06-20-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBaggins

Actually, I bet someone does get

a) trampled by other customers
b) tasered by some dumbass cop/security guy
c) mugged/beaten/stabbed for their iPhone, or

d) all of the above (not the same guy though, lol. Now that would be unlucky).

It has all the earmarks of the Playstation 3 riots last Christmas, and that product wasn't even as hot as the iPhone. And its not like cellphone store managers know jack about crowd control.

Someone's gonna screw up, and someone's gonna get hurt. And its gonna be all over the news.

You forgot the natural evolution of all this. By the 4th of July Apple will probably already have a dozen iPhone-related lawsuits.

tsvisser · 06-21-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRussell

Huh, "stanchion." I learned a new word today.

I like cheddar flavored stanchions.

ascii · 06-21-2007, 08:23 AM

Crowd control lol. I think they may be overestimating just how excited people might get over a cell phone.

irahodges · 06-21-2007, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpiddly

This is why i have a stock pile of tear gas.

Everyone will be waiting in line all calm and ill be standing there in a gas mask. Then right before the store open i will "accidentally" let off some tear gas.

Actually, im waiting for the next gen.

Nice...I'll bring the gun with rubber bullets!

Yah, I am waiting too...please post some sweet pictures and videos though so I can drool over it!

kilraq · 06-21-2007, 10:36 AM

Am I the only one who thinks that graphic is freaking hilarious?

SpamSandwich · 06-21-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsvisser

I like cheddar flavored stanchions.

I find the stench of cheddar stanchions staunches my taste for luncheons.

bryand · 06-21-2007, 01:31 PM

I think that the main reason for closing the stores for 90 minutes is to ensure that lines form for the launch.

It says, excluding stores in enclosed malls. Usually mall landlords have hours that stores are required to open. So does this mean that stores in malls won't close?

bjojade · 06-21-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraklinc

all am really hoping to see is skype running on it, which will mean the end of the cellular age and the beginning of a new era $29 dollars for unlimited skype out for a year, and then $20 dollar a month for a unlimited data plan voip on a cell phone, already know of people doing it on smart phones

Don't expect that to last forever. There are terms of usage with most data plans on cell phones. VOIP is one of the services specifically banned from use. Cell companies regularly scan for that type of data activity and if you abuse it, they will shut you off.

nvidia2008 · 06-21-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

I find the stench of cheddar stanchions staunches my taste for luncheons.

Brilliant as also related to your username.

DisneyEcho · 06-28-2007, 07:02 PM

I checked back at my local AT&T store. They've now replaced their exterior Cingular sign with a brand-new AT&T sign.

I asked if they still planned to stop anyone from starting a line before 4 pm tomorrow, as they had told me last week.

Nope! They've decided not to try that.

06-20-2007, 06:55 PM	#1
*AppleInsider* Kasper's Automated Slave Join Date: Nov 1997 Posts: 6,171	AT&T recommending "Crowd Control Devices" for iPhone launch Wireless carrier AT&T is recommending that its retail store managers acquire stanchions ahead of next week's Apple iPhone roll-out in order to assure an orderly and successful launch. "You and your landlord need to determine an area outside the store where customer lines should form and whether or not stanchions (standards & ropes or chains) for crowd control are needed," AT&T's corporate offices wrote in memo to store managers. "Unless you expect a low turn out at your store, Corporate Security and Corporate Real Estate recommend that all Store Managers order stanchions to help form orderly lines as customers wait for launch time." The memo, which was published over at the Boy Genius Report, also instructs managers to tell their landlord that the iPhone launch will begin on Friday, June 29 at 6:00PM. "In order to prepare for the launch we plan to close our stores 1 1/2 hours prior to launch time, at 4:30 PM," the memo confirms. "If the landlord questions your plan to close the store from 4:30 - 6:00 PM, explain that all AT&T and Apple stores nationwide intend to follow this plan." The AT&T communication applies to all AT&T retail stores except those located within enclosed malls. "Reminder: Inform landlords in all locations that your store hours will be extended until 10:00 PM on Friday, June 29th," the memo added. Downloads: AT&T memo on "Crowd Control Devices"; AT&T memo on "Sample Dialog." [ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

06-20-2007, 08:03 PM	#8
DisneyEcho Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 52	Employees at the two AT&T stores in my area told me they'll be closing at 4 pm and reopening at 6 pm -- and that they'll have security guards there for the launch. We should bring camcorders, take video of what goes on that night, then post it on YouTube and watch it later on our iPhones! Rich Koster DisneyEcho webMOUSEter Last edited by DisneyEcho; 06-24-2007 at 09:52 PM..

06-20-2007, 09:29 PM	#9
SpamSandwich Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 8,461	It's going to be the most incredible product launch since the first Apple Stores opened. ...the anticipation is giving me stomach cramps... "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground." —Thomas Jefferson Proud AAPL stock owner.

06-20-2007, 10:07 PM	#12
meelash Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,017	lol at the sample dialog. They don't have much confidence in their managers' communication skills. Ain't it funny how countries we "liberate" promptly descend into crime and civil war-Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. ? Countries the "violent Islamists" subjugate end up peaceful, crime-free, and self-sustaining-Somalia,Afghanistan pre-U.S. ?

06-20-2007, 10:40 PM	#14
fraklinc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 206	what if people did they same thing when vista came out lol all am really hoping to see is skype running on it, which will mean the end of the cellular age and the beginning of a new era $29 dollars for unlimited skype out for a year, and then $20 dollar a month for a unlimited data plan voip on a cell phone, already know of people doing it on smart phones

06-20-2007, 07:02 PM	#2
BRussell Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: In rehab for sex addiction Posts: 9,481	Huh, "stanchion." I learned a new word today.

06-20-2007, 07:08 PM	#3
mstone Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 944	Riot police! Bomb threats! Live at 5 news helicopters! What fun!

06-20-2007, 07:22 PM	#4
josa92 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Far, Far Away Posts: 191	lol. the dialog is like a bad commercial from the fifties. but it gets the point across...

06-20-2007, 07:56 PM	#6
EruIthildur Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 165	Well, I did too, I guess if you type as many posts as he has using a vocabulary without a word you forget what you don't use... Maybe he just forgot.

06-20-2007, 08:02 PM	#7
mrpiddly Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 402	This is why i have a stock pile of tear gas. Everyone will be waiting in line all calm and ill be standing there in a gas mask. Then right before the store open i will "accidentally" let off some tear gas. Actually, im waiting for the next gen.

06-21-2007, 08:23 AM	#19
ascii Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 799	Crowd control lol. I think they may be overestimating just how excited people might get over a cell phone.

06-21-2007, 10:36 AM	#21
kilraq Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 26	Am I the only one who thinks that graphic is freaking hilarious?

06-21-2007, 01:31 PM	#23
bryand Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 37	I think that the main reason for closing the stores for 90 minutes is to ensure that lines form for the launch. It says, excluding stores in enclosed malls. Usually mall landlords have hours that stores are required to open. So does this mean that stores in malls won't close?

06-28-2007, 07:02 PM	#26
DisneyEcho Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 52	I checked back at my local AT&T store. They've now replaced their exterior Cingular sign with a brand-new AT&T sign. I asked if they still planned to stop anyone from starting a line before 4 pm tomorrow, as they had told me last week. Nope! They've decided not to try that. Rich Koster DisneyEcho webMOUSEter

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