O2 says Apple's iPhone "no longer available" [updated x2]

[AppleInsider]

O2, Apple's exclusive iPhone wireless provider in the UK, in a message on its website early Thursday announced that both models of the first-generation handset are no longer available for purchase in the country.

The announcement comes less than a week after the carrier's retail partner Carphone Warehouse was reported to have run dry of its supply of 16GB iPhones.

Prior to that, both O2 and Carphone Warehouse announced that the 8GB iPhone was out of stock and would not be restocked because it had been discontinued.

Though O2 does not explain the sudden lack of availability, it's clear to industry watchers that Apple in recent weeks has been depleting Europe of its existing iPhone inventory ahead of a second-generation model that will run on faster 3G wireless networks.

Update: O2 has reportedly told Register Hardware that it’s currently in the process of replenishing stocks of the 16GB iPhone to be sold online, but that its retail stores still have the model in stock.

Update 2: O2's website is again reflecting stock of the 16GB model.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[vinney57]

Oh well that's it then. They couldn't sell enough of them so Apple have pulled out of the UK.

NOT.

3G here we come.

[JCrew7384]

Is it possible that a new iPhone will be released sooner than expected?

I can't imagine Apple/O2 would let supplies run dry over a month before the expected launch date of June 27 (from various rumor sites).

UNLESS this is to prevent people from purchasing within a 30 day window and returning for the free upgrade to the latest generation... Would that make sense?

[801]

Apple cannot leave the pipeline empty that long. There has got to be something afoot directly. It is one thing to create demand, it is another to lose business.

[walshbj]

Originally Posted by JCrew7384

Is it possible that a new iPhone will be released sooner than expected?

I can't imagine Apple/O2 would let supplies run dry over a month before the expected launch date of June 27 (from various rumor sites).

UNLESS this is to prevent people from purchasing within a 30 day window and returning for the free upgrade to the latest generation... Would that make sense?

I'd say you're right JCrew. Apple got tired of the cry babies. Anyone who bought in the last month or two obviously doesn't care about 3G. Anyone who DOES cry is on their own, they can't legitimately say they had no idea new phones were coming. The smallest bit of research would have told them to wait.

It will be interesting to see if the phone supplies dry up *everywhere* in the US.

[Tailpipe]

This is an extraordinary story. I cannot imagine any other consumer goods company doing anything similar. You've got to be very confident to leave the channel empty for so long! So Apple must be really pleased with iPhone 2.0. Here we all are chasing tidbits of info about it, My money is on the same kind of hype that accompanied the launch of the first one.

[fpsanders]

Would there be any chance of an European premiere for the iPhone 3g? That would be fun... (except for us Dutchies who are still standing out there in the cold :-()

[parky]

You would assume that Apple would want the V2.0 phone software available to launch at the same time as the V2.0 phone. Still it could come out with the V2.0 phone and be released for the older models later.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by fpsanders

Would there be any chance of an European premiere for the iPhone 3g? That would be fun... (except for us Dutchies who are still standing out there in the cold :-()

It's possible. One of the oft cited problems with launching in the USA is you have to disclose details to the FCC weeks before the launch date, killing demand not just in the USA but in Europe too. If they launch in Europe they don't have that problem. Then again if you've no stock left to sell, 'demand' is academic.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JCrew7384

UNLESS this is to prevent people from purchasing within a 30 day window and returning for the free upgrade to the latest generation... Would that make sense?

That does make sense. Why have so many EDGE iPhones sold just to have most of them returned within 30 days. That means the sales people have to sell a phone twice and do a refund and rescind contract too. That is a costly pain in the ass.

With this move from EDGE to HSPA there isn't a single solution that makes a profit during this transition, but at least Apple's marketing is trying to turn it into free publicity.

[orion99]

THis story is another example of where AppleInsider attempts to make it sound that they have broken this story. The credit should be given to Engadget who broke the story.

[ascii]

If they keep selling the current model right up to the release of the new one, they will just get a lot of returns and it will be a pain in the bum. 4 weeks will be gone before we know it.

[AmmoniaD]

It would be great if 3g were getting launched earlier than we all think, but it looks to me like Apple screwed the pooch on this one and just completely blew the estimate for when Europe would run out of stock... it wouldn't be the first time. Apple seems to have a chronic problem estimating supply needs...

[aegisdesign]

Just a quick point but O2's return policy is 14 days, not 30.

http://shop.o2.co.uk/FAQ?category=Re...HANGE_MY_PHONE

Apple UK's return policy is also 14 days.

http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/he...r/returns.html

[tadunne]

Originally Posted by orion99

THis story is another example of where AppleInsider attempts to make it sound that they have broken this story. The credit should be given to Engadget who broke the story.

Naa O2 broke the story it was on their website first

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

Just a quick point but O2's return policy is 14 days, not 30.

http://shop.o2.co.uk/FAQ?category=Re...HANGE_MY_PHONE

Apple UK's return policy is also 14 days.

http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/he...r/returns.html

Nice find. I thought it was 30 days, too, but that may be the contract itself.

[NOFEER]

couple ideas: maybe the initaitial 2-3 million "ordered" (by rumor) is for european launch
nd THIS would quell the mass exodous of unlocking from USA due to the weak dollar
and as above, work through the FCC issues. but nobody wants to RUN OUT OF A HOT ITEM, talk about lost revenue, stinks of poor inventory control and manufacturing planning unless the above is true, IF EU first it will kill sales in the US till the US version is here. Hmmmm poor planning vs strategic salivation!!!!

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by JCrew7384

UNLESS this is to prevent people from purchasing within a 30 day window and returning for the free upgrade to the latest generation... Would that make sense?

If this explanation is to be believed, 3G iPhone for sale on May 22nd of June 8th people! Woo Hoo!!

Reasoning is as good as anybody elses...

[drjjones]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

If this explanation is to be believed, 3G iPhone for sale on May 22nd of June 8th people! Woo Hoo!!

Reasoning is as good as anybody elses...

Got that right .

[gladgd]

I find it very disappointing that AI has followed the lead of other sites and headlined that the whole country is sold out (even if it is with a question mark). The partners are sold out but a 30 second check would have revealed that the phones are still in stock via Apple themselves, with the online stored quoting 24 hour dispatch.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by gladgd

I find it very disappointing that AI has followed the lead of other sites and headlined that the whole country is sold out (even if it is with a question mark). The partners are sold out but a 30 second check would have revealed that the phones are still in stock via Apple themselves, with the online stored quoting 24 hour dispatch.

So that points to an 02 stocking issue, not an Apple one.

I guess we can put down our pitchforks and torches until we find something else to badmouth Apple for.

[federmoose]

Originally Posted by gladgd

I find it very disappointing that AI has followed the lead of other sites and headlined that the whole country is sold out (even if it is with a question mark). The partners are sold out but a 30 second check would have revealed that the phones are still in stock via Apple themselves, with the online stored quoting 24 hour dispatch.

That is an entirely different story then. Probably means we're within the ballpark of a new iPhone, and O2 thought they had ordered enough to hold them out until then. O2 miscalculated, and is now getting a few more from Apple's stock to hold over for the next bit.

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by gladgd

I find it very disappointing that AI has followed the lead of other sites and headlined that the whole country is sold out (even if it is with a question mark). The partners are sold out but a 30 second check would have revealed that the phones are still in stock via Apple themselves, with the online stored quoting 24 hour dispatch.

You're right. Though I must say that O2's website was grossly misleading earlier in the day. They are now reflecting stock once again and the "no longer available" message has been removed.

Best,

K

[fpsanders]

this is getting very confusing. What the HELL is going on???

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Kasper

They are now reflecting stock once again and the "no longer available" message has been removed.

When you click on 'Find Out More' you are taken to another page that has the 16GB in stock and stating that 8GB is sold out.

[fryke]

This is hilarious. Next time someone says something like "out of stock", please do not start to jump up and down and breathe this heavily just yet. Pure over-reaction, this whole thread.

[federmoose]

Originally Posted by Kasper

You're right. Though I must say that O2's website was grossly misleading earlier in the day. They are now reflecting stock once again and the "no longer available" message has been removed.

Best,

K

Good updates. Thanks!

[Owlogic]

Is anyone aware of o2's replacement policy for lost/stolen iPhones?

Like many people I pay for insurance on top of my tarrif, and was assured I could get a replacement phone for £25 should misfortune befall me. If they can't replace it what am I now paying for? And when there is only a new iPhone available will they replace lost phones with new models?!

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

Just a quick point but O2's return policy is 14 days, not 30.

http://shop.o2.co.uk/FAQ?category=Re...HANGE_MY_PHONE

Apple UK's return policy is also 14 days.

http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/he...r/returns.html

Yeah, I was wondering where that 30 days came from! There is also a 10% restocking fee.

[PG4G]

I'd say that anyone who wants an iPhone would go online. This is press! O2 is preparing for iPhone v2, and Apple will have said "let your stores run out, you don't want all the return claims anyway" and knew that it would tip us into knowing something big was coming.

Either that or Steve is playing with us

I find it very fishy that demand in an area that was OVERestimated is now radically under-estimated. This seems like there are other reasons involved. Besides, the wording "No Longer Available" is very different to "Not Currently Available" and implies two totally different things. First, O2 knows as well as we do that 3G is coming, and even if they did underestimate, they would just get Apple to bring more in. Shipments like that take a week, not 3 months. So the underestimates aren't a good enough explanation. O2 is holding out on reordering more shipped over to them. They know something, something that tells them it is a good move to finish off iPhone v1 from their stores.

[PG4G]

Originally Posted by Owlogic

Is anyone aware of o2's replacement policy for lost/stolen iPhones?

Like many people I pay for insurance on top of my tarrif, and was assured I could get a replacement phone for £25 should misfortune befall me. If they can't replace it what am I now paying for? And when there is only a new iPhone available will they replace lost phones with new models?!

They will get one in from Apple if they have no stock and will direct that Phone to your current address, working themselves as intermediaries I strongly suspect... That is until iPhone 3G

[winterspan]

Originally Posted by fpsanders

this is getting very confusing. What the HELL is going on???

HAHAHA! no kidding, eh? They have gone mad.

Originally Posted by PG4G

This seems like there are other reasons involved. Besides, the wording "No Longer Available" is very different to "Not Currently Available" and implies two totally different things.

Excellent point. I would assume that anything coming out of graphic design/marketing would get reviewed by some sort of middle management before getting blasted to the website, right? How in the world could something this big get screwed up? Do you think they are somehow using this as a "negotiating tactic" with Apple for iPhone 3G terms ?

[bigpics]

Originally Posted by orion99

THis story is another example of where AppleInsider attempts to make it sound that they have broken this story. The credit should be given to Engadget who broke the story.

Every regular visitor here realizes AI is an aggregator of material from elsewhere -- and they never discuss how much original reportage they do (unlike MacWorld who cultivate visible personalities and pat themselves on the back frequently).

It's a fine point though. Is lack of attribution an IMPLICIT claim of authorship??

Is it possible AI got the info independently or did they just cut and paste from Engaget.

I noticed the whole Flash series was also published in Roughly Drafted -- was it co-commissioned? Borrowed with permission (but not attribution)? Lifted?

Are the owners (and/or reporters) at AI also owners and reporters of other sites? A whole host of questions suggests itself.

Maybe AI needs to comment on who and what it is and what its editorial process and policies are. They certainly gather more info than many sites. It would at least be interesting. As long as they didn't reveal any useful moles.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by fpsanders

this is getting very confusing. What the HELL is going on???

Ah, too many cooks......

Some of these (supposedly) mature Telecom companies come thru as amateurish sometimes....

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Ah, too many cooks......

Some of these (supposedly) mature Telecom companies come thru as amateurish sometimes....

AT&T did it earlier today, too, with a reposting that WiFi is included with iPhone contract just to withdrawal it several hours later. And I can't tell you how many times somethign has popped up on Amazon or Apple's website just to be removed shortly after. I"m fairly certain that we'd know of a lot more companies that have have done this had we been paying more attention.