Apple already padding iPhone 3G supply for second-wave carriers

[AppleInsider]

Although Apple is just coming to grips with iPhone 3G demand among the device's first batch of carriers, the next phase of new carriers should already have the stock it needs to handle its own introductions, AppleInsider has been told.

Those familiar with the launch plans cite Singapore as an example of Apple's likely ability to cope with the early sales rush when the next group of carriers begins offering iPhone 3G on August 22nd.

SingTel is now understood to have registered over 50,000 interested users ahead of its nationwide rollout for the handset, suggesting a high level of demand in a city state whose total population is just nearing 4.6 million. However, people aware of the plans say the telecom provider has already been taking shipments of the phones and has enough supply to match this number of potential customers when the doors open to iPhone sales in one week's time.

The large berth of iPhones reflects how well Apple will stock at least some carriers with its fast-selling device and is a stark contrast to the problems encountered with pre-order campaigns for the original July 11th launch. O2's advance ordering system, although biased towards existing customers, suffered a near-total shutdown within minutes and ultimately sold out within hours. Customers locked out of this system were asked to wait in line with others for retail iPhones.

These and many other retailers worldwide quickly sold out and ultimately forced Apple to devise solutions at its own stores to cope with demand, going so far as to extend store hours on a semi-permanent basis and issue rainchecks to prevent day-long queues.

Whether or not this future round of carriers will truly match demand more easily than O2, AT&T, and others is unknown and may be affected by the prices themselves. Many of these remain unpublished and, in some cases, won't be available until just before the official debut in a respective time zone. Singapore and others are expected to give the iPhone away for free for customers of certain plans, according to AppleInsider's sources.

Apple, however, has expressed little concern over its long-term supply and told investors in July that it was "very confident" that it was ramping up production quickly enough to handle additional countries' iPhone 3G demand without a significant impact on those already cleared to sell the touchscreen device.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[merdhead]

You could legitimately call the next wave of countries secondary markets and they are less important because they have less demand. I think Apple has put two and two together regarding demand and expanded manufacturing so I imagine supply won't be so tight anymore.

[cochran]

Or they just want to stock up on phones...

Because you never know when the manufacturing plant might burn to the ground.

[petermac]

Originally Posted by merdhead

You could legitimately call the next wave of countries secondary markets and they are less important because they have less demand. I think Apple has put two and two together regarding demand and expanded manufacturing so I imagine supply won't be so tight anymore.

I agree with you except India, with a burgeoning middle class market greater than the whole of the USA. The Indian carrier has over 37,000 outlets, if each opened with just 10 iPhones in stock, that's a secondary market I'd want.

Pete

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by merdhead

You could legitimately call the next wave of countries secondary markets and they are less important because they have less demand. I think Apple has put two and two together regarding demand and expanded manufacturing so I imagine supply won't be so tight anymore.

Yeah, I don't see how they will find any buyers in India or China. Excellent point.

[freelander51]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apple, however, has expressed little concern over its long-term supply and told investors in July that it was "very confident" that it was ramping up production quickly enough to handle additional countries' iPhone 3G demand without a significant impact on those already cleared to sell the touchscreen device.

That's funny - here in Belgium it is still old communist style allocation of non existing phones and nonofficial "lists" run by the shop keepers. Just like back in 1986 in the Soviet Union when Bananas were supposed to arrive...

If you are "lucky" you might get 8Gigs in white - oh joy.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by freelander51

That's funny - here in Belgium it is still old communist style allocation of non existing phones and nonofficial "lists" run by the shop keepers. Just like back in 1986 in the Soviet Union when Bananas were supposed to arrive...

If you are "lucky" you might get 8Gigs in white - oh joy.

Beware 8GB iPhones in white as they would be fakes.

Belgium has a lot going for it. They have the best waffles, have brought the world Jean-Claude Van Damme and are home to Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam".

[chunky harlem steamer]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Beware 8GB iPhones in white as they would be fakes.

Belgium has a lot going for it. They have the best waffles, have brought the world Jean-Claude Van Damme and are home to Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam".

Ooooo, good points. It also brought me the first porn I ever saw. Sex life of a belgium beauty queen.

http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0148716/


I've been terrified of porn ever since. It's good to see that the director stayed true to the industry.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Belgium has a lot going for it. They have the best waffles, have brought the world Jean-Claude Van Damme and are home to Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam".

And let's not forget Plastic Bertrand.

On the plus side though, they've the best beer in the world and no "probably" about it.

[sapporobaby]

You can come to Finland and get all the iPhones you want. Sonera is calling people to ask them if they would like one. For the most part the iPhone with its locked to the operator plan has not been that successful. Some people are even returning unopened iPhone boxes to get their money back because Finns simply will not pay full price for something that they can not do with what they will.

[Archipellago]

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

You can come to Finland and get all the iPhones you want. Sonera is calling people to ask them if they would like one. For the most part the iPhone with its locked to the operator plan has not been that successful. Some people are even returning unopened iPhone boxes to get their money back because Finns simply will not pay full price for something that they can not do with what they will.

good for them.

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by Archipellago

good for them.

Exactly. I applaud their stubbornness.

[merdhead]

Originally Posted by cameronj

Yeah, I don't see how they will find any buyers in India or China. Excellent point.

Yeah we all know everyone has got the equivalent of 6 months wages to spend on a phone in those countries.

[my2cents4appl]

Originally Posted by merdhead

Yeah we all know everyone has got the equivalent of 6 months wages to spend on a phone in those countries.

IT is not the average ...but the average of the top 5-10% that matters..there r more $millionaires in India than in US ( most of the money is black and hence not available in official numbers ) ...just check out how much luxury crap like watches, bags, jewelry they sell in India before you make ignorant comments. Have you been there in the last 5 years ?

[my2cents4appl]

Originally Posted by freelander51

That's funny - here in Belgium it is still old communist style allocation of non existing phones and nonofficial "lists" run by the shop keepers. Just like back in 1986 in the Soviet Union when Bananas were supposed to arrive...

If you are "lucky" you might get 8Gigs in white - oh joy.

it costs abt 1000euro for an iphone there right ? and they are still sold out after 1 month ?
how long is the wait, if u know ?

[tdc]

Originally Posted by my2cents4appl

it costs abt 1000euro for an iphone there right ? and they are still sold out after 1 month ?
how long is the wait, if u know ?

525 - 615 euro for an unlocked iPhone (but all available data plans here in Belgium are more expensive than the "obligatory" plans that come with locked iPhones in many other countries, so it comes out more expensive in the end).

The wait is "at least" 8 weeks I've been told in 3 different shops; the local Mobistar shop (= official provider for Belgium) received exactly ONE iPhone last week for a waiting list of several hundred people...

8 weeks = well behind the next wave of countries... if this shop gets 1 iphone a week now, how bad will it be with 20 more countries wanting iPhones???

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by merdhead

You could legitimately call the next wave of countries secondary markets and they are less important because they have less demand. I think Apple has put two and two together regarding demand and expanded manufacturing so I imagine supply won't be so tight anymore.

Umm.. the next wave of countries will have more iPhones sold than the first wave.

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by tdc

525 - 615 euro for an unlocked iPhone (but all available data plans here in Belgium are more expensive than the "obligatory" plans that come with locked iPhones in many other countries, so it comes out more expensive in the end).

The wait is "at least" 8 weeks I've been told in 3 different shops; the local Mobistar shop (= official provider for Belgium) received exactly ONE iPhone last week for a waiting list of several hundred people...

8 weeks = well behind the next wave of countries... if this shop gets 1 iphone a week now, how bad will it be with 20 more countries wanting iPhones???

I was in Belgium last weekend for a few days. IT IS F*KING IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IPHONES ANYWHERE. As you say, it has been weeks and weeks, with another few months to wait for it.

I think Mobistar has given up on selling it. Maybe because they don't feel like selling unlocked iPhones.

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by merdhead

Yeah we all know everyone has got the equivalent of 6 months wages to spend on a phone in those countries.

LOL. The numbers of nouveau rich in developing countries... are huge. Also as a previous poster mentioned, remember many of the developing economies have poorer financial accounting control (though when considering the US system... )

If you know how the target the right crowd in the developing economies you can be successful. Target the wrong crowd, and one will not be successful.

Let's just say the iPhone 3G is going to be very successful.

[aplnub]

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

You can come to Finland and get all the iPhones you want. Sonera is calling people to ask them if they would like one. For the most part the iPhone with its locked to the operator plan has not been that successful. Some people are even returning unopened iPhone boxes to get their money back because Finns simply will not pay full price for something that they can not do with what they will.

Will you be reassigned or fired from your job when administrations change?

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by aplnub

Will you be reassigned or fired from your job when administrations change?

Not sure what you are getting at? I am not a political appointee if that is what you mean. I am just the rank and file salt mine worker.

[RBR]

Yes, but has Apple made any production changes to the iPhone itself? It would be interesting to know if there are either design changes or chip (Quaalcom) changes as a result of experience with the phone so far.

I should hope that Apple have made engineering changes instead of just turning out the same thing with the same problems.

[aplnub]

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

Not sure what you are getting at? I am not a political appointee if that is what you mean. I am just the rank and file salt mine worker.

You answered it. Just curious, thats all.

[addicted44]

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

Not sure what you are getting at? I am not a political appointee if that is what you mean. I am just the rank and file salt mine worker.

Finland is most definitely an exception, if iPhones are not selling. Considering that it is Nokia's home (and Finns are quite rightly quite proud of the company) I bet that the lack of sales has a lot more to do with that than any flaw of the iphone.

For comparison purposes, how well do LG, Samsung, RIM, and other non-Nokia phones sell in Finland? Any data on that would be great.

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by addicted44

Finland is most definitely an exception, if iPhones are not selling. Considering that it is Nokia's home (and Finns are quite rightly quite proud of the company) I bet that the lack of sales has a lot more to do with that than any flaw of the iphone.

For comparison purposes, how well do LG, Samsung, RIM, and other non-Nokia phones sell in Finland? Any data on that would be great.

Nokia is home to Finns but they are also practical. They will easily by a Nokia and have an iPhone. The problem is that the iPhone is locked even after paying €519.00. This is what is pissing off the Finns. They are not used to this and are very proud of their cell technology and the fact that they are arguably the most advanced when it comes to mobiles and mobile services. They see the locking of a fully paid for phone as archaic. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the next few months. I have a sneaking suspicion that the phones will be unlocked in six months. Just my guess, but you never know. By the way, I see quite many SE, LG, and a few Samsung. Can't recall seeing and RIM here.

@aplnub,

I just go with the flow dude. In State you learn to have an opinion of no opinion if you catch my drift.

[Cubert]

"Singapore and others are expected to give the iPhone away for free for customers of certain plans, according to AppleInsider's sources."

Holy crap!!! I'm moving to Singapore!

[wooster]

We in Sweden have Sony Ericsson / Ericsson but people are buying iPhones like crazy anyway. Telia Sonera (the provider) can not get enough of them.

But then I have not met many people that are very fond of their SE P990, M600 or P1i.

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by Cubert

"Singapore and others are expected to give the iPhone away for free for customers of certain plans, according to AppleInsider's sources."

Holy crap!!! I'm moving to Singapore!

LOL dude, the UK (that is teh Englandia) has iPhone3Gs free on about £45 a month contracts, and so on. And only 18 months, not the two year a**-raping that one has to take from AT&T.

[TenoBell]

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

LOL dude, the UK (that is teh Englandia) has iPhone3Gs free on about £45 a month contracts, and so on. And only 18 months, not the two year a**-raping that one has to take from AT&T.

Two years is the standard contract in the US. Nothing specific to AT&T.

[dofo]

I think India will be bigger than some of you think. I do a lot of work over there (I work with a US based tech company), and the pay for skilled and educated workers is going up 15 - 20 % annually, and this has been going on for at least the last 5 years. There are many folks who can afford this, especially those who are 1st level managers or higher - they make good money and are the target for the iPhone. Sure, there are millions of poor, but there are millions of middle to upper class too.

dofo

[RBR]

Originally Posted by dofo

I think India will be bigger than some of you think. I do a lot of work over there (I work with a US based tech company), and the pay for skilled and educated workers is going up 15 - 20 % annually, and this has been going on for at least the last 5 years. There are many folks who can afford this, especially those who are 1st level managers or higher - they make good money and are the target for the iPhone. Sure, there are millions of poor, but there are millions of middle to upper class too.

dofo

The combined population of India and China is supposedly eight times that of the U.S.

[mjtomlin]

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

...They are not used to this and are very proud of their cell technology and the fact that they are arguably the most advanced when it comes to mobiles...

I had a Nokia phone once, it was a piece of junk. After several months of light use a few of the buttons stopped working! I guess that's something to be proud of? That's when I decided to get an iPhone... was able to get rid of my laptop, iPod and cell phone. Couldn't be happier!

[mjtomlin]

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

LOL dude, the UK (that is teh Englandia) has iPhone3Gs free on about £45 a month contracts, and so on. And only 18 months, not the two year a**-raping that one has to take from AT&T.

Other than possibly being stuck at the current monthly fee for all that time, I don't see what the big deal is about having to sign a two year contract!? I would think most people plan on still using a cell phone after two years. I've had my iPhone for almost a year already and can't imagine why I would want to upgrade to a different phone or a different plan or different carrier for that matter. Everything has worked great so far. [knock on wood]

[clockwork-master]

Originally Posted by Cubert

"Singapore and others are expected to give the iPhone away for free for customers of certain plans, according to AppleInsider's sources."

Holy crap!!! I'm moving to Singapore!

So is 3 in Hong Kong, so are some of the carriers downunder in Australia, Nothing here to see, just be prepared to pay about USD$1,000.00 more or less depending over your 2 year contract for the so call top level more expensive plan.

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

I had a Nokia phone once, it was a piece of junk. After several months of light use a few of the buttons stopped working! I guess that's something to be proud of? That's when I decided to get an iPhone... was able to get rid of my laptop, iPod and cell phone. Couldn't be happier!

One bad phone compared with tens of MILLIONS sold, and the #1 phone maker in the world. I think Nokia is safe and can afford to no longer have you as a customer. Just my opinion. Enjoy your iPhone.

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

Other than possibly being stuck at the current monthly fee for all that time, I don't see what the big deal is about having to sign a two year contract!? I would think most people plan on still using a cell phone after two years. I've had my iPhone for almost a year already and can't imagine why I would want to upgrade to a different phone or a different plan or different carrier for that matter. Everything has worked great so far. [knock on wood]

Fair enough. However, for myself and for quite a percentage of people nowadays, we don't *do contracts* as far as possible.

I'm not a fugitive from the law or anything like that (well, not yet, anyway) but my life is too "active" to be tied down...

Maybe it's just because I move around a lot. I've spent at least a few months, sometimes years, in... Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco, London... in the past 15 years or so.

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

Other than possibly being stuck at the current monthly fee for all that time, I don't see what the big deal is about having to sign a two year contract!? I would think most people plan on still using a cell phone after two years. I've had my iPhone for almost a year already and can't imagine why I would want to upgrade to a different phone or a different plan or different carrier for that matter. Everything has worked great so far. [knock on wood]

Some like me go through phones. In the past year alone I have had 3 iPhones (1st Gen 8 & 16 gig, and now the 2nd Gen 16 gig), I have had no less than 5 Nokia's (E90, E51, E61, N95, N81, N82 - my current Nokia). As, Nvidia2008 pointed out, some of us travel quite a bit and having the option to use different SIM cards is useful for us.

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

I had a Nokia phone once, it was a piece of junk. After several months of light use a few of the buttons stopped working! I guess that's something to be proud of? That's when I decided to get an iPhone... was able to get rid of my laptop, iPod and cell phone. Couldn't be happier!

For most people, once you use an iPhone, just like once you use a Mac, for the most part, you can't go back.

I sold my gaming WinXP PC about a month ago, and I was just fiddling with Bootcamp the other day, and I was blown away by how different (and crazy) Windows is.

If I am feeling really "in withdrawal" or something from not playing any games, hopefully a bit of iPhone game action will keep my addiction in check.

My SonyE v600i has served me well. But even trying to surf some WAP page, it's like, WTF. Was/is this supposed to be the best of the mobile Internet? Apple opened up a massive can of whoop ass on all these other mobile companies.

I've ran 3 times this week using runkeeper.com to track my runs. It's what finally I can use for tracking my runs, not having to worry about dongles and shoe sensors, etc. Maybe a bluetooth heart rate monitor or something, with some audio cues, and I don't know how much it can improve, other than full on cybernetic optical implants, "3D virtual integrated landscape projection" and so on...

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

For most people, once you use an iPhone, just like once you use a Mac, for the most part, you can't go back.

I sold my gaming WinXP PC about a month ago, and I was just fiddling with Bootcamp the other day, and I was blown away by how different (and crazy) Windows is.

If I am feeling really "in withdrawal" or something from not playing any games, hopefully a bit of iPhone game action will keep my addiction in check.

My SonyE v600i has served me well. But even trying to surf some WAP page, it's like, WTF. Was/is this supposed to be the best of the mobile Internet? Apple opened up a massive can of whoop ass on all these other mobile companies.

I've ran 3 times this week using runkeeper.com to track my runs. It's what finally I can use for tracking my runs, not having to worry about dongles and shoe sensors, etc. Maybe a bluetooth heart rate monitor or something, with some audio cues, and I don't know how much it can improve, other than full on cybernetic optical implants, "3D virtual integrated landscape projection" and so on...

I use both. For some things the Nokia's are much better than the iPhone and vice versa. It depends on the situation.

For training, I use a Garmin Forerunner 405. Nothing better on the market.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

And let's not forget Plastic Bertrand.

On the plus side though, they've the best beer in the world and no "probably" about it.

I used to watch Top of the Pops as a kid. I have a bunch downloaded from between 1980 to 1983.

I won't deny that they have many great beers, but I am partial to Guinness.