Jobs says "don't go to an Apple store" for iPhone
Speaking to reporters at the Wall Street Journal 
All Things Digital conference this week, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs confirmed once again that his firm remains on track to begin shipping the first iPhone handsets in late June .
Apple, along with wireless partner AT&T, will begin selling the $499 and $599 devices through their brick-and-mortar retail stores later this month. iPhone will be available only from Apple and AT&T/Cingular wireless stores and will not be sold through AT&T affiliate stores such as Best Buy electronics retailers.
During a graduation speech last month at the West Texas A&M University, AT&T chief executive Stan Sigman billed the impending Apple handset roll-out as "the largest commercial product launch in the history of electronics."
Apple has yet to make an official announcement regarding a specific release date for iPhone, but Jobs reiterated during a D conference interview with the Journal's Walt Mossberg that his firm remains on track for a "late June" launch.
"Like the last day of June?," quipped Mossberg.
"Yeah, probably," Jobs said with a chuckle.
Editor's Note: A well-placed source has informed AppleInsider that Mr. Jobs was misquoted in a Huffington Post article referenced in an earlier version of this report. AppleInsider regrets syndicating the error.
All Things Digital conference this week, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs confirmed once again that his firm remains on track to begin shipping the first iPhone handsets in late June .Apple, along with wireless partner AT&T, will begin selling the $499 and $599 devices through their brick-and-mortar retail stores later this month. iPhone will be available only from Apple and AT&T/Cingular wireless stores and will not be sold through AT&T affiliate stores such as Best Buy electronics retailers.
During a graduation speech last month at the West Texas A&M University, AT&T chief executive Stan Sigman billed the impending Apple handset roll-out as "the largest commercial product launch in the history of electronics."
Apple has yet to make an official announcement regarding a specific release date for iPhone, but Jobs reiterated during a D conference interview with the Journal's Walt Mossberg that his firm remains on track for a "late June" launch.
"Like the last day of June?," quipped Mossberg.
"Yeah, probably," Jobs said with a chuckle.
Editor's Note: A well-placed source has informed AppleInsider that Mr. Jobs was misquoted in a Huffington Post article referenced in an earlier version of this report. AppleInsider regrets syndicating the error.
Comments
Good luck getting an iPhone on the first day, I bet they will make the announcement the same day it will begin selling, not before as people expects, in an effort to avoid the bad experience of people camping out an waiting forever in line....
I can't wait to try one myself...
He'll say one of two things:
1. He will announce a release date of the iPhone release as "The iPhone goes on sale THIS WEEKEND!"
or
2. "The iPhone is going on sale right now!"
Either statement would be one heck of a way to end a Keynote...
Everyone expects a release date for the iPhone by then, so I don't think it'll surprise anyone.
The HUGE day for Apple this month is obviously on iPhone day. But look for Steve Jobs to announce the release date on Monday the 11th at his WWDC keynote speech. The Famous "One more thing..."
He'll say one of two things:
1. He will announce a release date of the iPhone release as "The iPhone goes on sale THIS WEEKEND!"
or
2. "The iPhone is going on sale right now!"
Either statement would be one heck of a way to end a Keynote...
Maybe they'll sell them right there and then like bags of peanuts at a baseball game.
The HUGE day for Apple this month is obviously on iPhone day. But look for Steve Jobs to announce the release date on Monday the 11th at his WWDC keynote speech. The Famous "One more thing..."
He'll say one of two things:
1. He will announce a release date of the iPhone release as "The iPhone goes on sale THIS WEEKEND!"
or
2. "The iPhone is going on sale right now!"
Either statement would be one heck of a way to end a Keynote...
I doubt this will happen. AT&T won't finish training its employees until the 20th. So any prior date would seem suspect. Also, until Apple opens the iPhone to third party development, there is little reason for any such mention of the device at a once-annual Mac developers conference. From what I've heard, Jobs is pretty gung-ho about Leopard. He's gonna focus on the Mac and let iPhone have its day a bit later in the month.
Best,
K
People will be going nuts come "i-Day"... It'll be like a movie premiere...
No sir. Movie premiers will hereafter be like the iPhone premier.
The HUGE day for Apple this month is obviously on iPhone day. But look for Steve Jobs to announce the release date on Monday the 11th at his WWDC keynote speech. The Famous "One more thing..."
He'll say one of two things:
1. He will announce a release date of the iPhone release as "The iPhone goes on sale THIS WEEKEND!"
or
2. "The iPhone is going on sale right now!"
Either statement would be one heck of a way to end a Keynote...
I'm not smelling a OMT man. He hasn't really used that in a while, has he? Definitely hasn't used the OMT EVENT for a long time. I think I remember someone saying that OMT only comes at Macworld, and I don't THINK he did it at all this year. hmmmm.....
The HUGE day for Apple this month is obviously on iPhone day. But look for Steve Jobs to announce the release date on Monday the 11th at his WWDC keynote speech. The Famous "One more thing..."
He'll say one of two things:
1. He will announce a release date of the iPhone release as "The iPhone goes on sale THIS WEEKEND!"
or
2. "The iPhone is going on sale right now!"
Either statement would be one heck of a way to end a Keynote...
No way will he put it on sale right at the end of the Keynote because that would be extremely rude to all of the conference attendees who paid to attend the workshops, etc and then would not be able to get in line for the iPhone.
I think the launch will be a separate event between Apple and "Cingular is now AT&T" on a different day, but I do think he may announce the date at WWDC.
I don't think there has been any such "report" that that the locations "will" have less than 40. There are only rumors based on guesswork by Cingular people who admit they aren't in the loop.
Maybe Apple can steal the concept of Microsoft's "iPod amnesty bin", and use it to collect all of the phones that people turn in when they switch to the iPhone.
That is a good idea.
I doubt this will happen. AT&T won't finish training its employees until the 20th. So any prior date would seem suspect. Also, until Apple opens the iPhone to third party development, there is little reason for any such mention of the device at a once-annual Mac developers conference. From what I've heard, Jobs is pretty gung-ho about Leopard. He's gonna focus on the Mac and let iPhone have its day a bit later in the month.
Best,
K
It's got to be the end of the month. Apple is doing all the Customer support for the product, they start people on June 4th with training.. for 3 weeks .. Then they will be able to sell and support the phone...
....what if nobody gave a diddly squat about the iphone.....?
I think Jobs is trying to say that demand will be high, not low--which is clearly a good prediction
Apparently, Jobs is unaware that the secret is out. Even so, it has been reported that most AT&T/Cingular locations will have less than 40 units on hand come roll-out, placing the notion of any such advantage by those stores into question.
I dunno...
Given it takes at least 20 to 30 minutes to sign up a new customer if not more (not re-sign an existing)
Given an average store will have what 2 or maybe 3 reps.
At full speed what does that come to...
Three signups @ 20 min per comes to 1 hour times 3 reps thats what 9 phones per hour for say 8 hours straight thats what 72 potential iPhone sales. Oh and that's not taking into account the idea that someone might actually want to see a DEMO of the phone prior to plunking down 500 on it..... also, thats if everyone that comes in that day choses to put out the cash for an iPhone (and it would be safe to say that some percentage of the customers will NOT opt for the iPhone - believe it or not .lol.).I'd be willing to be at around 20-40 iPhones per store is going to be more than enough inventory for the first few days...
It was said (I think) that the iPhone would be available at launch at some 2000 Apple/Cingular stores. If we count on an average of 30 phones per store on launch day that comes out to what 60,000 phones. If the iPhone sells 60k phones in a single day that would be beyond amazing (I would think).
I think Jobs is trying to say that demand will be high, not low--which is clearly a good prediction
And as Ireland points out, it's a clever move on Job's part to make this announcement.
I doubt this will happen. AT&T won't finish training its employees until the 20th. So any prior date would seem suspect. Also, until Apple opens the iPhone to third party development, there is little reason for any such mention of the device at a once-annual Mac developers conference. From what I've heard, Jobs is pretty gung-ho about Leopard. He's gonna focus on the Mac and let iPhone have its day a bit later in the month.
Best,
K
And as Ireland points out, it's a clever move on Job's part to make this announcement.
you think apple and jobs would make the same mistake as Sony and shorting a product I could see them not say anything till that day like they due for every other product.. .. I can see them taking there time to sign people up but they will also be selling over the phone..