World of Apple

USAToday has written a report based on an interview with AT&T’s Larry Carter, senior vice president of sales, on how AT&T is preparing for the launch of the iPhone on Friday June 29.

The article writes that AT&T has added 2000 extra sales persons to stores across the country in preparation for the launch.

To get “iReady” for the big day, Carter says AT&T added 2,000 extra sales people to stores. Half will be there just to help handle the expected early crush of buyers. The other half, he says, will stay long-term to help with extra customers the iPhone is expected to draw to AT&T’s stores.

The exec also explains that not everywhere will have the sale stockpile of iPhones;

Carter would not say which stores will have the biggest iPhone stockpiles, but allowed that iPod users are a “natural market” for the smart phone. As such, he says, stores in areas with big numbers of iPod users — such as New York City, Chicago and much of California — will be well stocked

If your local store sells out, Carter says sales people will take mail orders, and devices will be shipped in 3 to 5 days, inventory permitting. “Ultimately, we will meet every customer’s desire to have one,” Carter says.

The article also explains that there will be more surprises due on June 29;

Carter says AT&T also will announce new service plans for it [the iPhone].

In a sub-article on the same page the online publication interviews Balsu Thandu an AT&T technician who has owned an iPhone for over 2 months.

The technicians have logged more than 10,000 hours on the phone, including more than 5,000 hours of voice calls and near 5 gigabytes of data usage. Most phones, he says, get about half that much test time.

For the actual testing, technicians frequented all the places where consumers go: office buildings, subway platforms, stairwells, elevators, crowded bars, sprawling suburban malls and congested city streets. They also showed up incognito at Apple and AT&T stores.

Thandu says he took the iPhone with him on long runs, sweating all over it. “We wanted to test the limits of it.”

AppleInsider reports that tipsters are noting that “their local AT&T/Cingular wireless stores will temporarily close around 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. and not reopen until 6:00 p.m.”

The move is said to prevent large “mobs” of people crowding into stores prior to the iPhone launch.

“[AT&T stores] will be setting up roped queue lines for when they re-open at 6:00 p.m.,” reports an AppleInsider tipster. “They then plan on staying open till 10:00 p.m.”

AppleInsider notes that some stores in more populated areas are possibly going to open until midnight on June 29.

It appears that some clarification has come out of Apple regarding yesterdays confusion over exactly what time the iPhone would go on sale.

It has now been revealed that the iPhone will go on sale at 6PM local time on June 29th, giving purchasers on the Eastern coast of America a 3 hour head start over those on the West.

The confirmation came from an AT&T memo stating:

The iPhone will go on sale on at AT&T retail stores June 29 at 6 p.m. local time in each market.

iPhone Capable of Flash?

A screenshot of the recent iPhone advert has been posted to Flickr, it points out the portion of the New York Times’ that features a flash video.

It should be noted that the website could simply be fabricated onto the iPhone and does not prove the iPhone’s ability to play Flash.

Flash on the iPhone?

Banners Appear in AT&T Stores

A Mac Rumors user has posted pictures of an AT&T store that shows a banner in the window stating the iPhone release date of June 29.

iPhone Banner in AT&T Store

iPhone Banner in AT&T Store

Apple has released three new adverts for the iPhone, in particular a release date of June 29th has been confirmed in the adverts that have aired on TV.

The first advert called “Never Been an iPod” demonstrates how the iPhone is like no other iPod.

The second is called “Calamari” and shows a user staring of watching ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ but gets a sudden craving for Calamari, a simple Google Maps search for Seafood brings up the nearest location and the user dials the restaurant.

Finally the third ad named “How To” shows How To turn it on, listen to music and more.

Engadget is reporting that sources tell them that Apple and AT&T are working on adding IPTV capabilities to the Apple TV.

The sources state that the release plans are yet to be “worked out”.

Engadget compares the service to AT&T’s current TV service called U-verse (Wiki).

Brier Dudley of the Seattle Times offers an interview with Glenn Lurie, president of National Distribution for AT&T’s wireless operations, responsible for National Retail Operations, National Dealers, Direct Mail/Direct Response, Resale, eStore Sales and Service via Cingular.com, as well as Prepaid/Hybrid Sales

The interview offers background on Lurie and his history with AT&T, but also goes into some details of the iPhone we haven’t heard of in the past.

When discussing the potential success of the iPhone Lurie said;

“The anticipation that we’re seeing, the buzz we’re seeing, at least for me, has far exceeded our expectations of how important this would be to the business and us,”

The interviewer mentioned that he was sceptical on the price of the iPhone compared to current competition, Lurie answered with;

Here’s how I’d explain it. The most popular iPod, a 4-gigabyte Nano, costs $200. If you’ve got a RIM BlackBerry or Palm Treo, you probably paid $200 minimum. Then you’ve got a phone that you got for free or paid maybe $50.

There are other things — you have the widgets, some of the Google applications that are coming — there are just so many things here that the price will not be an issue.

When questioned on whether a subsidy would be offered for the iPhone Lurie said;

We’re not talking about that.

Boy Genius reports has revealed screenshots of AT&T’s accounting that shows the iPhone available to pre-paid users.

Screenshot of AT&T internal accounting system

The accounting system shows three versions:

• iPhone PostPaid
• iPhone PrePaid (Pay As You Go)
• iPhone Hybrid (Pick Your Plan)

For clarification for international readers Cingular describes ‘Pay As You Go’ and ‘Pick Your Plan’ as follows:

Pay As You Go
Pay As You Go is wireless made easy. Simply pay in advance for what you need. No long-term contracts, credit checks or surprise bills - just all the benefits of wireless, with no complications.

Pick Your Plan
Get the best of wireless without long-term contracts or unexpected bills. With Pick Your Plan, you establish monthly automatic payments for service and use the balance on your account for voice minutes or other features. It’s that easy.

At this very moment it is unknown whether this is purely an error on AT&T’s system, but if true it would mean customers could simply pony up the money for the phone and use it with other networks.

The Boy Genius Report posts an article discussing iPhone display cases that will be used in AT&T stores.

The site which states that the information is from a reliable source notes that the display cases require some stores to be rewired as the cases require power and network connectivity.

The cases are also said to be 3ft by 7ft tall, but the site was unable to pinpoint when the cases and iPhone’s would be put on display.

Preperations for iPhone Training

MacRumors is reporting that training for individuals related to the iPhone will begin on May 30th and continue through to June 20th. The site points to after June the 20th for a launch date.

Meanwhile the report goes on to say that AT&T/Cingular technicians have begun visiting Apple Stores around America to test mobile network strength, presumably to aid in the demonstration of network features.

Apple advertises in The Record for iPhone team

Apple also appears to be making preparations for the arrival of the iPhone with an advert in ‘The Record’ a newspaper based in the Elk Grove region of California.

The half page advert reads:

The revolution continues.

This event is invite only, so call 1.866.238.6785 to reserve your spot today.

Apple has also begun advertising in the Elk Grove area for iPhone Personal Trainer’s and iPhone Personal Trainer Team Manager.

AT&T Blocking Out June/July

A report from Boy Genius posts an email sent from within AT&T to employees requesting that they don’t take holiday (vacation) during the period of June 15th to July 15th.

The email reads:

As previously announced, Apple and AT&T will soon debut the iPhone, which combines a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and breakthrough internet communications into one small and lightweight handheld device. The new AT&T has a multiyear, exclusive agreement to provide U.S. service for the iPhone.

I want to thank you in advance for your understanding as this is likely to be the biggest selling period we have seen in a few years.