World of Apple

Macenstein has published an email from O2 sales director, Stephen Shurrock. The email is an apology for the poor service offered during O2’s pre-order fiasco earlier this week.

Shurrock goes into some detail on how O2 strengthened its online systems and tested them prior to launch:

we had invested heavily to add a huge amount of additional capacity, 250 times its normal rate, and back-up systems. We tested this carefully in advance. The massive simultaneous crush, partly created by our open and honest communications approach with the registered community, exceeded even our worst case assumptions. Demand was at 13,000 orders per second. Frankly, we have to admit we just weren’t prepared for this unprecedented level of demand. No website is.

The email continues to state that the next opportunity to purchase an iPhone 3G in the UK will be Friday morning although the director states that “it is likely that stock will be in very short supply for some weeks to come.” and “The amount of devices [per store] will vary… on average a few dozen iPhones in each”.

Full email below.

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O2 has released a press release confirming this mornings issues when the official carrier of the iPhone 3G in the UK had to pull its online pre-ordering system.

O2 writes that demand for the revolutionary device is already at unprecedented levels, far in excess of the original iPhone.

“We’ve never seen any mobile device create the excitement and demand of the iPhone 3G,” said Ronan Dunne, CEO of O2 in the UK. “We want to ensure that everyone who wants an iPhone 3G can get one so we’ll be working with Apple to continually replenish our supplies throughout the summer.”

In response to this mornings issues, O2 confirms that the response was so great that the online store completely sold out of iPhone 3Gs within just a few hours. Though O2 had invested several million pounds to increase the order capacity of the site (with order processing capacity increased by over 250 times its normal rate), at times the site still couldn’t process the sheer weight of demand.

Full press release below.

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Early this morning O2 sent out texts and emails to those who had registered their interest in either upgrading to or purchasing a new iPhone. The messages informed those eligible that pre-orders were now open online.

“If you want to place your order, all you need do is click on the link below on your Mac or PC, select the tariff, select the iPhone 3G model and sign a new 18-month contract online,” stated O2 in its email to users.

The pre-order service was immediately struck with issues and was taken offline, the service was later resumed but again began to crumble and now users visiting the O2 website are greeted with a message stating that “due to huge demand for the iPhone 3G, we’re currently out of stock.” O2 advises those wishing to pre-order to come back on July 10.

Vodafone in New Zealand has announced via email that the iPhone 3G will be available at 1 minute past minute on July 11 at three of its stores (Queen St, Lambton Quay, Columbo St), other Vodafone stores will begin selling the iPhone 3G at 9am that same morning. The online Vodafone store will also begin accepting orders at 12.01am on July 11.

On the other side of the world, O2 has begun accepting pre-orders in the UK. iPhone 3G’s ordered online will be delivered on July 11 and will be able to be activated via iTunes at home.

Despite accidentally revealing the price of pay-as-you-go iPhone’s last week O2 has now confirmed that the units won’t be available until “later this year”.

PC Advisor is reporting that “secret plans” for the UK launch of the iPhone 3G have been revealed to the publication.

The publication claims that a local Carphone Warehouse disclosed the information which stated times and details of the iPhone 3G launch on July 11, these included VIP passes for those who pre-order the iPhone.

Contrary to previous reports the publication notes that O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores will open at 7.02am and as of Monday July 7 customers will be able to pre-order the iPhone online; although O2 has confirmed that iPhones will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

According to the report customers who pre-order will receive a “Welcome Pack” and “VIP ticket.”

O2 has confirmed that it will open its stores in the UK at 7am on July 11 to begin selling the iPhone 3G.

The information emerged yesterday when O2 contacted customers warning of potential stock shortages.

“Orders will be placed on a first come first served basis,” O2 warned, “we will be writing to you again before the 11th with details about how you can place your order.”

AppleInsider has posted an article claiming that O2 Stores in the UK will open at 7.05am on the day of the iPhone 3G launch. This time is well ahead of the stores usual opening times and a far cry from the 6PM launch of the original iPhone.

AppleInsider is also reporting that O2’s policy of offering an unlock code for Pay As You Go phones after 12 months will remain in place for the iPhone 3G.

The unlocking which costs £15 would allow the iPhone 3G to be used on any other network.

After much rumour mongering, O2 has announced the pricing for the iPhone 3G for those wishing to use it on Pay-as-you-go.

The 8GB iPhone 3G will cost £299.99 and the 16GB will come in at £359.99.

Both iPhone models include 6 months of unlimited browsing and Wi-Fi, benefits that will cost pay-as-you-go customers £10 per month afterwards.

[Update] O2 has pulled the page containing the prices as of 23.00 BST on Wednesday June 25.

Mac Rumors reports that worries over huge queues on the iPhone 3G launch day on July 11th may have convinced O2 to allow signups prior to the date.

Unlike like the launch of the original iPhone, customers can no longer buy a handset and activate it onto a contract from home, purchasers must sign up to a contract in-store and the credit check process can be lengthy.

According to Mac Rumors an O2 rep has informed several customers that users will be able to signup for iPhone 3G contracts ahead of the handsets launch:

The main point he told me was this, From July 1st All O2 stores in the UK will offer pre registration Credit checks, You can come in store, have your contract setup for you, and a unique registration code given to you. The contract will simply be “paused” and wont be activated. No details are taken about which model phone you are going to be purchasing.

You can then turn up on July 11th and quote the registration code and then make a standard purchase of the phone and then the contract will become activated.

In other news Stuff Magazine claims that sources have disclosed the price points for the pay-as-you-go iPhones from O2. Stuff claims that the 8GB iPhone will cost £370 and the 16GB £470.

When the iPhone 3G launches on July 11 Apple Stores in the UK will not be taking part in the celebrations, only O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores will be selling the newest iPhone.

According to a report Apple and O2 are working out a method in which Apple can sell iPhones through its online and high street retail stores at the O2-subsidised selling price.

The problem occurs because iPhone 3G purchasers will have to activate their new iPhones in-store, and Apple lacks systems to carry out credit checks in its stores.

“We are currently working closely with Apple to enable them to issue contracts in store. Full details are still to be confirmed,” an O2 spokesperson explained.

The O2 spokeswoman also confirmed that pay-as-you-go (prepay) iPhones, which are expected to be sold at the full price, will be sold in Apple stores, as well as O2 and Carphone Warehouse.

The sale price of prepay iPhones is rumoured to be in the region of £350 (8GB) and £450 (16GB).