World of Apple

Apple is set to open its newest Apple store in Leicester on September 4 this year.

The store which will reportedly take up 577 square metres will be located in the Highcross shopping development in Leicester, UK.

Apple is continues recruiting staff for stores in Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol and White City, London.

On Thursday Apple showed off its first Apple Store in China to the media. The store which is situated in a new retail development known as the Village at Sanlitun Northeast of Beijing.

The Apple store will open at 10am on July 19.

The Wall Street Journal has posted some pictures from the media opening day and as always ifoAppleStore is offering complete coverage of the store opening.

“This is the first of many stores we will open in China,” said Ron Johnson, Apple’s senior vice president of retail, in remarks at the store. He later added that Apple will open stores “in Beijing, in Shanghai and beyond,” and confirmed that another store will open in Beijing’s Qianmen area, a shopping street south of Tiananmen Square that has been renovated ahead of the Olympic Games, which begin next month.

Apple has today posted guidelines on what to bring and how to get your hands on an iPhone 3G this coming Friday.

The Apple Retail Store is the perfect place to get your iPhone 3G. When you arrive, a Concierge in an orange shirt will direct you to the iPhone bay where you can take advantage of our free Personal Setup. A Specialist will help you choose an iPhone 3G, review coverage maps, select a rate plan, and — best of all — have your new iPhone 3G ready to make calls, browse the web, and receive email right on the spot.

As with in the UK, Apple notes that stock of the iPhone is limited,

iPhone 3G will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and sales will start at 8:00 a.m. Arrive early to get in line as daily quantities are limited by stock on hand.

In order to purchase and activate an iPhone 3G, you will need:

• Credit card
• Social security number
• Valid, government-issued photo ID
• Your current wireless account number and password or PIN (if you’re new to AT&T)

Apple reminds users to sync their current iPhone one last time before purchasing a new iPhone 3G.

Apple also offers advice to business customers wishing to sign-up for an iPhone 3G:

Current and new iPhone users who now receive or will receive service under a corporate account and wish to purchase iPhone 3G need to contact AT&T directly. Also, if you want your Phone to access your business email account, check with your IT manager first.

Gizmodo has posted photos of iPhone 3G store displays, the units are very similar to last year with the giant oversized model iPhone showing a video of the devices functions.

Mac Rumors reports that AT&T stores are due to get the displays tomorrow:

Beginning July 8th you will receive the new iPhone 3G demo devices at your store to enhance your sales process. These devices will be used the same as your 2G demo devices in your sales process but now you can demonstrate the additional capabilities of the iPhone 3G including the App Store

Apple Stores in the US are rumoured to be opening at 8am to mirror AT&T stores, iPhones will be activated within Apple stores and cannot be paid for with cash.

It should also be noted that iTunes 7.7 which is required for iPhone activation should be released sometime Tuesday, just in time for the New Zealand iPhone launch.

Apple’s first foray into China with retail stores is set to open on July 19 at The Village at Sanlitun shopping complex which is northeast of Beijing.

Today MacPlus.net has posted photos of the interior of the future three-level store including the glass staircase, back-lit wall graphics and stainless steel interior panels.

Shanghai Daily reported today that Apple will open two new retail stores in Beijing prior to the Olympics which kick off in August.

The first store will open in the Sanlitun area of the city which is said to be a fashionable bar district. According to an industry insider the three-story Apple store will open its doors on July 19.

The second Apple store will reportedly open in Beijing during the Olympics.

AppleInsider is reporting on a 3-page document that has been distributed to Apple retail and sales personnel. The document outlines 17 common questions that Apple retail staff may have to face during the weeks leading up to July 11th. Apple also urges employees not to “peculate beyond the information that is public today”.

“You may not place iPhone 3G on hold for anyone. No exceptions. Do not create a waitlist,” explains the document and continues, “It is critical that all stores follow the same process to ensure every customer has an equal and fair opportunity to purchase a phone.”

Employees are being encouraged to call customers who have reserved an iPhone Personal Shopping session on or after July 11th and inform them that Personal Shopping sessions won’t apply to the iPhone 3G.

Employees are being told to say that they “don’t have any information regarding upgrades.”

When asked particular questions regarding corporate and business plans, Apple employees should reply “If your business uses a corporate plan, sometimes called a CRU or IRU plan, you will need to go to an AT&T store to purchase the iPhone 3G for your employees”.

Finally when questioned on iPod touch pricing and whether the unit price will be lowered to match the iPhone, retail employees should reply, “Not that I am aware of”.

With the opening of Australia’s first Apple Store today it struck me that Apple seems confused about the size of its stores. Reading an article on The Age I noted that Senior Vice President of Retail Ron Johnson appeared to tell reporters at the media opening of the Sydney store that it was the second largest Apple store in the world, behind London’s Regent Street.

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Apple’s first retail store in Australia will open on George Street in Sydney on Thursday, 19 June at 5:00 p.m. Apple Store Sydney features two floors dedicated to Macs and iPods and a third floor entirely dedicated to service, including the world’s largest Genius Bar for free advice and personal training through Apple’s popular One to One membership.

“We are thrilled to bring the unique Apple retail experience to Australia,” said Ron Johnson, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail. “This breathtaking new store will be the ultimate place for the people of Sydney to shop, learn and be inspired.”

The Apple Store Sydney has more than 80 Macs and 60 iPods available for customers to experience hands-on, as well as an incredible range of third party products. The store’s knowledgeable staff includes more than 125 locally hired Specialists, Creatives and Geniuses who are ready to share their expertise and offer customers personalised instruction on everything from getting started with a Mac to building their own web page, creating a podcast or making a digital movie.

The Apple Store Sydney is located at 367 George Street, one block North of the Queen Victoria Building.

Nearly 350 million people have visited Apple retail stores since they opened in May 2001. Apple now operates 215 retail stores in six countries including Australia, the US, UK, Japan, Canada and Italy.

Apple has officially announced that it will open its first store in Australia. The Apple Store in Sydney will open on June 19 at 5pm.

The store situated on the corner of George and King Street in Sydney occupies three stories and 14,370 square feet.

The first 2,500 customers through the door will receive limited edition t-shirts.