FAQ: How to Get an IPhone 3G S on Friday

Computerworld — If it's summer, it must be time for a new iPhone.

That's what Apple wants you to think, of course, which is why last week it pulled out the stops -- those it could with master marketeer CEO Steve Jobs still on medical leave -- when it introduced the newest iPhone, dubbed the "3G S."

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The "S," said Apple, stands for "speed," although current iPhone owners who can't buy one at the subsidized price might instead say the "S" stands for "spendy" or "stiffed," or even worse.

Still, the now-annual event will probably draw lines at Apple's retail stores later this week, and unless Apple has filled the pipeline with more inventory than it did last year, shortages of the iPhone 3G S are likely. So how do you get your hands on one? Good opening question. We have more than just that one, though, along with answers, naturally.

Happy hunting.

When does the iPhone 3G S go on sale? In the U.S., Apple's retail stores open their doors on Friday, June 19, at 8 a.m. local time. AT&T's retail stores will open an hour earlier, at 7 a.m. local time, but only for people who pre-ordered via the Web or at a store. (According to The Boy Genius Report, AT&T had sold out its pre-order allotment by Saturday, June 13, and any subsequent pre-orders won't be shipped to a local store for pick-up until seven to 14 days after the order date.)

AT&T will let customers who didn't pre-order into its stores starting at 8 a.m. local time.

Best Buy and Wal-Mart, the other two outlets selling iPhones, will open at their usual business hours on Friday.

What countries get the iPhone 3G S on Friday? Apple said that customers in the U.S., Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. get first crack at the new iPhone. Other countries will begin to sell their shipments of the upgrade starting July 9.

What's the easiest way to get an iPhone 3G S? Apple is taking pre-orders for both models of the iPhone 3G S on its Web site, and claims that it will deliver the phone to customers by June 19 (that's what it said as of Saturday, June 13, anyway). It's taking only single-line pre-orders, however, so people who want two or more iPhones, or want to add a line to an existing account, are somewhat out of luck: Apple will reserve ordered iPhones, but you'll have to retrieve it by going to a retail store.

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