iPhone activation servers back online; stock updates from around the world
By Nilay Patel 
posted July 11th 2008 4:28PM
posted July 11th 2008 4:28PM
Update: Most AT&T stores are out of stock -- if you must have an iPhone today, it looks like an Apple store is the only way to go. Have fun in line!
Update 2: You guys are amazing -- keep those updates coming in! Right now it looks like the best place to nab an iPhone is Brandon Mall, in Tampa, Florida: plenty of stock and only 20 people in line. Who's up for a road trip? So much for that -- see below.
Update 3: It looks like Apple is starting to cap lines so that stores can close by midnight or so. How crazy will it be if there are four hour lines for this thing again tomorrow? Keep those updates coming!
Final update for the night: Apple's capping lines so that most stores can close by 11, or midnight at the latest. We'll do this all again tomorrow, thanks for all your help!
NYC:
Cube, 4:12pm ET: Line is two to three hours, they don't anticipate running out of stock.
Soho, 7:42pm ET (updated): Lines have been cut off so the store can close later tonight. [Thanks, Jeff]
14th Street, 4:34pm ET: 4 hour (!) line, "plenty of phones," don't think they'll run out, surprised to see that the line hasn't died down.
Chicago:
Apple store on Michigan, 7:34pm ET (updated 3): Line is GROWING (!), approaching 6 hours, Apple still says "we have enough supply to meet the demand." Lines have been cut off for the night so the store can close at midnight. [Thanks, Dan and Neil]
AT&T on State:
SF:
Downtown, 4:22pm ET: Two hour line, "Quite possible" it'll run out of stock, in stock right now.
Arizona:
Chandler Apple store, 7:27pm ET: 1+ hour wait, hope to be in stock all night. [Thanks, Mitch -- lowercase letters can be fun, too]
Biltmore Mall, Phoenix, 7:24pm ET: 3.5 hour wait, all models in stock. [Thanks, eric]
Belgium:
All 148 Mobistar stores and 30 Apple premium retail stores are out of stock. [Thanks, David.]
California:
Fashion Island, Newport Beach, 6:06pm ET: 5 hour line with plenty of stock. [Thanks, onedollarbill]
Brea Mall, 6:08pm ET: 2 hour line with plenty of stock currently. No guarantee if the phone will be available later on today. [Thanks, Vincent]
Glendale, 7:18pm ET: 3 hour wait, 250+ in line. No word on stock. [Thanks, Adam]
Beverly Center, Los Angeles, 7:29pm ET: 2-3 hour wait. Plenty of stock. Staff anticipates the same tomorrow. [Thanks, Brad]
Manhattan Beach, 7:58pm ET: 5-8 hour line (!), plenty of stock. [Thanks, Emery]
Sacramento: All models in stock [Thanks, Tom]
Stoneridge Mall, Pleasanton 9:47pm ET: "Quite a bit" of stock. Expected to be open until 10 PM. Line is about 2 hours. [Thanks, Richard]
Canada:
Rogers flagship in Montreal: Sold out.
Rogers in Toronto: Sold out. [Thanks, Jonathan]
Quebec (city), Quebec (province), 4:54pm ET: Sold out about everywhere of 16GB, but most still have 8GB. Called at least 12 places. [Thanks, blirette]
Regina, Saskatchewan: Sold out in 30 minutes. [Thanks, Chris]
Connecticut:
Westfarms Mall, Farmington, 6:39pm ET: Stocked. 30-45 minute line. [Thanks, jhemming]
Denmark:
Sold out by 1pm. [Thanks, Jakob]
England:
5:05pm ET: O2 and Carphone Warehouse both mostly sold out. [Thanks, Hugo]
Florida:
Brandon Mall, Tampa, 8:00pm ET (updated): One hour line, only 16GB white models in stock. [Thanks, Mauro and Jake]
Jacksonville, 6:47PM ET: 1-2 hour line, still has stock. [Thanks, Corey]
Georgia:
Lenox Mall, Atlanta, 6:36pm ET (updated): 6 hour wait, 250 people in line. Guaranteed to get an iPhone today if in line now. All local AT&T stores are out of stock, but there will be stock at 9:00am tomorrow. [Thanks, Patrick and Benjamin]
Germany:
5:59pm ET: Most T-mobile stores only had 3 phones each, out of stock all over the country. [Thanks, Jan]
Illinois:
Northbrook Apple store, 7:36pm ET (updated): Two hour wait, no word on stock. [Thanks, Neil]
Old Orchard Apple store, 2:15pm ET: 100+ people in line, still in stock.
Oakbrook Apple store, 7pm ET (updated): Two hour line, "plenty" in stock. [Thanks, Chris]
Woodfield Apple Store, 5:24pm ET: Over 100 people in line, no word on stock. [Thanks, Eric V.]
Indiana:
Keystone Mall, Indianapolis: Sold out at 6pm of 16GB black. [Thanks, Jason -- what's the line like?]
Ireland:
O2 is sold out, very few in Carphone Warehouses. [Thanks, Conan]
Maryland:
Towson Mall, Baltimore, 7:23pm ET (updated): 5-6 hour line (!), probably enough stock for tonight. [Thanks, Don]
Massachussetts:
Boston Apple store, 5:59pm ET: Perhaps 150 people in line, no word on stock [Thanks, Morgan]
Mexico:
Sold out in most big cities in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Queretaro, Puebla, etc.). More shipments expected in eight days. 16GB models are particularly scarce, with only 8-20 per store. [Thanks, Ed]
Mississippi:
All AT&T stores in Southern Mississippi are sold out. [Thanks, Logan]
Missouri:
St. Louis, MO, 5:34pm ET: All ATT stores out by 10am. Both Apple stores are in stock, with 5 hour lines apiece. Word is more people than stock. [Thanks, Omar]
West County Apple store, St. Louis, 7:56pm ET: 1.5 hours line, out of 16GB black. Open till 11 cst. [Thanks, Omar]
Netherlands:
Sold out.
New Jersey:
Menlo Park, 6:57pm ET: 150 people in line, 5 hour line. Stock expected to run low (but not sure if "out") before
the end of the night. [Thanks, George]
Short Hills, 7:20pm ET: 2 hour wait and enough stock for the night. [Thanks, Ryan]
New Mexico:
Uptown Apple store, 7:16pm ET: One hour line, 16GB black is out of stock, not sure how long remaining stock will last. [Thanks, DizzyD]
New York:
Eastview Mall Apple store, 4:45pm ET: One hour line, out of 16GB phones, "limited" 8GB left, those at end of line likely won't get one. [Thanks, zak]
North Carolina:
Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh, 5:05pm ET: 300 - 400 deep, 3-4 hour wait, "might" have enough for tonight.
Southpoint in Durham, 5:05pm ET: 200 - 300 in line, 2 - 3 hour wait, should have enough for those in line right now, but could sell out tonight.
Norway:
Netcom sold out online stock in 60 seconds. All retailers out of stock, with new supplies due Wednesday (online) and/or Thursday in retail stores. [Thanks, Per-Olav]
Pennsylvania:
King of Prussia, Philadelphia 6:47pm ET: 2-3 hour line, plenty of stock.
Ardmore, Philadelphia 7:38pm ET (updated): 2-3 hour line, plenty of stock. [Thanks, Ryan and Michael]
Switzerland:
All stores ran out of stock well before noon. [Thanks, Stefff]
Tennessee:
Nashvile Apple Store, 7:45pm ET (updated): 4 hour wait, 250 people in line, plenty in stock. [Thanks, Josh and Ryon]
Texas:
The Domain, Austin, 5:35pm ET: 3 hour line, but plenty of stock. [Thanks, ttrentham]
Highland Park, Dallas, 7:58pm ET: 2 hour wait, plenty of stock. Closing at 11pm. [Thanks, Kenneth]
Utah:
Salt Lake City, 8:07PM ET: First Apple store to go out of stock. [Thanks, Ethan]
Virginia:
Clarendon Mall and Pentagon City, Arlington, 6:25pm ET: both stores have had a 2.5-3 hour line basically all day; neither anticipates running out of stock this weekend. [Thanks, Matthew]
Tyson's Corner, 5:30pm ET: 6 hour line, plenty of stock [Thanks, Andy]
Washington:
Bellevue Square, 8:00pm ET: in stock, 2-4 hour wait
University Village, 8:00pm ET: in stock, 2-3 hour wait [Thanks, David]
8:40 PM Pacific time: Just got back from the South Coast Plaza Apple Store in Costa Mesa, CA. Line was crazy long. Too long in fact. No idea how many phones on hand.
Stopped at the Cerritos AT&T Store on the way back. Sold out.
Ate dinner and bought shoes faster than anyone got a phone. They were basically letting one person in for every person leaving the store. One couple I talked to had been in line for 4 HOURS! FTW!
This is complete crap. Apple needs to rethink how it sells iPhones and how they are activated. Allow pre-orders. Allow at home activation. Allow ease of use. AT&T is charging enough. They could at least let the user feel like they're getting some ease of use for the privilege.
I loathe AT&T. I'd rather go to the DMV than set foot in an AT&T store. The hard sell combined with the incompetence of the staff is just infuriating.
I hope Congress and/or the FCC fix this mess. Cell service should be like internet service: Bring your own gear. Then you'll see some real innovation, improved service, better coverage, and most of all, lower prices through competition.
I waited in line at the Apple Store in the North Shore Mall in Peabody MA for about an hour and a half. There were plenty of 16 giggers, I got one of the last black 8s. I had called all the local ATG shops and all had sold out by about 10am. I got mine at about 7:30pm - activation and number port from ol T-Mob was fast an simple.
I did, however, experience an Apple employee freaking out in the parking lot. She was talking on her phone about how they were asked to take only half hour breaks during the 10 hour shift. Ouch.
Okay, here's what I experienced today. If many people also experienced this AT&T is about to loose a few customers.
I live in Juneau Alaska. I arrived at 8:30am thinking "people will be working... there's no way there will be much of a line". There were about 25 people in line when I arrived.
About 5 minutes after having gotten in line I asked one of the AT&T reps out for a smoke "Do you have enough phones for everyone here?". He replied that he was not a sales person and did not know. After about another 30 minutes I asked a sales rep walking outside "Do you know if there are enough phones for everyone here?" her response was "We don't know how many we have." Seriously that should have been a clue I was in for a fun morning.
An hour or so later I hear a sales rep telling a lady that she will have to pay FULL PRICE for her iPhone because she is after her initial 30 days of her contract, even though she already has an iPhone & plan. I spoke up. I told her she was wrong and that if you already have an iPhone you pay the $199/$299 price with the $18 upgrade fee. She didn't really listen to me so I pulled out my 2G iPhone, went to YouTube and searched for the iready video so I could educate her.
The sales rep asked me to come with her and she walked me into the managers office and shut the door. I showed the manager the iready video explaining their pricing for current iPhone owners... it was news to EVERYONE. I couldn't believe it! These people have no f*ing clue what they are doing!!!
I get back in line where I wait another hour and I'm finally standing inside the store. You know it's 50deg here today in Juneau AK so it was nice to start warming up a little. We waited inside for about 30 minutes and then, the manager came out and said, "We have enough phones for these two people and that's it." as she points to two people about 5 heads in front of me.
She then goes on about how you can stay and sign up for your new, more expensive plan and pay for your phone and leave with nothing, and that in about 7 days they should get some more.
Adding all the iTunes activation issues, and bad information and over charging and the dumbest sale people to walk the Earth... this has been the most unfulfilling experience I have had in a LONG time!
The part about Salt Lake's Apple store being out of stock is wrong. It has had stock all day and there is still a long line outside the store as I speak.
Rogers - Winnipeg (Canada)
Sold out of 16Gb everywhere, most places seem to have 8Gb in fairly high quantities.
Out of stock at Old Orchard AT&T, but reps there said shipment tomorrow "likely" apple store in old orchard reportedly has 1k+ units in stock RIGHT NOW.
Was at an AT&T store which sold out stupidly fast this morning...
I already paid and committed to receiving one when they get their next shipment in next week, but had no idea that Apple stores were so stocked.
I wouldn't mind waiting in a 2-hour line this weekend for one. Is this a bad idea, since AT&T won't be getting theirs until mid-week next week?
They notify you when it comes in, and after 7 days if you don't pick it up they cancel your charge.
By the way...I'm in the northern suburbs of Chicago...
Wow i was hoping to do what i did last year for the iphone release and go the next day lineless. But guess that wont be happening.
What I experienced today at the Grove, CA
07:30 got into the line.
12:00 went into the store, waited in another line
12:25 started the purchase, activation
12:55 left the store with an activated phone
almost 5 and 1/2 hrs total.
But they were nice to the waiting ppl, they distributed bottle water, donuts, coffee, tropicals along the line for free.
Just wanted to share my experience at the Manhattan Village store:
6:00 AM; woke up and started the wait....
12:00 PM; local restaurants profited from the lines and started taking take-outs orders...
3:30 PM; headed in the Mall with another 30 minutes wait.
A whole 9 - 10 hour wait.....but I think it was well worth it!
BTW, I was number 185. There was at least 300 behind me!
Austin Texas: There are a few places (apple store in the domain) that have lines. At about 3 pm today I walked into an ATT store in a hidden, southern part of town. There were NO lines and there were only about 3 customers in the store. I walked right up and started playing with a 3g display unit and started chatting up one of the clerks. She said they had plenty of stock and had anticipated lines (they had cases of water just in case the lines lasted til the hot afternoon) but she said that morning that their line was never more than 45 minutes long.....
So, if you are looking for a good place to go tomorrow to avoid whatever lines that may survive til tomorrow.. Cheers
My wife and I were the last customers in the store at Southpoint in Durham, NC. They did not sell out tonight and are reopening at 9:00 am. Good luck all.
Lenox Mall, Atlanta, 6:36pm ET (updated): 6 hour wait, 250 people in line. Guaranteed to get an iPhone today if in line now. All local AT&T stores are out of stock, but there will be stock at 9:00am tomorrow. [Thanks, Patrick and Benjamin]
Complete BS. Was told several times we would get an iPhone today...can't control AT&T's ability to screw people over. Servers were up and down all night and at 1:30 this morning we were told they were down for the night.
A total of 10 hours wasted thanks to an empty guarantee. Customers were given claim checks to reserve the iPhone of their choice and obtain cut the line privileges in the morning.
San Diego Report: Apple store in UTC mall closed at 11:00 p.m. and sent home about 100 people who had been standing in line with "go to the head of the line" "VIP" cards for tomorrow. Still has stock of all models. Tammy
Mission Viejo, CA was only able to do 15 sales per hour and closed at 10:00 PM. There were about 120 or so people in line at 9:00 PM....they were advising the last 105 people come back in the morning :/
Plenty of stock from what i heard.
Waited 4 hours in line at the Pasadena store tonight. At about 10PM, we were just 40 feet away from the door, and the line just stopped. A few minutes later, one of the assistant managers came out to deliver bad news to the group: that EasyPay was malfunctioning, and that they could not sell any more iPhones tonight.
He claimed that the problem was not limited to our store, and that there were many customers inside whose activations were caught in limbo. I talked to a guy at 11:30PM who said that his old phone doesn't work, and he still doesn't have an iPhone.
I don't envy the asst. manager's position, and a lot of people were pointing heavy artillery at this poor messenger.
Most o2 stores in the UK are telling people to ring back at 1pm as they are expecting a delivery of both 8GB and 16GB iPhones. They are also allowing people to reserve their phone.
Ouch - someone is getting very fired at Apple over this. Totally nuts.
In line at Tysons in Virginia, about 100 people in right before 9am.
There were about 30 in line at the ATT store around the corner.
Apparently it is a fire code violation to sit on the floor
So let me make sure I get this straight. Even if I'm an existing ATT customer with a 2 person family talk, the only way I can get two phones is if I physically have someone with me?
I was in the main Rogers Toronto store at around 7:30 Friday. They were still selling iPhones, they were not sold out. I asked a rep and she said she guessed they had sold about 100 phones so far.
Got my phone yesterday morning and was using it to make calls by 9AM. There was a bit of a wait while they sorted out the connection issue, but I suppose I was one of the lucky ones.
Hang in there, those of you who want the new iPhone 3G; it's worth the wait.
And for the trolls who are stuck on their Windoze machines and just want to hate anything that doesn't reek of Windoze glitchiness--go play with your Zune!
As of 9:30 am, Saturday, July 12th, the Clarendon, VA store was sold out of 16 GB Black units. --The guy in front of me got the last one. When I left, empty-handed, the line was probably 80 to 100 people long, so maybe a 2 to 3 hours wait.
I left the store a while ago, but as of 11ish am the Indianapolis Apple store at the Fashion Mall had all models in stock. There were 140 people in line with an estimated 2-3 hour wait.
On the upside, activation only took about 30 seconds and went through first try!
Called the Soho and 5th Ave NYC stores and they both had three hour lines this morning.
The iPhone 3G is out of stock at the T-Mobile stand in the Saturn store on Tauentzienstrasse. They still have it around the corner in the second T-Mobile outlet and only black 16GB models 2 kilometres away on Ernst-Reuter Platz in the Gravis Apple Store.
And they didn't want to sell me one without a contract. Go figure...
Aaaaaaaaand I forgot to mention this is in Berlin in Germany. :)
Hey guys,
So I waited in the line @ Menlo Park Mall in Edison, NJ (one of the largest lines on the list).
I encourage you to read my post below about my 9 hour drama in line:
http://arthurfreydin.com/experience-from-the-iphone-3g-line-beyond/
Santa Monica Apple Store @ 3rd Street - 12:20 PDT
At least 2-3 hours according to a store rep: "Line as long as it was yesterday". Activations "vary in length". Recommending people wait until next week unless it's urgent.
Now, do I consider it "urgent"? Hmm...
Both St. Louis locations are out of the Black iPhone models. West County had 6 white remaining; Galleria had enough for a 30 minute line.
Wait at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA is over 5 hours. I just got my phones!
3-5 hour wait on the 11th in sydney, aus at our new apple store. almost all optus shops seem to be out of iPhones, telstra seem to be ok, vodafone still have some stock, mostly 8gig from what ive heard. also heard 1st hand of a 9 hour wait at the apple store on the 12th. stocks at apple store seem to be fine and was told "apple won't let us run out"
3G Activations Problem Fixed New in iPhone 2.0Click Here to Activate 3G in iPhone 2.0Errors and Problems in iPhone 2.0, Applications, Firmware, Features and much more abt apple 3G mobile
How do i fix this on my iphone 3G?
When I try to get an application from the apple store it tells me to put in my password and then gets ready to download and then it goes away and then it says "this application could not be purchased at this time. Please try again later......and then i try again later and it doesnt work again!!! and i have restarted it like so maybe times.
I hope you guys can help me
thank you for your help