AT&T's iPhone 3G S launch day pre-orders already sold out

Bad news for folks hoping a pre-order would save them from that yearly camp out in front of their local Apple Store: iPhone 3G S pre-orders have sold out, and folks who are making new pre-orders are being told that they'll have to wait up to two weeks to get a phone. AT&T customers who do already have pre-orders in still have to line up at 7AM to nab a phone, but at least they've got a guaranteed slot if they show up, while the rest of the world will have to battle over remaining stock when Apple Stores open at 8AM and AT&T stores open to general customers at the same time. Looks like we might get a good riot or two out of this.

Update: AT&T just pinged us to clarify that it's still accepting pre-orders, but not for delivery on the 19th, and online pre-orders will be shipped directly to your home, so you actually don't have to hit up a store at all. But what fun is that?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[damiaking @ Jun 13th 2009 2:13PM]

wow that was something i wasnt expecting

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 13th 2009 2:22PM]

If anybody wants a good deal on a 3G iPhone that they can jailbreak, make sure you are waiting on line with everyone else waiting to buy the 3GS.

I spent $1200 buying iPhone 4GB's and 8GB's in manhattan on the iPhone 3G line and then I turned around, jailbroke them and sold them on Ebay for $275 each which made me over $3000.

The iPhone 3G regularly goes for upwards of $400 on ebay if its jailbroken.

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jun 13th 2009 2:34PM]

"customers who do already have pre-orders in still have to line up at 7AM to nab a phone"

What the fuck? Why?! Isn't that why we have pre-orders?

[MRCUR @ Jun 13th 2009 2:47PM]

@GRAMMAR POLICE

Actually, I don't think that's true. AT&T's press release specifically says the phones (if you pre-ordered) will be available starting at 7am. That's IF you want to go get it then. Otherwise you can get it anytime afterwards, I believe they even mentioned days after.

[sam @ Jun 13th 2009 2:55PM]

If you pre-ordered a phone before today, you can go any time and pick it up. You are guaranteed the phone on and after the 19th. If you want the phone FIRST, you would have to wait on the line. They are distributing the pre-ordered phones on a first come first served basis. However, if you just wait until later that day or even the 20th when the lines disappear, you can walk right into the store and pick it up.

[Pingles @ Jun 13th 2009 3:14PM]

Thanks for the info, folks. Was in a bit of a panic. Can't get out of work that day but I'm off of work at 2:30 so hopefully I won't have to deal with a very big line.

[sam @ Jun 13th 2009 3:19PM]

@Pingles

No problem buddy. You should definitely be good by 2:30. Did you pre-order it from AT&T though? I was just telling you what I knew about pre-orders from AT&T =)

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 13th 2009 3:59PM]

Just so everyone remembers, this is NOT a minor upgrade as all the Apple Haters suggest. This is MAJOR. If Apple had waited to announce all the software upgrades at WWDC, it would have been even more spectacular, but of course, then the developers wouldn't have had all those months to prepare.

But just so you can keep perspective in the sea of Apple Hate, here's the specs.

600MHz CPU
32 GB flash drive
256MB of RAM
PowerVR SGX graphics chip with support for OpenGL ES 2.0
3 Megapixel Camera
Video with geotagging, automatic focus, white balance, & exposure, at 30 FPS VGA
Digital Compass
Support for Peer-to-Peer Games
Cut, Copy & Paste
GPS Turn by Turn
Stereo Bluetooth
Nike + integration
Tethering
MMS
Voice Dial Commands
Voice Commands for Music
Voice Memos
Aufofill for Safari
Automatic Wi-Fi Login
Parental Controls
Shake to Shuffle
Moblie Me Find My iPhone
Landscape Keyboards for Mail, Messages, and Notes
Enhanced Stocks App
Spotlight Search
Ability to buy Films, TV Programs and Audiobooks
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 13th 2009 4:10PM]

And I forgot to mention all the API support for developers. The new APIs will allow developers to provide:

Peripheral control to the iPhone/touch.
Maps inside applications.
Voice Communication in applications.
Rumbling support for Games
Access to your music from applications
Support for new calendar types.

Great support for those 50,000 apps.

[pedro @ Jun 13th 2009 4:12PM]

I highly suspect that this a marketing ploy, at which Apple are the masters. Claim the device is in contention to drum up interest (like this story), plus you can always show pictures of a bunch of tools waiting in line for it when it is released to show how popular it is.

This is a good strategy for them right now after what is a kinda meh update and the crazed hysteria dying down a bit.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 13th 2009 4:33PM]

@Paul A. Chapel

So that little girl and the boy in blue, are waiting for the iphone. Do you think they know the difference between 3G and 3G S? So much for parental controls.

And out of all that bs you mention, that what makes this phone major. Than phones made two years ago with those specs are MAJOR right?

[Papayaman @ Jun 13th 2009 4:39PM]

ZUNEHDRULEZZ!!!





.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 13th 2009 4:42PM]

paul:
The videos on the 3Gs are not geotagged. Or if they are, iPhoto doesn't use the data. Also, 640x480 is available on $100 phones out there, it's hardly bragable.
GPS turn by turn is only an API, you don't get any turn-by-turn with the 3Gs out of the box.
Everything you list below digital compass except for Nike + integration, voice dialing, voice commands and the fingerprint resistance is available on the iPhone 3G with 3.0 software for free, so isn't really a "huge upgrade" on the new phone.

[jimmy @ Jun 13th 2009 4:46PM]

@pedro

first, i think this is the opposite of marketing, really. Apple is saying "hey, if you haven't ordered your phone, stay home. Don't come out and wait in line, 'cause it ain't worth it."

I guess it's marketing to a point, since they won't now get BAD press for not having enough phones on hand.

Second, to say these new hardware features, along with, literally hundreds of software enhancements, are a "meh" update is seriously underplaying the importance. While some may never use a compass, more memory, twice the speed, video, etc..., many will benefit from the software enhancements (and not the "shoulda been there from the beginning" stuff, but the fact that manufacturers can plug a cheap device into the dock port, and use the iPhones screen and processors to do countless things will change the way consumer electronics are made.

[bluesky_v2.01 @ Jun 13th 2009 4:59PM]

@Paul
I don't know what I should be more excited about: MMS or 'Copy and Paste'?
The only thing that list proves is how much the original iPhone was missing. I could go down the list and explain to you why all (or most) of those features are useless to an average consumer but I really don't want to. And, yet, look at that line-up.
Only apple can announce something as disappointing as 3GS and still come out on top in sales.

[OneLove @ Jun 13th 2009 5:35PM]

LOL. I thought this was an article about Palm PRE-orders. lol. AT&T is da devil!

[bufkadavid @ Jun 14th 2009 12:41AM]

This is a pretty useless debate for me and 99% of other 3G owners because of the fact that none of us are eligible to upgrade. And I'm not shelling out $700.00 for the unsubsidized 32gb model....So let the newbies have their 3GS and next summer when Apple hopefully unveils a trulely kick ass Iphone, all of us 3G owners will reclaim our bragging rights....Or if it's another lame rehash of the Iphone, Palm will be releasing a new Palm Pre around that time.

[CJ @ Jun 14th 2009 1:49AM]

Paul a. Chapel:

Thanks for that bit of irrelevent fanboy ranting.

[haX0r @ Jun 14th 2009 3:00AM]

@Paul a. Chapel - and you still a bad touch screen qwerty. Enjoy!

[Kelmon @ Jun 14th 2009 3:32AM]

@Paul a. Chapel

Thanks, Paul, you've managed to turn a sensible conversation thread into the same ol' boring "iPhone is great"/"iPhone is rubbish" nonsense that we've read many times before. Seriously, why did you do that? Do you honestly think that people don't know the specification, or that if they are in the "iPhone is rubbish" camp that this would sway them somehow?

I was going to continue reading the comments but there's no point now. Cheers for that.

[Cassini @ Jun 14th 2009 4:01AM]

Where's Greg Packer?

[Newone @ Jun 14th 2009 4:39AM]

Maybe they have cutted back on the budget for hired window dressing queues and trying to make a artificial one with misleading press releases?

[nikster @ Jun 14th 2009 8:04PM]

Even on the first day the first iPhone launched, you could walk in shortly after the crazy mob had dissipated - afternoon-ish - and walk out with an iPhone in your hand. I don't expect this to be different. That's because they make enough. The reason for the lines is that there are still people who love this sort of thing, waiting in line and all that. Let 'em have their fun.

[Cris T @ Jun 13th 2009 2:15PM]

Already pre-ordered mine! Just got an e-mail this morning from AT&T saying it will be shipped overnight to arrive on June 19!

[aj_robins @ Jun 13th 2009 4:21PM]

Interestingly, AT&T's confirmation letter says that the iPhone "will be processed to arrive as early as June 19, 2009". They don't guarantee Friday delivery.

It wouldn't surprise me if the AT&T pre-orders arrived over the course of a few days, as I'm wondering if the local FedEx (or whatever shipper they use) can handle the sudden onslaught of thousands (tens of thousands?) of overnight delivery packages. I'd LOVE to be wrong, though.

Also, I don't know about AT&T, but other cell phone companies insist on a signature for package delivery. People who are expecting the overnight delivery iPhones should probably arrange to be home.

[crisss1205 @ Jun 13th 2009 8:33PM]

Yea I know about the signature, I already have arranged someone to be home to accept the package.

[Homeboy @ Jun 13th 2009 2:17PM]

I'm truly shocked by the fact that people would wake up at the crack of dawn to line up for a phone that has been near virtually unchanged since its launched 2 years ago. Sure some welcomed improvements on the software side are worthy of an applause but still. The iPhone craze has gone a bit overhand. I mean, it's not like the 3GS is any much different from the 3G.

[a @ Jun 13th 2009 3:04PM]

Early? I've been at work for an hour already at 7!!!

Why line up when you can have one delivered, anyway? This is the more important question, I believe. I buy just about everything online, other than food.

I have the 2G, so when the new one arrives I'm expecting to have a breeze blowing on my face it is so fast. We'll see.

[ZenStyleJunglist @ Jun 13th 2009 3:25PM]

Yeah no different except for a new processor(600Mhz), more RAM & new graphics chip. Does no on read around here?

[ZenStyleJunglist @ Jun 13th 2009 3:30PM]

I'm don't even like apple hardware & I know this is the first REAL upgrade they've done to the phone. RTFM!!!!

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jun 13th 2009 4:15PM]

I can't tell whether these people are buying the new iPhone 3G S because their contracts are up or if they just want the latest and greatest.

I thought Apple's newest model wasn't that spectacular? I'm partly surprised, but then again, this is Apple we're talking about.

[ZenStyleJunglist @ Jun 13th 2009 4:52PM]

@Liquid.... RTFM!!!

[jimmy @ Jun 13th 2009 4:57PM]

really? can you explain to me how moving from a metal, 2G, no GPS, 4GB, 400Mhz, 128MbRAM, no apps, 4 hour battery phone moving over 2 years to a polycarbonate, 3.5G, GPS, compass, 32GB, 600Mhz, 256MbRAM, 6 hour battery phone with 50,000 apps and external hardware integration is "virtually unchanged"?

I agree that the actual hardware isn't a huge upgrade over the 3G, but to say it hasn't changed in 2 years (since the 2G) is just plain ignorant of the facts.

And on the subject, yes, lots of phones have this stuff already, but they don't have the apps, and don't have the dock-connector potential that the iPhone has. G1 blood pressure monitor? nope. Pre controlling your car stereo? not gonna happen. Tom Tom GPS dock on your Nokia? Maybe turn by turn, but not TomTom. And once that Blackberry gets over-the-air movie rentals, give me a call.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jun 13th 2009 7:39PM]

Zen, lol. RTFM, really? We're on Engadget, I know my shit.

I said this wasn't a "spectacular" model. I expected more.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jun 13th 2009 2:18PM]

Thank fuckin god they sold out, people waiting in a line to get a PHONE, get real people. it's just another phone, nothing real special there. Now the Pre might be something to wait for but meh wait a month and stocks of your precious will be plentiful.

[Ryan McGrory @ Jun 13th 2009 2:29PM]

You insult people that wait for the iPhone as it's just a "PHONE", but then say it's alright to wait for the Pre, hey, that's just a "PHONE" too is it not?

[mirakutea @ Jun 13th 2009 2:34PM]

They are buying into the cool/status symbol effect, not the phone itself.

[roole @ Jun 13th 2009 2:48PM]

@mirakutea

What's your point?

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 13th 2009 3:09PM]

@ROOLE

I thinks she/he just made it.

[Tim @ Jun 13th 2009 3:18PM]

Get over yourself fool. People are not waiting in line, they are just pre-ordering it. The pre-orders are sold out.

That is all... continue with your befuddled life,

[cole2839 @ Jun 13th 2009 4:50PM]

Pre-orders are not sold out. I just preordered one from Apple and it is guaranteed to arrive on the 19th with free shipping.

Also, the hardware upgrades in this phone are substantial even though the outside of it doesn't change much. Anyone who has used a 3G iPhone can tell you it can be a little slow at times especially loading web pages. So the beefed up graphics card, faster processor, and more RAM should make the iPhone 3GS even that much better than the already outstanding iPhone 3G. I could care less about buying a status symbol. I want a great music/video player and if I can get a phone with it, well, that is just a sweet bonus. Also, there are no other phones that can rival the iPhone with regards to applications. The only other phone I'd consider is a Palm Pre but it is still to be shown how its developer community will grow and how good of a music/video player is. Remember, you can't out iPod an iPod/iPhone.

[Jonathan Davidenas @ Jun 13th 2009 6:16PM]

Cole2839,
I think it's important that you know that the online pre-orders are NOT "guaranteed to arrive on the 19th". In fact, if you READ what the order confirmations actually say, it says it will ship out using priority overnight to arrive "AS EARLY AS the 19th". So be prepared for that pre-order to arrive later than the 19th. Also, if you JUST pre-ordered it, I would prepare to maybe even wait the week or two for them to get some new stock in.

[Mark @ Jun 13th 2009 6:23PM]

Jonathan Davidenas, you are wrong, sir. The wording in the email and on my order details is "Delivers by June 19th". That means ON or BEFORE June 19th.

[Fernando @ Jun 14th 2009 3:11AM]

The Pre-tender is getting bad press over the crappy plastic screen that you can scratch easily and bad build.

[Bimmer_Lover @ Jun 13th 2009 2:19PM]

I ordered my black 32GB 3GS online and received an e-mail that said I would receive it in the mail on Jun 19th. I think I would've purchased a Pre if I would've been told I had to wait weeks for an iPhone. Of course, those have been selling out too.

[TareX @ Jun 13th 2009 2:26PM]

wow.

So a 14 day difference was all it would take for you to flip from the iPhone to the Pre?

[Matt @ Jun 13th 2009 3:04PM]

@TareX What, you think he's married to the phone or something?

[Kevin @ Jun 13th 2009 3:44PM]

Some people think a phone is a phone, and a smartphone is a smartphone. Others take sides, like "iPhone is not a real smart phone, it's an entertainment device", or "the Pre is just trying to play catch-up".

If a two-week delay is enough to convince you to choose another brand, then you're obviously in the first set of people. If you can get a Pre sooner, it's not too late to cancel your iPhone order. Go for it. Do what makes you happy.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 14th 2009 12:18AM]

Two weeks wouldn't be enough to force me over to Sprint.

[Blacky @ Jun 13th 2009 2:19PM]

LoL, all this for just a phone. :))