Best Buy announces official iPhone 4 pre-sale for June 15th
By Laura June 
posted June 14th 2010 10:06AM
posted June 14th 2010 10:06AM
Best Buy® Launches Pre-Sale Offer for Apple® iPhone™4
Starting June 15, Customers Can Reserve an iPhone 4 at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile Stores Nationwide
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beginning June 15, Best Buy Mobile, the mobile specialty retail unit of Best Buy Co. Inc (NYSE: BBY), launches its pre-sale of iPhone 4 from Apple. Pre-sale orders can be placed at any Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile standalone store nationwide. The iPhone 4 will land in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores June 24.
"Adding the iPhone 4 to our stores alongside other great smartphones like the HTC EVO from Sprint and HTC Incredible on Verizon, gives customers a great opportunity to view each side-by-side and get the mobile phone that works best for them."
Consumers who purchase the iPhone 4 at Best Buy can avoid dealing with mail-in rebates and get help from a highly-trained staff of specialists at Best Buy Mobile. Combine all of that with a tremendous assortment of accessories and customers can get everything under one roof.
"Offering the iPhone 4 to consumers is just the latest example of how Best Buy Mobile has become the place to go for the best smartphones. It's exciting to have an opportunity to launch this iconic device with this pre-sale," said Shawn Score, president of Best Buy Mobile. "Adding the iPhone 4 to our stores alongside other great smartphones like the HTC EVO from Sprint and HTC Incredible on Verizon, gives customers a great opportunity to view each side-by-side and get the mobile phone that works best for them."
The iPhone 4 key features include:
* 16GB and 32GB in both white and black
* 9.3MM thick – 25% thinner than existing iPhone
* 4X better screen resolution than current iPhone (Retina Display)
* Scratch proof glass on front and back of phone
* Improved processor (A4)
* Quad band HSDPA 7.2
* 802.11n WiFi
* Dual microphones
* 2 cameras (one front facing) with 5MP, LED flash, 5x digital zoom
* 720HD video recording at 30fps, tap to focus, built in video editing, one click sharing
* Multitasking with new 4.0 software
* Micro Sim
* 7 hrs of talk time
* Video conference calling over WiFi
Best Buy Mobile has become a leading destination for smartphone purchases, in part because of the promises the store offers its customers: better choice of phones and networks; impartial, informed advice; straightforward pricing; and someone to be there for the life of the phone.
About Best Buy Mobile
Best Buy Mobile features one of the largest selections of carriers, handsets and accessories available anywhere, as well as a highly-trained staff to help customers make the most of their mobile phones. Best Buy Mobile locations feature more than 90 different handsets from nine carriers, and over 130 accessories. Employees undergo at least 80 hours of intensive training, as well as continuing education on mobile phone technology and trends. Look for your mobile phone solution at Best Buy Mobile locations in every Best Buy store as well as in standalone stores nationwide. For more information about Best Buy Mobile, visit http://www.bestbuy.com/mobile.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2010, we donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.
Starting June 15, Customers Can Reserve an iPhone 4 at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile Stores Nationwide
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beginning June 15, Best Buy Mobile, the mobile specialty retail unit of Best Buy Co. Inc (NYSE: BBY), launches its pre-sale of iPhone 4 from Apple. Pre-sale orders can be placed at any Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile standalone store nationwide. The iPhone 4 will land in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores June 24.
"Adding the iPhone 4 to our stores alongside other great smartphones like the HTC EVO from Sprint and HTC Incredible on Verizon, gives customers a great opportunity to view each side-by-side and get the mobile phone that works best for them."
Consumers who purchase the iPhone 4 at Best Buy can avoid dealing with mail-in rebates and get help from a highly-trained staff of specialists at Best Buy Mobile. Combine all of that with a tremendous assortment of accessories and customers can get everything under one roof.
"Offering the iPhone 4 to consumers is just the latest example of how Best Buy Mobile has become the place to go for the best smartphones. It's exciting to have an opportunity to launch this iconic device with this pre-sale," said Shawn Score, president of Best Buy Mobile. "Adding the iPhone 4 to our stores alongside other great smartphones like the HTC EVO from Sprint and HTC Incredible on Verizon, gives customers a great opportunity to view each side-by-side and get the mobile phone that works best for them."
The iPhone 4 key features include:
* 16GB and 32GB in both white and black
* 9.3MM thick – 25% thinner than existing iPhone
* 4X better screen resolution than current iPhone (Retina Display)
* Scratch proof glass on front and back of phone
* Improved processor (A4)
* Quad band HSDPA 7.2
* 802.11n WiFi
* Dual microphones
* 2 cameras (one front facing) with 5MP, LED flash, 5x digital zoom
* 720HD video recording at 30fps, tap to focus, built in video editing, one click sharing
* Multitasking with new 4.0 software
* Micro Sim
* 7 hrs of talk time
* Video conference calling over WiFi
Best Buy Mobile has become a leading destination for smartphone purchases, in part because of the promises the store offers its customers: better choice of phones and networks; impartial, informed advice; straightforward pricing; and someone to be there for the life of the phone.
About Best Buy Mobile
Best Buy Mobile features one of the largest selections of carriers, handsets and accessories available anywhere, as well as a highly-trained staff to help customers make the most of their mobile phones. Best Buy Mobile locations feature more than 90 different handsets from nine carriers, and over 130 accessories. Employees undergo at least 80 hours of intensive training, as well as continuing education on mobile phone technology and trends. Look for your mobile phone solution at Best Buy Mobile locations in every Best Buy store as well as in standalone stores nationwide. For more information about Best Buy Mobile, visit http://www.bestbuy.com/mobile.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2010, we donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.
Will they immediately charge the $199 or $299 to your credit car for a "pre-order" on June 15th.. or will the charge the amount on June 24th when the phone is actually available??
@Daekwan They usually charge your card the day it is shipped.
@Daekwan
If you're asking about what Best Buy will do when you pre-order, you simply go into the store, we scan a SKU number that prompts for you to purchase a $50 gift card. Once you pay for it, the system shows you have pre-purchased one and will be available on launch day. We do not actually do anything with your AT&T account until launch day. No credit card is charged for any amount unless you're using that credit card to pay for the $50 gift card.
@ebgolfin
The problem with the white is that there is a small black border around the screen which sticks out like a sore thumb. It is better hidden on the black version...
Noob Question: So if I buy it from the apple store or from best buy, do they assist you in setting up the phone? I've never tried to take a blank iPhone and set it up to my network/phone number. How would you do it if you had the phone delivered to your house?
@coreysnyder04
Do you have itunes installed on your computer? I'm pretty sure everything will be handled through itunes.
@Fishbulb2020 Yeah I do have iTunes installed. So I can just hook it up and it will detect that it hasn't had a carrier setup and automatically step me through it? That sounds good! I was hoping it would be as easy as Popping in the old iPhones SIM card, but they aren't the same.
@coreysnyder04
It's very easy. I ordered my first iPhone from Apple and set it up that way. Dead simple. The second one I bought at AT&T and I regretted the decision.
@coreysnyder04
If you already have the iPhone just do a backup on iTunes. Then when you sync the new one all the apps, numbers, etc. should automatically sync up after it sees the new device. No need to worry about your sim cards.
@DJ Megatron Do you think it will matter that my current iPhone is jailbroken and the new one won't be(yet)?? I'd hate for it to try and carry over some jail broken settings and screw up the phone.
@coreysnyder04
When you purchase an iPhone and have sent to your house, the instructions will most likely have you contact AT&T. Sadly it is not as simple as just plugging into iTunes. You will need to contact AT&T and they will need to put the IMEI of phone onto your line, and add any required features before the phone will activate on iTunes.
Question: Planning to upgrade my 2 family lines with iPhone 4s via the Apple Store pre-order page. Went through the current 3gs order page to see what to expect and there was not a way to order 2 lines at the same time under when choosing “existing” account. Chatted with Apple Rep. They stated that you will only be able to pre-order 1 phone via Apple pre-order, other phones would have to be order at retail location. Wha?? Anyone have any information to the contrary? If I do have to go to a retail location, what is the best way to go? At&T, Best Buy, Shack? (No apple store nearby).
Thanks...
@Fripp1 Hmmm, have you contacted AT&T? I would think you could do both lines online through them but I'm not sure. It makes sense but then again, nothing in regards to how these types of launches happen make sense.
I'm surprised that with the 960x640 "retina" display that suppose to be mind-blowing, they placed it on a 3.5" screen. It may look pretty, but at a screen that size, doesn't do the resolution justice. aside from the thinness of the phone, there's a ton of wasted space above and below the screen. Apple should have made the phone at least with a 3.7" screen. For a multi-media phone, 0.2" makes a huge difference. iPhone 4 is good phone, but definitely not great and not revolutionary like the first iPhone that came out. I would have been sold if it had a larger screen, flash support, and 4G/LTE ready.
I called out local best buy store and they had no information on it. I am an authorized buyer on our AT&T account. Will they let me pre-order 2 iPhone 4's? One for each line of service we have?
@Spiderguy84
Hmmm if both are upgrade eligible then it shouldn't be a problem for you. If not you may only be able to do one on the upgrade and do an early upgrade on the other paying the $18 early upgrade fee and higher price. Just make sure the other line user is with you too just in case.
@DJ Megatron
Just talked online to a mobile rep at Best Buy. Said as long as I am an authorized purchaser, I can pre-order 1 new iPhone per line of service if eligible for upgrade.
@Spiderguy84
I work for Best Buy Mobile, if Best Buy is doing pre-orders (Assuming they are since they had a press release, I have not worked in a few days.) You can pre-order as many as you want I'm assuming. For the EVO pre-orders, there was no limit. You could buy as many as you had eligible upgrades for or if you were going to purchase the phone outright with no commitment. Hopefully the iPhone 4 is the same way, I have 5 family members hoping to grab one each on launch day!
So is there a way to cut ALL the smartphone stories from Engadget viewing? Because this place is pretty much turning into Engadget:Mobile, and I think a smartphone-less Engadget might be a tad less cluttered.
And frankly, I don't give a sh*t about smartphones or mobile palmtop organizer-planner-texting devices. I have no need for them, and I don't care that this one has a screen that's 1mm larger than the last version, or that one will let you use Twitter hands-free while on the toilet. I Really. Don't. Care.
I know there's a "no apple" tag, but is there one to cut all the mobile phone crap out of Engadget? Pretty please?!?!
@ZeroCorpse
How about you just go somewhere else, or learn to scroll past stories. Please post relevant comments.
@Spiderguy84
How about you not respond to my comment with a dickish answer, and scroll past it if you don't have anything intelligent or constructive to offer?
That works, too.
One more thing.. I understand that these photos of the phones are usually shot indoors, however, can anyone explain why all the shots are shot at like f/1.8? There's hardly ever a clear picture of the WHOLE phone. Always a good 1/2-2/3 of the phone is out of focus.
We want to see the WHOLE thing, not just an inch or two in focus. Anyone ever hear of a speedlight?
@DZ
Go to www.apple.com then. Lots of high resolution views of iPhone 4 there.
@DZ
Yeah, I agree. Every picture of the devices you see here, or on Gizmodo or wherever is shot with an absolutely minimal depth of field. I think it's just that the people taking the pictures are trying to get artsy with their DSLR's. It basically says "this was shot on an expensive camera using an expensive lens!".
This isn't art. We want detailed pictures of the devices, not ones where only a portion is in focus.
Better check with your local Best Buy before running down tomorrow to put in a pre-order. I called the one up the street and their Best Buy Mobile people claimed that they will not be taking pre-orders. I informed them of the press release that I was looking at from Best Buy saying they would, and their response was something along the lines of "meh, whatever, not taking pre-orders". I'll just pre-order from the Apple Store....I've had enough issues with the stems at Best Buy that I wouldn't trust them to have a phone for me on launch day if they did take a pre-order at this point.
@Joe McG
Yeah, I see what you're saying but I don't think that will bother me. There's just something cool about that white one though :)
It would not be so bad...if it were on Sprint, with no data cap.