14 DAY TRIAL // The Apple Store is officially down in preparation of the Verizon iPhone 4 launch at the company’s online shop, while tomorrow is the day customers can walk into stores and pick one up themselves.
Apple traditionally takes its online store down for maintenance whenever the Cupertino giant needs to include new offerings, such as updated models of existing products, or new products and services altogether.
However, the Mac maker usually doesn’t take its store down for minor changes to the listings of available products and / or special offers (such as the Valentine Day’s specials).
Though everyone pretty much expects the CDMA iPhone 4 to be the only new addition to the updated listings of Apple’s store once it goes back online, it is strange that the company had to pull down its store for the second time in a single week to merely show order availability for the handset.
Perhaps we’re in for more. We’ll see once the venue goes back online.
Last week, Softpedia reported that Apple had taken its online store down for maintenance, only to have it back and running again hours later, featuring the Verizon iPhone 4.
At the time, the CDMA-capable handset was only available for pre-order. Now, in accordance with Apple’s press release issued on February 2nd, customers will be able to order one and (likely) have it shipped to them in 24 hours.
“Beginning on Wednesday, February 9, all qualified customers will be able to order an iPhone 4 on Verizon through the Apple Store (www.apple.com) for delivery or reserve for in-store pick up beginning February 10,” Apple said earlier this month.
“Beginning at 7 a.m. local time on Thursday, February 10, iPhone 4 on Verizon will be available to all qualified customers at Apple’s retail stores,” Apple added. “iPhone 4 will also be available at more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless Communication Stores nationwide,” the announcement said.
Update: Apple's store is back online. As expected, it shows order availability for the Verizon iPhone 4, with shipping times estimated at 9 days (by February 18th).