14 DAY TRIAL // It's official: Apple has no more iPhones to sell online. The claim came straight from an Apple spokesperson's mouth just minutes ago, thus confirming (for the billionth time) that a new iPhone model is definitely in order. Apple Retail stores and AT&T stores might have just a few units left, so hurry up and grab one while you still can, because they won't be stocking back up any time soon.
The report follows recent tech news saying that Apple's UK and US online stores had completely run out of iPhones in most areas. Although such reports are now confirmed, Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined to provide further specifics regarding both the recent iPhone shortage and Apple's plans for an update as far as the iPhone goes. The new iPhone, along with the latest firmware version (2.0), is expected to be unveiled in June, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco.
Last week, numerous reports emerged saying that O2 UK featured a notice on its website saying that both of Apple's currently available iPhone models, the 8GB iPhone and the 16GB iPhone, were no longer available for purchase in the respective territory. Sources later confirmed that O2 had filled its shelves back up with 16 gig devices. The 8GB model, however, was left out.
The 16GB model is an earlier release of Apple's iPhone, making it highly improbable for Apple or O2 to give up on the currently available high-end iPhone model, even with the 3G SKU just around the corner. Nevertheless, this did confirm earlier talk that O2 was planning to dispose of the 8GB iPhone.
On Monday alone, as many as four mobile providers in the Asia-Pacific region announced inking deals with Apple to make the iPhone available in their regions. Apple is slowly breaking its rules that required carrier exclusivity to sell the device in certain territories, in what is obviously the company's attempt to hit its self-imposed landmark of selling 10 million iPhone units.