Apple Stores Ready for 3G Onslaught

We’ve already reported that AT&T stores in the U.S. will be opening at 8am local time this Friday to start selling the new iPhone 3G (See “AT&T Waking Up Early Friday for iPhone Sales,” 2008-07-04), and now Apple has posted an iPhone 3G retail page with details on sales at brick-and-mortar Apple Stores.

Naturally, Apple, too will begin selling the iPhone 3G at 8am Friday at their U.S. stores, and their encouragement to “arrive early to get in line” seems superfluous; there have already people lined up in Manhattan since last Friday.

Apple has also provided a helpful list of what to bring, which will apply at both AT&T and Apple retail outlets: credit card, social security number, government-issued photo ID, and your current wireless account number and password or PIN if you’re transferring from another carrier to AT&T. (Check with your current carrier what fees may apply to transferring your number, especially if you’re currently under a contract.)

I’m amused that Apple is touting its “free” in-store Personal Setup service for iPhone 3G purchasers. Unlike previous iPhone transactions, you won’t be allowed to walk out the door with an iPhone 3G until you’ve activated it on a two-year AT&T contract.

Apple’s site will also provide daily in-store availability reports after 9pm in the local time zone of each store, for those who wish to confirm a store will have phones in stock for the next day.

Meantime, as we’re sure a flood of used first-generation iPhones is about to hit the market, we encourage our readers to take care to purchase from sellers they trust. Some used iPhone buyers have been scammed with fraudulently purchased phones, and the unsuspecting buyers are billed by AT&T for the retail price of a phone they’ve already paid for.