Piper Jaffray estimates iPhone shortage could last through August
Got your hands on a shiny new iPhone 3G? If you answered yes, you’re one of the lucky ones. For those of you that didn’t pick up the new handset during the last week, you could be in for a long hard journey. According to industry analyst Gene Munster, the current iPhone shortage could persist through mid-August, crushing the dreams of would-be iPhone 3G owners everywhere. Herman Munster dropped word that initial demand for the handset outstripped Apple’s estimates, resulting in a supply shortage that is causing problems across the U.S. Things should even out before too long, but if you’ve had your sights set on a getting one within the next 3-4 weeks, you might want to consider camping out at your local AT&T or Apple store. Make that Apple store, since we all know AT&T stores selling iPhones are totally like 1,800 of Steve Jobs’ red-headed step childs. They’re good from some iPhone cases but that’s about it. Sorry, folks!
Herman Munster? That’s too funny… I wonder if Lily and Grandpa work there too
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Great now that there is a shortage AT&T will likely delay the Bold even longer so the little kiddies can get their new iPhone. IF the folks at AT&T were smart they would want to get the Bold out to make up for the loss in iPhone sales they will experience plus the Bold buyers are getting more than annoyed with waiting.
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He’s a good analyst.
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Hey now… I’M a redheaded stepchild!
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Interesting, wondering if this is in any way connected to the fact that apple has quotas restrictions. If we read back to previous BGR postings it was noted that stores could only sell x amount each day. When they run out for that day that was it.EVEN though they had them in stock. Hummmm it is a way to hype things up lets see …the sky is falling….
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Apple is playing a delicate balancing game. With the latest and greatest phones coming out each day you want to sell your product before the next better phone comes out. If folks are not going to be able to get their hands on an iphone for the next month - I’m thinking a lot of folks might just wait and see what the new Blackberry handsets have to offer or maybe the Andorid handsets due out this fall. I think Apple maybe shooting themselves in the foot.
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This is true just look at the wii it sold out so quickly everyone wanted one this will just generate more hype for it. It will look more exclusive.
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Great blog. “They’re good from some iphone cases..” Awesome job on taking 5 seconds to re-read before submitting.
btw, direct fulfillment has been working flawlessly over at AT&T. Guaranteed delivery rather than rushing to Apple stores early in the morning only to find out you have a FAN discount & can’t get one.
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@ Paco Loco
It’s really hard to proof ones own work, especially if it is not a hard copy.
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The latest report shows that RIM is having trouble with the configuration of the radios on the Bold, although you’d love to believe that AT&T was pushing it back so it doesn’t get slept on during the iPhone sales, that isn’t the case.
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@Paco Loco:
Direct Fulfillment isn’t working flawlessly. I was the 2nd person at my local AT&T store to order the iPhone on launch day. This AT&T Store never answers the phone, so I called 611 and they said it was delivered. So I go to the store, and its not there. It still says “pending”. Yet, in line to get to a cashier were 2 people picking up Direct Fulfillment iPhones and neither of those people were in line on Friday. AT&T gave me a$50 credit for my trouble and they told me they will “look into it” and if I don’t have it by Monday that they will give me another $150 credit, re-order the phone and have it shipped directly to me. But, it is some major bull they are pulling here.
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@MadMike: It all depends on the phone you ordered. The people you saw could have been picking up 8GB Black or 16GB white, which are less popular than the 16GB black. The same situation is going on in my town, one of my buddies ordered the 16GB black from AT&T on launch day and still doesn’t have it, meanwhile a friend who ordered the 16GB white on Saturday after the launch got hers yesterday.
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I have a FAN. They are available through the business channel.
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@MadMike - sadly it doesn’t work that way. It isn’t “first ordered, first delivered”. I’ve heard that the differences are usually the model. The 16g white is not nearly as backordered as the black models. Also, your store is supposed to call you when it comes. Not sure why 611 would tell you it’s delivered…and as far as I know, they can’t ship a phone directly to a customer, only to the stores.
I know everyone wants to get all angry, but the delay in shipping isn’t the fault of AT&T here. Blame Apple, they’re the ones who decided a shortage of their flagship device in their partner stores was a sound business decision.
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@ agent37x
Blame Apple? For what? For making a wildly popular phone that they can’t make fast enough?
The nearest APPLE store that has a 16 gig black iphone in stock is 450 miles from me - so it isn’t like Apple stores are swimming in oversupply.
I guess they could have just held the phone off the market for three months while they stockpiled the number of phones it will take to satisfy demand. Would THAT have been a sound business decision?
At least they were able to announce the phone and get it to market. If only some of their competitors could do the same.
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I ordered a white one direct fullfillment 3 days ago. They asked me for my e-mail address in order to alert when they ship it and when it’s delivered, I thought? Could I possibly be in for a long wait?
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I love the way everyone blames AT&T and Apple for RIM’s shortcomings. RIM is having hardware and software isues. Lately, they’ve had a problem keeping their own servers up. I suppose that’s Apple’s fault too.
You Blackberry fanboys are going to have to put the blame where it lies. Directly in RIMS lap. If it were just AT&T refusing to lauch the Bold, it would already be out on other carriers. Quit blaming the iPhone for all your woes…
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@Evilhomer:
Perhaps YOU should check TMO Germany or Rogers Canada (both still stating a July launch) before you imply that it’s RIM holding up launching the Bold!
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“crushing the dreams of would-be iPhone 3G owners everywhere.”
OH MY GOD Josh. Come on, what sensationalist drivel. It’s JUST a Jesus phone, not like it’s oxygen or water or some other life essential. I laugh at all the idiots who just MUST HAVE some latest gadget, and whine like they’re dying or something if they can’t have it NOW. But it’s the ME ME ME generation, so no surprise really.
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@DavidB
You might want to go back and check Rogers again - I couldn’t find any reference to a July launch date for the Bold on their site. All I found was “If you would like to be notified when this device become available” (sic), with the option to be put on a mailing list.
Maybe a specific launch date is there and I did not see it. Please post a link.
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I’d like to know what he is basing the shortages on. He must have a very good contact in Apple’s supply chain or maybe a spy in Foxconn. He can’t tell whether there will be shortages, because he doesn’t know how long demand for the iPhone will last. Maybe some other company will come along with a better phone than the iPhone. If everyone stops buying iPhones, then they’ll be no shortage. I don’t know why these tidbits of speculative information are being mentioned. More FUD to confuse investors.
Gene Munster also disagreed with Apple on them really selling one million iPhones. I think he guessing about information he’s not privy to.
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I picked up a 16 GB black iPhone today at the Pittsburgh Shadyside store. Piece of cake. There was a line (I waited about an hour). The set up was quick, however (although I have no idea why they are doing this stupid activation in the store thing–silly).
FYI–the phone rocks completely. 3G speeds are very good, if not great, and the hardware is amazing.
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By the way - Piper Jaffray is not a he or a she - that’s the company name of an investment banking firm.
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See now, if there’s a shortage then it’s not waiting for. Any phone worth waiting for will have ample quantities available to the buying public.
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Follow up special:
I did direct fulfillment on Tuesday and I just got a call from at&t telling me the phone is in today. 3 day turnaround is very good. Hopefully I like this thing or else it’s off to ebay.
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