Tomorrow's UK launch of the new iPhone is threatening to descend into chaos, with limited supply of the gadget set to leave hundreds of thousands disappointed.
According to the website of O2, Apple's network partner for the much-anticipated handset, sales of iPhone 3G will be limited to one per customer and two for business customers.
"We are experiencing unprecedented demand for the device and whilst we are confident that all customers who want iPhone 3G will get one by the end of this summer, initial supply is limited and will be for some weeks," says a website update about the combined music player, web browser and mobile.
O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores will have limited numbers of iPhone 3G this Friday, July 11. On average, O2 will only have "a few dozen" iPhone 3Gs per store. Some O2 stores will open at 8.02am tomorrow, others "a bit later".
Tomorrow's UK launch of the new iPhone is threatening to descend into chaos, with limited supply of the gadget set to leave hundreds of thousands disappointed.
According to the website of O2, Apple's network partner for the much-anticipated handset, sales of iPhone 3G will be limited to one per customer and two for business customers.
"We are experiencing unprecedented demand for the device and whilst we are confident that all customers who want iPhone 3G will get one by the end of this summer, initial supply is limited and will be for some weeks," says a website update about the combined music player, web browser and mobile.
O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores will have limited numbers of iPhone 3G this Friday, July 11. On average, O2 will only have "a few dozen" iPhone 3Gs per store. Some O2 stores will open at 8.02am tomorrow, others "a bit later".
O2 is also out of stock of iPhone 3Gs via its on-line store, and has issued a grovelling apology to customer that experienced problems with its online store on Monday as a result of unprecedented demand for the gadget.
Cheryl Black, customer service director for O2 writes on the site that "an amazing 200,000 people registered" their interest in the new phone, the price of which has tumbled in an attempt to take it to the mass market. That figure includes many people who wish to upgrade their existing iPhone.
She adds: "Apple can only supply us with a small proportion of that number to start with, but with weekly deliveries, we're confident that everyone who wants an iPhone will be able to get one by the end of the summer. Until then, we realise that some people will be disappointed...
"Because we were so open about where and when you could pre-order your iPhone, the online shop was always going to be busy. We tried to prepare for this by increasing the online shop's capacity to 250 times its normal rate and testing it over and over again before the launch.
"It wasn't enough. I'm really sorry if you couldn't get your order in. We weren't prepared for the speed and volume of people. I'm not sure any website could have been."
O2 said it was working closely with Apple to get more of the gadgets, which have received rave reviews.
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