iPhone News Updated

Apple Confirms iPhone 4 Shipments

Apple Confirms iPhone 4 Shipments

Company sends e-mails indicating first batch of hot new smartphones will hit U.S. shores on Thursday.

Apple has notified customers who were among the first to preorder an iPhone 4 that they can expect to receive the device by June 24, which is the official on-sale date for iPhone 4 in the U.S.

The company sent out official Shipment Notification e-mails, along with Federal Express tracking information, to those customers over the weekend, according to numerous online reports.

“We are pleased to inform you that your iPhone 4 has shipped,” the e-mail states. “Please check below for your confirmed delivery date. If you ordered more than one item, they may ship separately,” it continued.

Fedex tracking documents show that the devices are being shipped directly from a facility in Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

What’s not clear is how many iPhone 4s Apple managed to ship before it ran out of pre-sale inventory. Apple last week twice pushed back the ship date for new iPhone 4 preorders. Early in the week, it updated its Web site to reflect a July 2 ship date. On Thursday it again changed the date—to July 14.

Apple conceded its systems can’t keep up with demand. “Many customers were turned away or abandoned the process in frustration,” Apple said in a statement last week.

“We apologize to everyone who encountered difficulties, and hope that they will try again or visit an Apple or carrier store once the iPhone is in stock,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Apple partner AT&T on Monday continued its suspension of iPhone 4 sales for the second straight week. The carrier said it would only resume taking pre-sales orders if it can get its hands on more of the devices.

“The availability of additional inventory will determine if we can resume taking pre-orders,” AT&T said in a statement last week.

iPhone 4 features a number of enhancements over its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS, including higher screen resolution (960 x 640 pixel technology dubbed Retina Display), a front-facing camera for video chats, and a longer lasting battery that affords 40% more talk time. It’s also 24% thinner.

iPhone 4 also includes a 3-axis gyro and a slick new glass and stainless steel case. “iPhone 4 is the biggest leap since the original iPhone,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs proclaimed as he unveiled the product on June 7 at an Apple event in San Francisco.

The new phone is priced at $199 for the 16GB model, and $299 for the 32GB model, based on a two-year contract. iPhone 4 is available starting June 24 in the U.S., France, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. The preorder period officially began June 15.

[Thanks: http://www.informationweek.com]

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