Apple Preps Massive iPhone 4 Monthly Production

[Michael Essany]

Apple may very well be taking preemptive steps to ensure that the supply issues that plagued the iPad's initial availability don't similarly rain on the new iPhone 4's parade. Unless demand proves even greater than any market analyst anticipates, Apple's supply should certainly keep pace with demand for the new product release on tap for June 24th.

Credible published reports from Digitimes indicate that Apple will mass produce the new handset on a monthly basis for the time being, with estimates suggesting that Cupertino will initially order components necessary to build at least three million iPhone 4s per month, or nine million per quarter. Creating a massive product inventory ahead of the launch implies that Apple has reason to believe that both domestic and international sales of the 4th gen iPhone could be mind-blowing.

Robert Lai, chairman of Asia Optical, dished on the swelling inventory by revealing that his company has been turning out some massive shipments of VGA lens kits for the device's front-facing video camera since last month - enough, in fact, to place a monthly production estimate at three million units. If demand keeps pace with supply, Apple could very well sell upwards of ten million new iPhones in just the third quarter of 2010 alone. That level of sales success would represent the biggest and best-selling quarter of sales for any generation of the iPhone since its 2007 release.

The phone will be available on the aforementioned date of June 24 in five countries: the US, France, Germany, the UK and Japan. Pre-orders, however, begin next Tuesday, June 15. The 16GB iPhone is going for $199 US and the 32GB for $299. Of course, if you're already an AT&T customer in the middle of your contract, you can get an iPhone 4 at "early upgrade" prices of $399 for the 16GB model and $499 for the 32GB.

[eaze222]

will have 1 on release day...

[z3r01]

My iPhone 4 got delay because the employee that was assembling it jumped off the roof...now i have to wait for the next new hire :-(....i kid i kid

[mac3194]

Can someone tell me how a preorder works??

[manickbarry]

still so pre order info for the uk on o2 site

[PlatoTheForms]

@Mac3194 I think if you order on June 15th the phone will be at your doorstep on June 24th

[ToddD81]

Can someone tell me how a preorder works??

Ordering an item before its release so that its held for you.

[adp]

Can someone tell me how a preorder works??

You go to the AT&T website on 6/15/10 and purchase the phone the same day (your card will be charged then - apparently Credit cards only, no debit cards). Then you choose delivery method. You can ship to your house/business and it *should* arrive on release day, 6/24/10. If you choose to ship to store it will be available the next day, 6/25/10 for pickup at the store

EDIT: If you debit card has a VISA or MasterCard logo it will be charged as a credit card therefore will still work for pre-order

[MikePA]

3 million a month!!! Oh my, the nets at Foxconn will be full.

[JedixJarf]

Im buying 2, lol

[Amraam]

will have 1 on release day...

Me too

Just gotta choose my tarrif then go into the app store and pre order

[lexquiles]

My iPhone 4 got delay because the employee that was assembling it jumped off the roof...now i have to wait for the next new hire :-(....i kid i kid

OMG That is too funny

[jcal08]

You can't. 1 per costumer

[ripped53]

Sales might be even more mind blowing if more people were allowed to upgrade....that is rediculous charging an additional $200 and I'm still locked into a 2 year contract. I suppose I'll be waiting until 3/2011. By then I may want an EVO, or the latest greatest Android, and jumped ship to Sprint or Verizon. Unless Specs for the next iphone include 64GB.

[TheDirtyDiddler]

I thought the early upgrade prices were the same, $199 and $299... No?

[mthomas184]

@jcal08 Not true. Existing customers are allowed to buy 1 per line. New customers are only allowed 1 period .

[adp]

I thought the early upgrade prices were the same, $199 and $299... No?

Correct, but he doesn't fall into that category since his contract is 3months over the 6-month extended timeframe (meaing his contract ends in 3/11, AT&T extended up to 12/10). So he would have to pay $300 more for the phone

[mthomas184]

My contract ain't up til 7/11 but AT&T is lettin me do a full upgrade

[sub zero]

I hope someone can answer this question. I am currently stationed overseas (UK) i guess my only option is buying the actual phone. How much would it cost and is it even possible to do so? i will be sending my wife back just a couple of days before release date to get the phone. Just wondering how the online purchasing might be if i am not on aTT. I do understand that the phone will be available here in the UK the same launch date as in the states however the phone will be cheaper in the states and the phone will only be avialable to be looked at in the states which i dont mind. The whole warranty on apple products is region locked. They wont touch any product bought from the states

[elite_jounin]

i'll be buying two as well. You can only buy per line, so if you have 3 lines then you can buy 3 iphones. I confirmed this with Apple and ATT already, this is NOT "hearsay".