Deutsche Telekom Now Taking Preorders for Apple's iPhone 5

[Michael Essany]

Despite not presenting any hard facts or details related to the actual device - product specs, release date, etc. - on Monday, Deutsche Telekom began taking preorders for Apple's iPhone 5.

According to a confirmation by the German carrier, the primary reason Deutsche Telekom is embarking on what some are calling a "blindfolded preorder" endeavor is because of heightened product supply concerns that are already plaguing the carrier ahead of the 5th gen-iPhone's launch. spokesman Alexander von Schmettow did not reveal any other information or concerns to the press.

The operator will hand out coupons to people who expressly request the successor model to the iPhone 4, without providing the name or release details of the device, he said.

As we understand it, the preorder - or reservation - process can only be engaged by consumers at the carrier's brick-and-mortar locations. In other words, no online or phone-in preorders will be accepted by Deutsche Telekom. Still, the move by Deutsche Telekom is without many comparable precedents in the smartphone realm and clearly underscores the hype surrounding the iPhone 5 launch.

As of this writing, all signs point to an imminent iPhone 5 introduction or unveiling by Apple with the actual product arrival/delivery not anticipated until at least the first week of October.

Source: Bloomberg

[deathbybunnies6]

How did they manage to start preorders before any announcement of the phone?

[sziklassy]

Games stores do this all the time with games, consoles, etc. We know an iPhone 5 is coming. We are pretty certain it's next month. They are honestly going on more solid data than many of said game stores do. Regardless, getting your name on a list is never a bad idea, if it gives you a greater chance of scoring a phone on launch.

[RICO_]

So this is reconfirming what everyone already knows....that the phone is coming. And nothing else.

[sziklassy]

So this is reconfirming what everyone already knows....that the phone is coming. And nothing else.

I am not sure there were any claims stating that this was confirming anything more than we already know, except for the fact that this provider has already started pre-orders.

[Mes]

This is a coupon to buy something when something is available. (hahaha)