While iPhone 4 pre-orders may have exceeded 600,000, there are still plenty of users who are planning to walk into an AT&T store on launch day and pick up a device. If a recent rumor is true, however, they may be waiting longer than expected. Boy Genius Report has heard from multiple sources that the iPhone 4 will not be available for walk-in purchase until June 29th, five days after the June 24th launch date. Customers can still place an order or reserve a device from AT&T, but you won't be able to do so until the 29th, according to BGR. Comments on the story claim that some AT&T stores will be offering devices on a first-come, first-served basis on the 24th, though, and we haven't heard anything about this rumored June 29th availability. Your best bet is to call your local store and see what's up.
Whether or not this news is true most likely depends on how many iPhone 4s your AT&T store will be getting, since June 29th is probably when they'll be getting a second wave of shipments. Even if your local store won't be offering devices until the 29th, there are several other options for picking up an iPhone 4 at launch, like Best Buy or an Apple store. Again, we've heard before that AT&T stores will have devices on a first come, first serve basis, so call your local AT&T store and find out what's going on in your neck of the woods.
UPDATE: We've received a press release from AT&T that covers iPhone 4 availability at launch. Anyone who was lucky enough to snag a pre-order will be able to pick up their device on the 24th, but everyone else will have to wait until June 29th. AT&T stores will have a limited number of iPhone 4s available on a first-come, first-served basis on June 29th. See a quote from the press release below:
"AT&T is on-track to deliver iPhone 4 to customers who preordered the device on June 15. We look forward to offering iPhone 4 to all other customers beginning Tuesday, June 29, when it goes on sale in all AT&T sales channels.
Here are a few guidelines for customers buying iPhone 4 from AT&T:
• Preordered for home or business delivery: iPhone 4 will begin arriving this week for customers who preordered. We’ll send an email when each order has shipped.
• Preordered for store delivery: AT&T retail representatives will begin calling customers this week to let them know their iPhone 4 is available for pick up in store.
• Retail purchase (no preorder): AT&T plans to have iPhone 4 inventory – available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last – on June 29 in its retail locations, at www.att.com, and in business sales channels. As inventory sells out, AT&T will offer the convenient option of purchasing iPhone 4 and having it delivered to a home or business or an AT&T store. As always, customers will receive an email once their order is placed, and again when it ships."
