With recent reports that AT&T has sold out of iPhone 3G S pre-orders already, those who want to get an iPhone on the June 19 release day without standing in line must now turn to Apple’s online store. At release, the iPhone 3G S will be available only with a 2-year contract with AT&T in the U.S., though a method has turned up allowing buyers to pre-order an iPhone 3G S from Apple’s online store without a 2-year contract commitment with AT&T.

The method, described step-by-step at modmyi.com, requires the Firefox web browser and an extension called Fireplug. It requires navigating to a non-Apple item in Apple’s online store and then using the Fireplug extension to examine and edit the page’s code to substitute an iPhone 3G S model number for the current product’s model number. When Add to Cart is clicked after this modification, a contract-free iPhone 3G S is added to the cart, which can then be purchased normally like any other product in Apple’s online store.

The model numbers and prices for the contract-free iPhone 3G S models are as follows:

• MB715LL/A for the black 16GB at $599
• MB716LL/A for the white 16GB at $599
• MB717LL/A for the black 32GB at $699
• MB718LL/A for the white 32GB at $699

Anecdotal claims show this method is working so far, but it’s possible that Apple may find this loophole and fix it to prevent further orders. Apple could also go so far as to cancel orders placed using this loophole. AT&T has been the exclusive carrier of the iPhone since the first generation was released in June 2007. The iPhone 3G was only available contract-free from AT&T several months after it was first released, carrying prices at hundreds of dollars more than devices sold with a 2-year contract. This hack reveals a unique opportunity to purchase the new iPhone model without a contract right away, which was not possible with previous iPhone models at release in the U.S.

Image courtesy of MMI