Iphone available at 2000 stores at launch

[wot_fan]

Originally Posted by robhon

I mean, Apple has to sell nearly a million a month to just meet their target. And targets are ALWAYS set with the intension to beat them.

Remember, Apple's stated goal is to sell 10 million units world wide by the end of 2008. That gives them 18 months. So on average they need sell a little over 1/2 million per month. I would also expect them to sell more per month on average after they launch worldwide since they will have a lot more potential customers. I do think that they will sell more in the first month that it is available than any other month though.

I hope you are right about the number in the initial production run. I really would like one on the first day they are available, but I am unwilling to camp out to assure myself of one.

[Cantwait4iPhone]

Originally Posted by wot_fan

Remember, Apple's stated goal is to sell 10 million units world wide by the end of 2008. That gives them 18 months. So on average they need sell a little over 1/2 million per month. I would also expect them to sell more per month on average after they launch worldwide since they will have a lot more potential customers. I do think that they will sell more in the first month that it is available than any other month though.

I hope you are right about the number in the initial production run. I really would like one on the first day they are available, but I am unwilling to camp out to assure myself of one.

Yeah, me too. I really don't want to camp out if I can get it otherwise. I wish there would be 750 in each store, like the math I did in the earlier post suggests, but that would be a tad bit extravagant.

Plus there is the factor that, as with most launches, there will likely be certain "hotspots" for it. What I mean by this is that there will likely be a party at the Apple store in New York where they will recieve many more units than the normal stores. This happened with the PS3 launch, for example, and they had hundreds, maybe thousands at the opening party. This is just a thought, might or might not play a role in the launch,

[joe]

Originally Posted by robhon

Coming from a manufacturing background I can tell you that 100K is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a large order. The launch window will be the highest short term volume of sales they will experience for the product. I'd be surprized if they launch with anything less that a million units. More likely it'll be closer to 2 million +.

I mean, Apple has to sell nearly a million a month to just meet their target. And targets are ALWAYS set with the intension to beat them.

1M ready to go at launch? While that would be awesome, Apple has never done that before as far as I can recollect. Launches are always short of product and it takes a couple months to catch up with demand. This might be different with the iPhone (I hope!) and with smaller devices than computers.

There is also more to it than whether they *can* produce that many at launch: do they want to. It's all about timing, estimating demand, marketing, shipping, all kinds of other factors that will affect how many they decide to make initially.

[iphonenut]

for those in the know, would 500K be out of the question?

500,000 / by 2,000 stores is 250 a store...and if you take into account the uneven distribution of the products by store size, that would mean a lot more product for the bigger "flagship" stores.

if a big apple store has upwards of 300-400-500 phones, that would be cool right? the fact that there are 4 or 5 apple stores in the LA area (to go along with the many cingular stores) give me hope.

please someone...don't burst my bubble...just let me dream.

[robhon]

Originally Posted by wot_fan

Remember, Apple's stated goal is to sell 10 million units world wide by the end of 2008. That gives them 18 months. So on average they need sell a little over 1/2 million per month. I would also expect them to sell more per month on average after they launch worldwide since they will have a lot more potential customers. I do think that they will sell more in the first month that it is available than any other month though.

I hope you are right about the number in the initial production run. I really would like one on the first day they are available, but I am unwilling to camp out to assure myself of one.

You may be right but I think I remember the statement saying 10 million "in" 2008. That would work out to 833K per month; closer to a million/month. But I still would hold that their greatest opportunity to sell units is at initial launch.

I think we all remember the old Apple days where products were delayed and delayed, and then when they launched there weren't many to be had. I think those days are over.

[thepepes]

Originally Posted by iphonenut

that's all fine and dandy. However, I think the bigger concern or question for me is how many iphones are each of those stores going to have on the release date.

If 2,000 stores have iphones but they each only have a handful each then we have a problem a la the Wii and PS3.

I guess i'm just being a little paranoid...my biggest fear is that there won't be enough and i'll have to wait another month...or...shudder...LONGER. I hope that doesn't happen.

Won't we just be able to buy them online? Or is waiting for it to be shipped what everyone doesn't want to deal with?

[wot_fan]

Originally Posted by thepepes

Won't we just be able to buy them online? Or is waiting for it to be shipped what everyone doesn't want to deal with?

From what I have read, yes you will be able to purchase it online. I think many people here have waited so long already to get their hands on one, they don't want to wait a day more than they have to. I for one fall into that category .

[thepepes]

Originally Posted by wot_fan

From what I have read, yes you will be able to purchase it online. I think many people here have waited so long already to get their hands on one, they don't want to wait a day more than they have to. I for one fall into that category .

haha ok I see. I think I could probably wait (eek I know) ... I'm surprised there's no online pre-order option you know?

[wjp09]

You need to remember the impulse factor. When these next gen video games systems came out EVERYONE wanted one. Now if they look back they weren't as great as they thought they were. Not saying they aren't good but some people were paying hundreds if not thousands for them. Apple needs to supply this demand while there is a buzz.

[rollerbones]

I work in Beachwood Ohio so there is a Apple store about 5 min away from me along with a few Cingular stores...instead of me going to wrok at 7am I think I will just head over to one of the stores...Just dont know which one...I am sure the apple store would get more but will it be more crowded..

I also need to figure out how the plans will work...I am still under a plan until December and I thought I heard people saying that I will still be able to get the phone at the $450 price but will need to extend the contract another 2 years which is fine if this is true but Cingular never let me do this before...you were only able to upgrade when you were with them 11 months then you got the upgrade price...BUT if you want a new phone and you under 11 months you have to pay FULL RETAIL price of the phone then you were not under a contract when your org. one expired....I wish they would talk more about that.