Demand For Apple’s iPhone 3G Exceeding Supply; Check Availability in Advance

Following the unleashing of the iPhone 3G to the world 10 days ago, those interested in purchasing the do-it-all smartphone are now advised to check online or call ahead to retail stores because there’s a good chance one won’t be there.

Published reports on Sunday said the iPhone 3G was mostly sold out in 38 states across the U.S.

AppleInsider reported on July 20, 2008: “In California, the only Apple store with any iPhones is the Pleasanton store with only [16-gigabyte] black examples while New York City’s Fifth Avenue store is the only one in all of New York state known to have any examples left with just [16-gigabyte] white models in stock.”

While Apple says it has been replenishing its retail stores with iPhone 3Gs, the ravenous consumer demand has still mostly exceeded the available supply.

On Monday, though, availability rebounded. Computerworld reported on Monday: “As of 11:30 a.m. EDT [on Monday], 44 of Apple’s U.S. retail stores (or 23 percent of the 188 total) showed iPhone 3G phones available. On Sunday morning, Apple’s own stock-checking tool listed just 16 stores (or 8.5 percent of the total) as having any to sell.”

My full iPhone 3G review can be read here. My full iPhone 3G pricing analysis can be found here.