Apple on Monday began shipping its new iPhone 3G S handsets to customers who were among the first to place their pre-orders last week following the handset’s introduction at the company’s annual developers conference. 

“My 32GB black iPhone that I ordered the second I could on the Apple iPhone store has officially shipped,” said AppleInsider forum member DiscoNomad. “I found out this morning via an email which included a tracking number.” 

The new iPhones, believed to be manufactured by Foxconn Electronics, are shipping out of Shenzhen, China, which is home to mainland China’s second busiest port, ranking behind only Shanghai. 

Although customers provided with shipping notifications weren’t given a specific arrival date, Apple had promised delivery by this Friday, June 19th, the same day handsets go on sale nationwide at AT&T, Apple, Best Buy and Wal-Mart retail stores. 

A quick check of the Apple Store appears to suggest that customers who place their pre-order today will still be eligible to receive their device on Friday. Prospective buyers should note, however, that orders placed online for new iPhones aren’t easily manipulated given that each order is tied to an AT&T account. 

Customers who wish to change the model of iPhone they’ve ordered may need to wait up to two business days to resubmit their order because it may take that long for AT&T to reset accounts as being eligible for upgrade or early upgrade pricing, some people have been told. 

On Wednesday, just two days before iPhone 3G S will go on sale, Apple will release iPhone Software 3.0 for existing iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch users.

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Looks like the S in iPhone 3G S could mean Sold Out

Signaling a likely repeat of Apple’s iPhone sell-outs of the past two years, AT&T is already warning that those making iPhone 3G S pre-orders that they won’t get their handsets on launch.

The US carrier’s internal sales system is asking staff to tell customers that any pre-orders made on Saturday the 13th or later won’t ship on launch and instead will reach retail locations between 7 and 14 days after the order is made, overshooting the release date.

Those who delayed their pre-orders long enough but who still want an iPhone 3G S the same day will have to wait at an AT&T (or Apple) store until regular availability starts at 8 a.m. rather than the 7 a.m. early access time touted earlier this week, Boy Genius hears. Any pre-orders, however, will receive an e-mail once their device is in stock.

While unfortunate for those who hadn’t already set aside money for the faster, more feature-laden Apple smartphone, the sell-out bodes well for early sales, which will include not only retail pick-ups but, unlike last year, online pre-orders. Some had feared that high upgrade fees for customers who bought a previous iPhone too soon to qualify for a full discount would deter many from queuing up in the same way they had in 2008.

Besides Apple and AT&T outlets, Best Buy and Walmart locations should also have the iPhone 3G S for sale on June 19th, albeit with regular store hours.

(via AppleInsider.com)

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Apple retail stores are now selling the iPhone 3G wihtout a contract to one and all. This comes after AT&T announced that they will be selling one iPhone 3G without a contract (one per existing customer) that can be activated at home (or end up being resold and unlocked somewhere around the world).

Well Apple has just opened the flood gates as it is now selling the iPhone 3G from it’s retail stores with no limit on the amount that a customer can buy (according to AppleInsider). I am sure this means that allot of iPhone 3G are going to be on the market, but here is the catch. The phones are contract free, NOT unlocked, and are being sold at a retail premium of $599 for the 8GB version and $699 for the 16GB models. That’s as much or more than they sell for on the eblackmarket unlocked.

No sign on Apples website of the option the purchase the iPhone 3G without a contract, but I am sure this will be updated soon.

Unfortunately most of the iPhone 3G’s you would buy now form an Apple Store will be running firmware 2.2.1 and have the new modem/baseband version 02.30.03 wich can not be unlocked at the moment. There are some Sim Hacks that may work, but I have not tested them and have had bad luck with lots of them in the past. A new version of Yellowsn0wmay be available when 3.0 comes out, but only the Dev Team will be able to answer that. (or Zibri maybe?? ok I am just kidding aorund). One good thing, this certianly means that Apple is selling out it’s existing stock of iPhone 3G’s to make way for a new iPhone model(s).

The summer is shaping up to be a good one if you are a fan of anything Apple. Rumors are plentyful and almost all of Apples product lines will be updated (if they have not been already), new products may be revealed and a whole new iPhone OS 3.0 and Mac OS Leopard are on the way in June. All these rumors and buzz must have brought back some much needed investor confidence becase [AAPL] Apple Stock is up again.

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Apple has introduced an iPhone 3G Gift Card which can be used to give an iPhone gift this holiday season.

Give someone an iPhone 3G Gift Card and when the lucky recipient comes in to redeem it, an Apple Retail Store Specialist will take care of every detail. The Specialist will get your recipient’s iPhone 3G up and calling, set up email, and help customize the Home screen, choose some great iPhone applications, personalize ringtones, and find favorite songs. The iPhone 3G gift card can be purchased online or in Apple stores.

Buy Now

One hell of a gift eh?

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At long last, an official release date for Texas Instruments‘ DLP Pico projector. Mark it down, December 1st is the launch (delivered by December 19th) of the “world’s smallest / lightest” (51 × 105 × 17-mm / 120g) projector under the Optoma PK-101 branding. And in a smart, hip-by-association marketing move, it’ll be sold from the Apple Store in Japan with an iPhone / iPod kit and dock connector for a tax-inclusive price of about ¥50,000 ($511). It’ll work with non-Apple gear too, of course. With up to 2-hours battery life, an integrated 0.5 watt speaker, and white LED light throwing a 60-inch, “dazzlingly bright, sharp, vivid video image” packing 480 x 320 pixels from up to 8.5 feet away, Tokyo’s Golden Gai district will never be the same.

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