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3GS shortages expected overseas due to demand

It's like Econ 101 with the iPhone lately, says our old friend Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. Demand is high, supplies are low, and so shortages are apparently expected. Especially in international markets, there just aren't enough iPhones to go around -- Munster cites a fellow analyst's report that 3 Italia, the Italian company charged with selling Apple's smartphone in that country, is selling 20K iPhones, but could be selling many more if they had the stock to do so.

Of course, they probably don't need to -- iPhone sales are already holding the company up above expectations, and Apple may even be figuring that a little demand never hurt anybody. Why sell a ton of phones when you're already selling more than you expected to? I doubt it's as mysterious as that (they probably expected to sell a certain number and it turns out there are more iPhone fans than they counted on overseas), but even if shortages happen, no one's going to be second guessing Apple's strategy. As far as straight results go for the iPhone, they haven't done anything wrong yet.

[via 9to5Mac]

It's like Econ 101 with the iPhone lately, says our old friend Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. Demand is high, supplies are low, and...
 

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November 13 2009 at 10:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike Puchol

I've been bitchin' about the situation in Spain for MONTHS, and TUAW didn't pick on the story. There's a 19-page thread on Apple's support forums about the situation. I won't repeat what Ruben said, as it's exactly the truth - and even today, there are many shops that still don't have stock since launch day.

Eventually I gave up, and bought a factory-unlocked phone in a small shop in Barcelona (they bring them from Poland and other places), for some 900 Euros, and I also moved from Movistar to Yoigo, so I'm no longer paying the "Apple carrier tax". Given my usage, I will more than recoup the more expensive unlocked 3GS.

October 18 2009 at 1:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sman

It is a bit sad, I mean you don't want to carry stock that won't sell, but you should always want to at least come close to meeting demand.

I am from Canada and I can't even get 3GS upgrade - we currently only have one national carrier but I upgraded on August 6th to the 3GS and am still waiting on the "3-5 business day delivery"....it's October 16th today.

I can go to the Apple store and buy one (for $800), but can't get one from our (exclusive) national carrier with an upgrade as they have been sold out since July apparently.

October 16 2009 at 6:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gabriele

Here in Italy 3 ITA is the company who's giving the iPhone at lowest prices and best contracts, so everybody intentioned to buy an iPhone is trying to get it.

In my case, i got an iPhone 3GS 32GB for 299 €, and every month I put 30€ on my number and they give me 60€ of traffic. I pay then 3€ every week and I have 100mb/day data, and call for 0.0025/sec, 0.07/text.
Every minuute of received call they give me 0.05, every text 0.02.
I know this is quite a strange way for paying mobile for every other country, but believe me is the best plan ever and many people is trying to get it together with the iPhone and this is why £ ITA can't manage demand.

October 16 2009 at 3:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mok

Same situation in Malaysia. Orders are being placed in a 30-45 day waiting list. I got mine on launch day, 31/7, as I pre-ordered. However a 2nd unit that I booked on that same day took about 8 weeks to be available.

October 16 2009 at 12:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pl_svn

just a note to clarify: 3 Italia is the newcomer in iPhone sales, here in Italy, and never achieved satisfactory supplies from Apple
Tim and Vodafone, the two "historical" carriers, are reporting just some occasional delays for black 32GB 3Gs

October 16 2009 at 12:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joe

I hope I don't have to wait. I just sent my phone out for repair (32GB 3GS, the rarest) and it's got all my phone numbers. In the meantime, I'm using my old Nokia and it's like going back on a bicycle after leaving the racetrack.

October 16 2009 at 12:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rohan

No iPhone 3GS in india as well. I've been dying to get one

October 16 2009 at 11:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tosz

Here in Austria I was told the wait will be about a month - got it sooner b/c someone reserved one but didn't pick it up and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

October 16 2009 at 10:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom

Expected shortages? I just ordered my 3GS on monday, and I'll probably have to wait one to one and a half month before I get it!

This is been the case since the release a few months ago.

October 16 2009 at 10:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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