Two iPhones for Walmart?

Newer sources back the notion that Walmart will soon begin carrying the iPhone, Bloomberg reports. The news agency cites cellphone department workers at five California Walmarts, who again say that the iPhone is due by the end of December, and that sales training for it is already in progress. The exact timing of the launch remains contentious however, as while previous reports have hinted at a December 28th launch, a store representative from Yuba City says the phone will come the day before Christmas; a clerk in Stockton suggests that a launch could happen as soon as December 15th.

Multiple sources agree on the prospect of the company selling two iPhone models, though capacities are uncertain. A clerk from a Vacaville store suggests that the phones will be the same 8 and 16GB models sold elsewhere, but this would conflict with past rumors, which have hinted at a $99 iPhone scaled back to 4GB. The clerk does, however, support the previously expected December 28th release date, and a similar timeframe is backed up by representatives from Marysville and Sacramento.

Separately, the San Jose Mercury News says it has verified a Walmart deal through its own interviews, and Yahoo claims that an 8GB phone could go on sale for $197, narrowly beating Apple and AT&T's $199 price. A photo of leaked advertising appears to back this view.

by MacNN Staff