http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/07/01/o2.sells.out.of.iphone.3gs/
O2 UK sells out of iPhone 3GS
updated 11:25 am EDT, Wed July 1, 2009
O2 sells out of iPhone 3GS
O2 UK has sold out of the iPhone 3GS, according to the carrier's inventory tracker. Citing "phenomenal demand," the company says it has run out of stock for every ordering method, including online, by phone and at retail locations. More stock is only expected by the end of the week, though O2 adds that the iPhone 3G remains available everywhere.
Sales of the iPhone have typically been modest to low in the UK, an outcome frequently blamed on the high cost of the device relative to other available smartphones. A sellout could indicate resurgent interest, but alternately a relatively small number of phones ordered by O2. By contrast Apple has experienced multiple sellouts in the past, and recently significant shortages.
Mac Elite
Joined: Oct 2000
Probably the latter
I went along fairly early to my nearest O2 store on the 19th, expecting a really long queue. I got there at 08:30, the shop was due to open at 09:02. I was 5th in line! In the half hour that followed before the shop opened, another 3 people joined the queue behind me and that was it.
If they've sold out, I suspect it's more likely to be down to a low initial order rather than a surge in interest. That said, the store manager admitted to being surprised at the "p*ss-poor turnout", so I could be wrong!