Shipping times stretch for European white iPhones
updated 09:35 am EDT, Fri April 29, 2011
US, Canadian times continue to hold at 3-5 days
Online shipping times for the white iPhone 4 are stretching out in a number European countries. Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland and the UK are some of the major countries now listing a delay of a flat five days. Black iPhones are more readily available, shipping in the space of a day or two.
Times remain stable in the US and Canada, sitting at 3 to 5 days for white phones and 24 hours for black ones. In mainland China and Hong Kong, though, white models are listed only as "coming soon." The product is believed to have temporarily sold out in retail shops in Beijing and Hong Kong, although it isn't yet clear how many buyers were legitimate and how many were acting on behalf of gray-market dealers.
White iPhones could add about 1 to 1.5 million units to Apple's sales each quarter. While some buyers may prefer white electronics, for others picking the color may be a matter of cachet. Apple has promised the white option since last June, but been unable to deliver until this week because of assorted technical problems.
