Friday, March 14,2008 @ 1:00pm
16GB iPhone seeing shortages worldwide
The recently introduced 16GB iPhone is seeing shortages that are restricting Apple's ability to serve both foreign markets and even its own, according to checks by iFUN. In the US, the online Apple Store lists the high-end handset as shipping in 5-7 days, while T-Mobile Germany's iPhone page makes no mention of the device, listing only the 8GB version. Austria and France also continue to display the 8GB model alone.
This delay may last for a long time, according to one T-Mobile spokesperson, who only expects to see availability of the 16GB iPhone within four weeks. The shortage is credited to higher than expected demand, although representatives from Apple and French provider Orange have not commented on the situation, which does not affect UK buyers.
Supplies of the 16GB version may potentially be constrained by stock, as Apple is known to use rarer, higher-density flash memory in the cellphone due to space constraints.