Electronics retailer Best Buy has confirmed that it will be offering the Apple iPhone 4 for sale when the device officially launches on June 24, which gives eager customers an option other than standing in line at Apple and AT&T retail outlets. However, it will also be offering pre-sales of the iPhone 4 starting June 15. Historically, Apple hasn’t let third-party retailers get in on the launches of its its mobile devices, but that changed with the iPad, which was also available from Best Buy the same day it went on sale from Apple and AT&T. Apple is apparently now extending that availability to the iPhone 4.
“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to launch this iconic device with this pre-sale,” said Best Buy Mobile president Shawn Score, in a statement. “Adding the iPhone 4 to our stores alongside other great smartphones like the HTC EVO from Sprint and HTC Incredible on Verizon, gives customers a great opportunity to view each side-by-side and get the mobile phone that works best for them.”
Customers placing a pre-sales order for an iPhone 4 at Best Buy are essentially guaranteeing their ability to set hands on an iPhone 4 at launch day, since pre-sales orders will presumably be filled before walk-in orders on launch day. Apple’s mobile devices are historically in short supply after launch; it can still be hard to find an iPad in stock.
Apple retail partners Radio Shack and Wal-Mart will also be offering the iPhone 4 when it launches on June 24.
The iPhone 4 will be running Apple’s iOS 4 with multitasking support. The phone also features two cameras and support for Wi-Fi video chats, noise-canceling microphones, an antenna integrated into the stainless steel case, a high-resolution “retina display” four times the resolution of the current iPhone 3GS, quad-band HSDPA support, the ability to record 720p high-definition video, and more—all in a package 25 percent thinner than the current iPhone. Additional Apple software available includes a version of iBooks and a version of Apple’s iMovie video editing toolkit for iPhone.
