Thousands line up for iPhone 4 launch as Optus opens registrations

Apple has finally launched the long-awaited iPhone 4, with customers lining up in their thousands outside the company’s flagship retail stores to get their hands on the latest iteration of the smartphone.

The launch comes after some US customers have been enjoying their iPhones for two days now, after Apple started sending out preorders two days early, apparently to avoid a flood of activation requests on the company’s servers.

Stores are reportedly selling out fast. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster wrote in a research note that he had called 20 separate Apple stores, and nine had sold out, with the remainder expecting to sell their stock by the end of the day.

“Early signs from interest at Apple stores, coupled with Apple’s announcement of over 600,000 pre-orders, leave us increasingly confident in our June and September quarter iPhone unit estimates (both at 9.5 million),” Munster said.

“Our best guess is that Apple reserves about half of the units for pre-orders (mail delivery and in-store pick up) and half for in-store purchases (walk-ins), implying total sales for the launch (including the 600,000 already announced for online and first three days) of between 1.0m to 1.5m. This would be the biggest iPhone launch (compare to 3GS at 1 million).”

Wired has also reported that thousands of people have lined up outside Apple stores in several different countries.

Additionally, stock at reseller locations is going quickly. Only 1,500 Wal-Mart stores are selling the iPhone 4, and reports from publications including CNN and Engadget suggest stock is extremely limited, with some stores only having one or two units.

Additionally, electronics retail chain Best Buy is selling out quickly. Leaked inventory reports from last week indicate stores only have up to 70 units at each location.

“Inventory remains constrained, and it is expected that many of the iPhones that Best Buy receives will go first to customers who reserved one during presale,” the company said in a statement yesterday. It also added that customers need to call ahead before going to a store in person.

And with AT&T not selling units until next Tuesday, June 29, users will be hard-pressed to find an iPhone 4 in the next few days. The telco, which is the exclusive carrier of the iPhone for the US, said its presale was 10 times more popular than for the iPhone 3GS model – it sold 600,000 preorders during the first day.

A shortage problem has also been exacerbated by the fact only black models are available. A “manufacturing problem” means white models won’t be available until the end of next month – probably during the international launch.

“White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.”

Meanwhile, Optus has finally announced it will carry the new iPhone, following a nerve-wracking wait for customers after rival telcos announced weeks ago they intend to sell the gadget.

The company said in a statement yesterday that it would be taking preorders for the device, and text messages were sent to existing customers telling them to register online.