Kopkiwi: Is this the most laughable launch of anything in the history of anything?

freitasm: The Telecom price was announced in the press release. Not sure why you point it as "Coming soon".

Kopkiwi: Is this the most laughable launch of anything in the history of anything?

• Apple announced that the iPhone 4 would launch in New Zealand on Friday 30 July
• Vodafone "promised" further details about the iPhone 4 in the leadup to the launch, but failed to deliver on this promise (in my opinion)
• In the days before the launch, retailers were referring interested customers to Apple, saying that there would be no Apple announcement on where to buy the iPhone 4 on Friday morning until - Friday morning itself
• Despite rumours of a "cancelled launch", some desperate buyers still queued for hours at Apple resellers where iPhone is usually stocked. And who can really blame them? Until that point there had been no *official* word that there would be no sales of the iPhone at retail outlets
• Friday morning came and still there was no announcement from Apple about where their customers could buy an iPhone 4
• On Friday morning, Vodafone apologises to those that had queued for hours, telling them that the iPhone 4 was not going to go on sale
• Only hours (minutes really) later, the rumour mill starts to distribute the news that Vodafone NZ plans to sell the iPhone 4 from 12pm. Vodafone stores give this information to enquiring buyers, but most would not hear "officially" from Vodafone HQ until an email and TXT starts to circulate to those that had signed up to Vodafone's website promising "up to date" information on the iPhone 4 launch. Many people only receive this email after the 12pm launch - some receiving their email or TXT late into the afternoon/evening.
• Apple at some stage (I don't really care to try and work out exactly when official word was released to the public) announce that iPhone 4 would be available on their website store "later in the evening". It turns out that this simply meant to place an order for an iPhone 4 with an estimated shipping date 3 weeks away, and a further estimated 5 days to arrive from the courier.
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freitasm:

Kopkiwi: Is this the most laughable launch of anything in the history of anything?

Nope. this was the most laughable. The iPhone 4 launch was a terribly planned event. From the linked blog post:

• Apple announced that the iPhone 4 would launch in New Zealand on Friday 30 July
• Vodafone "promised" further details about the iPhone 4 in the leadup to the launch, but failed to deliver on this promise (in my opinion)
• In the days before the launch, retailers were referring interested customers to Apple, saying that there would be no Apple announcement on where to buy the iPhone 4 on Friday morning until - Friday morning itself
• Despite rumours of a "cancelled launch", some desperate buyers still queued for hours at Apple resellers where iPhone is usually stocked. And who can really blame them? Until that point there had been no *official* word that there would be no sales of the iPhone at retail outlets
• Friday morning came and still there was no announcement from Apple about where their customers could buy an iPhone 4
• On Friday morning, Vodafone apologises to those that had queued for hours, telling them that the iPhone 4 was not going to go on sale
• Only hours (minutes really) later, the rumour mill starts to distribute the news that Vodafone NZ plans to sell the iPhone 4 from 12pm. Vodafone stores give this information to enquiring buyers, but most would not hear "officially" from Vodafone HQ until an email and TXT starts to circulate to those that had signed up to Vodafone's website promising "up to date" information on the iPhone 4 launch. Many people only receive this email after the 12pm launch - some receiving their email or TXT late into the afternoon/evening.
• Apple at some stage (I don't really care to try and work out exactly when official word was released to the public) announce that iPhone 4 would be available on their website store "later in the evening". It turns out that this simply meant to place an order for an iPhone 4 with an estimated shipping date 3 weeks away, and a further estimated 5 days to arrive from the courier.
• 
  

shevc: I ordered a HTC ONE from handtec on 21 March, they already delayed 4 times and the 5th will coming tomorrow...

bradstewart:

shevc: I ordered a HTC ONE from handtec on 21 March, they already delayed 4 times and the 5th will coming tomorrow...

You're aware the European sourced One's do not support 850MHz so won't able to be used on Telecom right?

bradstewart: It's been well reported on a lot of tech sites that the staggered release across the world was due to supply issues.

One of the downsides to having such a nice quality phone is that it can't be churned out in the same numbers as certain plastic ones.

heavenlywild: And... the day has arrived people! After 51 pages, the phone FINALLY arrives in New Zealand, officially. Whether it's available at the likes of DSE, Noel Leeming etc, well, I guess we'll soon find out. Either way, as long as it's in my hands by the weekend, I am happy.