While a previous report from iMore claimed that pre-orders for the new iPhone would begin tomorrow (the same day as Apple’s event), MacRumors reports that pre-orders might actually begin this Friday, September 14 instead.
MacRumors is now hearing that pre-orders may not begin tomorrow following the media event and that they may instead start on Friday morning in a scenario similar to last year’s debut. We’re hearing that certain portions of Apple’s online sales support team are significantly increasing their staffing levels beginning at 6:00 AM Eastern on Friday, with a major surge for the initial shift beginning at that time and a sustained level of high staffing for at least the remainder of the day.
The move would be similar to how pre-orders became available with the iPhone 4S last year, and is more in line with Apple’s previous iPhone pre-order habits. That doesn’t mean iMore was wrong, however – Apple could certainly have shifted around their plans since iMore’s report, and both reports seem logical.
Considering the staff bolstering, however, Friday seems a much more likely bet at this point.