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Friday, September 07, 2012, 01:40 pm
FedEx preparing for 'surge' on anticipated Sept. 21 'iPhone 5' launch date
More evidence of a Sept. 21 launch for Apple's next iPhone has come from mail carrier FedEx, which has begun alerting employees about a "surge volume" event beginning that Friday.FedEx has postponed a corporate class in anticipation of the unnamed event that will occur from Sept. 21 through 24, according to a company memo published on Friday by MacRumors. The company is also said to be limiting employee travel during the four-day span.
Apple typically partners with FedEx for home deliveries of its new product launches. And the date cited by FedEx aligns with previous rumors pointing toward a Sept. 21 launch date after next Wednesday's media event.
Sept. 21 is a Friday, which is the day of the week Apple traditionally uses for product releases. Last year, Apple announced the iPhone on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and the device launched the following week on Friday, Oct. 14.
Following a similar pattern this year, Apple is expected to unveil its next-generation iPhone, referred to unofficially as the "iPhone 5," at its event next Wednesday, Sept. 12, with the product officially launching the following Friday.
The new iPhone is expected to be the biggest product launch in Apple's history, which would explain why FedEx is adjusting its corporate schedule accordingly. In March, an overwhelming number of preorders for Apple's third-generation iPad led to delayed shipments through both FedEx and UPS.
Apple's "It's Almost Here" media event kicks off next Wednesday at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern from the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Calif. AppleInsider will have full, live coverage of the presentation.
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Previous Comments View All
That's interesting. Because we never hear FedEx preparing for "surges" on Android device launch dates.
Father's Christmas logistics ....
That's interesting. Because we never hear FedEx preparing for "surges" on Android device launch dates.
But they ship so MANY!
This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone by now. I'm picturing a warehouse already filled with thousands of phones just waiting for shipping labels.
I remember back when the 3G was being released that Apple was using ocean shipping containers. 188 of them for the first delivery. I believe they have used air freight ever since.
My neighbor works for Fedex and he told me they do keep iPhones and iPads stocked in their warehouses and provide fulfillment services so when you buy online the order is sent directly to Fedex.
Wow. The forums look different.
I feel a bit discombobulated.
Ok, what is this? How can we post images and the like? What is thisjQuery18107307801065035164_1347047157237?
EDIT . .
Ok, that's better. "Read all Comments" took me back to the standard view.
Samsung ships directly to their partners or through wholesalers since they don't the direct-to-consumer channel.
I saw a Fedex truck filling up with gas. Clearly this is in preparation for some large shipment soon.
But they ship so MANY!
Actually, they do, if you consider 20 million in a little over three months "many."
The difference is most of those sales are through carriers, instead of many direct shipments to the end user like the initial sale of iPhones.
http://www.zdnet.com/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-sales-hit-20-million-in-100-days-7000003819/
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This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone by now. I'm picturing a warehouse already filled with thousands of phones just waiting for shipping labels.