News

Cut-price iPhones sell out at Carphone Warehouse

by Tony Smith | posted on 28 April 2008

The move made by O2 and Carphone Warehouse to offer Apple's 8GB iPhone for £100 less than the standard price has proved successful - in a week. CW has no more left to sell, and O2's apparently down to the last few.

Both suppliers' websites are current flagging the handset as "out of stock" (CW) and - more ominously - "no longer available" (O2).

Last week, when it announced its cut-price iPhone package, O2 did warn that the £100-off deal would end when stocks ran out.

CW confirmed to Register Hardware this morning that it has indeed sold out of 8GB iPhones across is stores and its website.

However, O2 said that despite having no more 8GB iPhone to sell online, it does have some left in its stores - though it admitted that stocks are "limited".

A CW spokesman tacitly acknowledged that the price-cut had resulted in a "sudden rush" for iPhones, but he refused to be confirm whether the £100 price reduction was entirely to blame for the elimination of the company's iPhone stock - or if the much-rumoured Jesus Phone famine would have got us to this point, at this time anyway.

Earlier, market watcher Strategy Analytics noted a big decline in world iPhone sales during the past quarter - a dip it blamed on pricing and limited availability.

CW said it was now reviewing its iPhone plans. It wouldn't say whether it will be restocking the 8GB handset and, if it does, whether the new stock will also be sold for £169 a pop.

But with World+Dog eagerly anticipating a 3G iPhone in June, CW and O2 are probably glad to have (almost) cleared their shelves of one of the suddenly somewhat less desirable 2.5G models.

Apple, which is still selling the 8GB phone for £269, can ship 'em out to customers within 24 hours, its UK website said this. Both O2 and CW are still offering the £329 16GB iPhone.