Apple: Verizon iPhone Online Sales Start Feb. 9

Apple announced that online sales of Verizon iPhone will start on February 9, the day before they are available on store shelves.

NEW YORK, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) said on Wednesday that it would kick off online sales of the Verizon Wireless iPhone on Feb. 9, a day before the device hits its store shelves.

Apple's web sales launch of the highly-anticipated phone will follow Verizon's online sales of a limited number of iPhones to its existing mobile customers starting at 3 a.m. ET Feb. 3 for delivery on or before Feb. 10.

Apple said people ordering the phone on Feb. 9 can have it delivered or reserve it for an in-store pickup Feb. 10, when both companies plan to start offering the phone in their stores a 7 a.m. local time. Verizon Wireless is a venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone Group Plc (L:VOD).

It will be the second U.S. operator to offer iPhone after AT&T Inc (NYSE:T) more than three years of exclusive rights to the popular device. (Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Dave Zimmerman)