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)