From: "Rich Gauszka" 

Be interesting to see how many iPhones each store has available in June (
and how many are sold )

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/05/18/iphone_to_be_available_at_2000_st
ore_fronts_on_launch.html

Apple's inaugural mobile handset, iPhone, will be available for sale at
2000 retail store fronts when it goes on sale for the first time next
month, putting the device within reach of most US households.

That's just one of the info morsels Bear Stearns analyst Andy Neff came
bearing after a meeting with members of Apple's executive team on
Wednesday.

During the sit-down, Apple retail chief Ron Johnson and Director of Mac
Product Marketing Tom Boger informed the analyst that those store fronts
would consist exclusively of Apple and AT&T retail stores. (That breaks
down to approximately 160 U.S.-based Apple outlets and roughly 1840
AT&T wireless boutiques.)

"Apple affirmed its goal of June release for iPhone and expressed
confidence in meeting its target of 10 million unit shipments in 2008 given
iPhone's superior user experience, which Apple referred to as
'transformational,'" Neff wrote in a summary of his discussions.

He added that, in addition to iPhone's revolutionary touch interface and
intuitive software capabilities, Apple is focused on differentiating iPhone
from the rest of the pack by improving every facet of its user experience,
including at the point of sale.

In regards to its retail store initiatives, Apple noted that it currently
operates 181 stores worldwide (161 in US and 20 international) and will
continue to expand its store presence, although at a measured pace that
will be based on the availability of key real estate locations.

"In addition, for international store openings, Apple noted that its
strategy is to focus on regions with high Apple installed base first (i.e.,
Japan, UK, etc.) and then expand to other regions," wrote Neff.
"As part of its multichannel strategy, Apple noted that it is
expanding its store-within-store (staffed by Apple employees) at Best Buy
from 50 to 200 as Apple sees it as another way to reach its
customers."

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