Apple denies US unlocked iPhone 4S for a month

Americans visiting the online Apple Store to pre-order an iPhone 4S encountered multiple limitations on what they could buy. The unlocked GSM iPhone 4S won't be available until November in the country despite Canadians and some other regions having the option from the start. No reasons have been given, although it may be either supply or an agreement with AT&T.

Those who do buy have so far reported having to opt for home delivery, not in-store pickup. Business customers also report being denied pre-orders, although that isn't uncommon for iPhone launches.

The availability came after an intermittent issues with Apple's servers. The official Apple sites didn't open to orders until roughly 40 minutes past the promised midnight Pacific start time and were joined by a similarly long delay for AT&T. Sprint, Verizon, and some Canadian providers like Bell, Telus, and Virgin opened up much closer to the originally scheduled time.

Some also reported slowdowns or other glitches as the system came under strain.

By Electronista Staff