How to get an iPhone on day one

So, you want an iPhone, do you? I can't blame you, we've only been talking about the thing every single day for the last few months here at DailyTechRag. As we've mentioned, however, there aren't likely to be enough iPhones on shelves to meet demand come the 29th, so you might want to start planning out your strategy for the launch now. Here are some helpful tips:

• The iPhone will only be available at company-owned AT&T retail stores, Apple stores and on Apple's website.
• Just because a store sports AT&T/Cingular signage, doesn't mean that it's company-owned. There are only about 1,800 company-owned retail stores in the U.S., so confirm with your intended point of pick-up ahead of time or use this store locator (look for stores that are not labeled as "AT&T authorized retailers").
• While Apple has officially barred resellers from taking iPhone pre-orders, a lot of AT&T stores have set up wait lists anyway. Stop by your local store and find out if they have a list--act fast, as many of these lists are already filling up.
• You'll need an iTunes account to set up your iPhone, so make sure that you have one set up ahead of time.
• Really want an iPhone? If you can't get on a wait list, your best bet is probably camping out outside of an AT&T store (Apple stores will reportedly have fewer units on the 29th). Hey, no one ever said this was going to be easy.

For more info on the iPhone launch:
- see this ZDnet article