Mobile operator MTN has committed to improved iPhone 4G stock ahead the festive season, following increased frustration from cellular users across the country unable to get their hands on the device nearly two months post launch.
Similar complaints have been received from Vodacom customers; however, comment from the mobile operator was not forthcoming at the time of publication.
MTN, which has only recently been appointed an iPhone distributor in the country, says it is working on resolving the stock shortage.
“Since the launch of the Apple iPhone 4 in SA, MTN has been inundated with orders of this innovative smartphone. Due to the high demand, availability has been limited in certain areas,” says the operator.
“To circumvent disappointment at these retail stores, MTN has a section on its Web site where customers can register and be notified as soon as the handset becomes available in their area. However, MTN has secured stock ahead of the festive season,” notes MTN.
Debut sell-out
The popular device has been plagued by stock issues since its debut. Vodacom noted the day after launch in September that it was already out of stock.
At the time, executive head of corporate communications at Vodacom, Richard Boorman, said more than 10 000 people registered with Vodacom to receive news about the iPhone 4. When it came into the country, half that number responded to e-mails from Vodacom, saying they were still interested in purchasing the device. Only a percentage of that number went through to the final pre-order phase, according to Boorman, but it was still a significant amount.
“Of course, it's a challenge to secure as many phones as we'd like to initially,” Boorman added. However, he assured that new stock had arrived.
Nonetheless, Vodacom subscribers have taken to consumer complaints site HelloPeter.com complaining of recent unavailability of the device.
The mobile operator has responded on the site, saying: “We received confirmation from the procurement department that we did receive a shipment of stock, but due to the small allocation we are receiving from Apple, this was not enough to clear the current backorder we have on the iPhone 16- and 32-gig handset. They also cannot provide ETA (estimated time of arrival).”
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iPhone sells out on debut
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