• Log on to Apple's Web-based store on June 29. The mystery remains as to exactly what time the phone will be available (it's set to go on sale at 6 p.m. that day, Jobs announced, but an Apple representative could not immediately confirm whether that was 6 p.m. Pacific time or Eastern time, or whether it would be a rolling launch), so sign up for updates early. But forget trying AT&T's e-commerce site; the company says it won't be selling iPhones online, at least initially.

• Call a few local AT&T stores and see if you can get on their waiting lists or if your local sales representative has any tips about how that particular store is handling requests. Most will tell you it's all first-come, first-served, but practices appear to vary widely.

• Show up early at an Apple store or company-owned AT&T store before they open on June 29. Most stores say they will be keeping normal hours that day, although midnight parties at Apple stores don't appear to be completely ruled out. The big question is how many phones each store will stock--and what time the phones will arrive.

• Wait until the June 29 mania dies down and hope that AT&T and Apple decide to allow locally owned AT&T franchises and resellers to carry the product as well. More locations should mean more units--and shorter lines.

Labels: iphone