Daily Nonsense

AT&T has created 2000 temporary jobs nationwide to handle the surge in business expected with the launch of Apples iPhone. With units available exclusively at AT&T and Apple stores, there is expected to be a mad, frenzied rush for the devices.

As many of you are aware, I’m underwhelmed with the whole idea. I saw on recent comment to the effect that this guy would buy the phone without the music player for $200 less. I’ll take that one further. I’ll buy the media player in that exact form factor for $300 less. Leave in the WiFi capability for downloading media from my network, but strip out all the phone and internet browsing capability and I’m in. But since that’ll never happen, lets get back to business with an article gleaned from the Chicago Tribune:

Launch of iPhone calls for extra staff

Associated Press
Published June 22, 2007

SAN ANTONIO — AT&T Inc., which will be the exclusive carrier of Apple Inc.’s much-hyped new iPhone, has hired 2,000 extra workers to staff its company-owned stores for the launch, a spokesman said Thursday.

The iPhone, a combination cell phone, media player and wireless Web device, will be available only at stores owned by Apple and AT&T, and on Apple’s Web site, when it is launched June 29.

To handle the expected crush of customers, AT&T has hired 2,000 additional employees, mostly college students, for the summer, said AT&T spokesman Michael Coe.

On the day of the launch, AT&T’s 1,800 company-owned stores will close at 4:30 p.m. to prepare for the 6 p.m. launch in each market.

Neither AT&T nor Apple has disclosed how many devices will be available at launch, but Coe said if AT&T stores run out, customers will be able to purchase an iPhone at the store and have it shipped to them when it’s available.

[Thanks, Chicago Tribune]