launch

Apple's iPhone launch appears to be off to a slow start in China as China Unicom and Apple held a launch event largely free of the buzz and long buyer lines that have accompanied launches of the handset elsewhere. During the event, Beijing's first rain in weeks fell on an overhead canopy during the event.
"It's because of the rain, the temperature really is a little low today," said Li Yi, a 27-year-old man waiting in line to buy an iPhone 3GS, when asked about the low attendance.

Recently, wireless carrier T-Mobile announced that it will be bringing the iPhone 3G to the Netherlands. The carrier will be offering three plans, the cheapest starting at €30 per month with more details available on its web site.

Telefonica has announced that they have received 300,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 3G in the U.K. and Spain combined. According to their spokesperson, customers have been reserving their iPhone 3G on the company's website ever since Telefonica announced that they would be offering it earlier this month. Telefonica was already the official carrier of the first generation of iPhone in the U.K. and Ireland as O2, and will be expanding this to Spain, the Czech Republic, and twelve Latin American countries on July 11.

If you happen to be a resident of New Zealand, you might be in luck. Engadget has word from what they call a "trusted source" saying that the first iPhone 3G in the world will be going on sale at exactly 00:01, Friday July 11th in New Zealand at Vodafone stores in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. That means that it will still be Thursday, July 10th at 5:01AM in Cupertino or 13:01 hours in London.
[via Engadget]

A leaked internal memo to Apple retail and sales personnel outlining the company's iPhone 3G Frequently Asked Questions has provides some tidbits on what to expect come July 11th as well as information for bulk iPhone 3G sales:

On Thursday, Italian wireless carrier announced its pre-paid pricing for the iPhone 3G. Unlike many carriers, Telecom Italia will offer a selection of pre-paid plans alongside its standard contracts, the 8GB iPhone 3G retailing for €499 while the 16GB iPhone 3G will retail for €569. The handset is slated to launch on July 11th within the country.