Verizon iPhone Orders Begin Today For All Customers

Starting today, those who have been waiting for the Verizon iPhone can order one online from the carrier or from Apple. The phone becomes physically available tomorrow, Feb. 10, in stores, but before you leap, know you may be jumping into a mosh pit.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky said Wednesday he thinks Verizon will exceed sales of 1 million iPhones in the first week, according to Apple Insider. "Based on estimated pre-order demand and available inventory, Abramsky believes that Verizon, Apple and Best Buy retail stores may completely stock out in the first week ... He expects that Apple has between a million and 1.5 million in channel inventory for the launch."

You can order a phone online from Verizon today; Verizon Wireless retail stores will open at 7 a.m. local time nationwide Thursday (but check with the store you're planning to go to to make sure that's the case). Wal-Mart, too, will be carrying the Verizon iPhone 4 at 600 of it stores, it was announced Tuesday.

Will you actually be able to get one if you want one? That's the big question. Verizon stopped orders for existing customers last Thursday, saying that between 3 a.m., when orders began, and 5 a.m. that day, more customers had ordered the phone that in a full day of any previous phone launch.

If you're thinking of getting one, do yourself a favor and spend some time reviewing Verizon's FAQ page for the iPhone. I have a friend (no, it's not me), who is a longtime Verizon customer and wants to get the iPhone. She was told in her case, it would cost more than $700 for her to make the switch from her Palm Pre, which she has had for more than a year. Understandbly, she's not gonna pay that kind of dough.