An internal email addressed to AT&T employees notes that the company encourages its staff to schedule their vacations before June 15 and after July 15. This is to ensure that during the said time period they are properly staffed to take advantage of what could be their "biggest selling period" in a few years.

While we all know that Apple's iPhone is set to debut this June, at least now we have hints at a more specific window for the handheld's release.

While Apple has noted that the iPhone is on track to see a late June release and this email gives us a narrower window, others have even gone as far as to speculate that the handheld will indeed be launched on the 15th itself.

Let us know what you think of this after you check out that alleged "AT&T employee email" that's currently circulating the Internet.

To:              All Company Owned Retail Employees
From:          [Name removed]
Subject:      iPhone Launch Period
Date:          May 4, 2007

As previously announced, Apple and AT&T will soon debut the iPhone,
which combines a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and
breakthrough internet communications into one small and lightweight
handheld device.  The new AT&T has a multiyear, exclusive agreement to
provide U.S. service for the iPhone.

To ensure proper staffing during the product launch period, Sales personnel
planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their
vacations before June 15 or after July 15 to participate in the iPhone
launch.

Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling
is not feasible

No additional vacation requests will be approved during the launch period
(6/15 Â? 7/15).

I want to thank you in advance for your understanding as this is likely to
be the biggest selling period we have seen in a few years.

Happy Selling,

[Name removed]

  

The clock's ticking to the official release of Apple's iPhone. But who will be their carrier partner? Up to now, there's still no final word from the fruity giant, but Wall Street analysts are predicting that Vodafone just might be the chosen one for Europe.

Shaw Wu, American Technology Research analyst, reveals that their sources, so far, are indicating that Vodafone will most likely be Apple's top pick for its European distribution. "We believe Vodafone's 200 million subscriber base (compared to 61 million for AT&T, its USA partner), broad and country coverage, and investment in advanced technologies make it a strong fit for Apple."

Apple intends to launch its iPhone to Europe come the fourth quarter of this year.

The buzz over Apple's new product - the iPhone - and the recent pullback in the equity markets make investors feel encouraged about buying Apple stocks. But analysts warn: buying the stock now solely on the faith of this new product could come back to haunt investors' portfolio later in the year.

Apple plans to sell as much as 10 million units by the year 2008, a goal considered conservative. Analysts insist, however, that a closer look at the handset market may prove that such a goal may be too lofty even for a consumer electronics powerhouse like Apple.

The iPhone is considered a smart phone due to its high price and multifunction capabilities. Although smart phone sales increased by 42 percent since 2004, smart phone sales represent only 10 percent of the total number of handsets sold last year.

The way that the iPhone is only available through AT&T's Cingular Wireless service is also limiting for iPhone sales. Other factors that may not make the iPhone sell as well as planned are its high price, and the credibility of the competing smart phone makers such as Nokia, Palm and Motorola.

Analysts advice to avoid AppleÂ?s stock until it is certain that the iPhone will sustain a high level of growth.

Digit Online reports on an uncommissioned survey by online market firm Compete, Inc. which hints that (a) the iPhone as it is is simply too expensive (well, (sarcasm deleted)), but (b) if the price drops, they would gladly switch to Cingular and AT&T (which owns Cingular) to get one. It's not that "maybe it's a fake survey" survey - different marketing firm, but as it's uncommissioned, it's got nothing to do with Cingular/AT&T or Apple, either.

Still, everyone seems to be testing the waters these days for the iPhone.

While 379 people across the US surveyed doesn't exactly constitute a statistically representative pool, most of these 379 people were aware of what the iPhone was, and have shopped for an iPod before. Only 1% of this pool was willing to lay down US$ 500 for the low-end iPhone. 42% said they'd likely buy the phone if the price dropped to US$ 200 to US$ 299.

In a potential signal to competitors, 60% said they'd be willing to switch to Cingular/AT&T if they purchased an iPhone. Okay, so 60% isn't exactly a landslide in terms of the cellular market, but other cellular providers might be thinking of talking things over with Apple for a small slice of the pie, too, despite (or probably after) the Cingular exclusivity. Especially if the product goes 3G.

There was this rumor going around that AT&T plans to use the Apple iPhone to get customers from Verizon Wireless by giving away its service for a year and a half to those customers who buy the phone. Now, that's some rumor that could really make the day of anybody who has been fantasizing about the iPhone ever since it was revealed. Just imagine, 18 months of hassle-free iPhone goodness.

Unfortunately, this rumor has already been debunked. In a Gizmodo report, a Cingular representative has told them this:

The report is nonsense. We've always said the only way you can get the iPhone is with a Cingular rate plan.

Yeah, well the rumor is too good to be true if you ask us. Cingular isn't dumb enough to give away the minutes and data of arguably the most anticipated phone, for 18 months. They will already be selling it exclusively (which equates to lotsa money for them), so why let go of more profit?

One rumor smashed. Lot of Apple rumors still waiting to be debunked.