Carphone Warehouse cleared out of 8GB iPhones

Carphone Warehouse has rid itself of the 16GB iPhone, having sold out of the 8GB model last week. So did O2, which is now said to be down to its last few 16GB iPhones.

CW's website was today showed the 16GB iPhone to be unavailable. When the site last week said the same of the 8GB version, the company quickly confirmed that the handset had sold out across its outlets, so it's a good bet the same is true of the 16GB now.

Today, the Guardian newspaper claimed O2 had almost sold out of iPhones and the CW has for sure. Apple, meanwhile, continues to list both on its website, noting them as being available to purchase for shipment within 24 hours.

That followed the previous week's launch of a special £100-off offer taking the price of the 8GB iPhone down to £169. O2 made the same cut, but both suppliers kept the 16GB model at £329.

Neither company will discuss stock levels, but it's likely the amount of 16GB iPhones they held would have been much smaller than the volume of 8GB handsets.

Certainly, with World+Dog now convinced that the 3G version is coming next month, it's a wonder anyone would buy an iPhone at this stage, particularly the pricey 16GB model.

All of this generates up-front demand for the 3G model as anyone desperate for one now will almost certainly try to get to the front of the queue come late June when the new model is expected to go on sale.

Apple's not daft and knows the value of driving customers into a frenzy - you can write the 'fans queue for 3G iPhone' story now, and the inevitable headlines on the day will only serve to help convince many consumers that the handset is a must-have item.

Earlier this week, it was claimed AT&T will offer the new model at the same prices as the current iPhone, but with a $200 discount if buyers sign up for a two-year contract. It also emerged that the carrier is offering free Wi-Fi hotspot access with the handset.

That's persuade some pundits to predict that the 3G iPhone will be sold unlocked. That's certainly what's being claimed about the iPhone's Australian debut.