Apple appears to have quashed speculation that its new iPhone 4 handset might be launched at midnight on Thursday night in Australia, with its local web site stating its own retail stores will start selling the hyped device at 8AM Friday morning instead.

The site has been updated to state that the iPhone 4 will be “arriving at your favourite Apple Retail store on 30 July”, with “stores open at 8AM” – the normal opening hour for Apple retail stores, according to that same site. It appears this story was first broken by MacTalk.

Hopes of a midnight launch to match the celebrations for the iPhone 3G and 3GS reaching Australia, for example, were raised last week after The Next Web reported that Optus would host a midnight launch party for the iPhone 4 — as it has done in the past for other releases. However, none of Australia’s major mobile telcos have so far confirmed how and at what price they will launch the iPhone 4.

An Apple Australia spokesperson has not yet responded to a request for comment on whether the company is planning a midnight launch for the iPhone 4.

Meanwhile, Apple’s site now also states that customers buying an iPhone on Friday will be limited to two devices per person – with the handsets to be available on a “first come, first-served” basis.

It is typical of Apple launches in Australia that the company will closely coordinate with its telco partners the timing of the launch of its devices. Typically iPhones will be sold from both official Apple stores as well as the telco’s own retail outlets.

While the iPad went on sale at 8AM in the morning and coincided with the launch of Apple’s new store in Bondi Junction, Sydney, iPhone models have typically gone on sale at midnight on the launch day — so Thursday night for a Friday launch.

Image credit: Apple

Related posts:

1. Optus confirms midnight iPhone 4 launch
2. Who will host an iPhone 4 launch party?
3. Details: iPhone 4 launch parties around Sydney
4. Sydney iPhone 4 launch: Photos by Optus
5. Virgin confirms iPhone 4 launch

1. Jenna Pitcher
   Posted 26/07/2010 at 10:22 am | Permalink | Reply

   Big week this week.

2. Stilgherrian
   Posted 26/07/2010 at 8:00 pm | Permalink | Reply

   If people can’t wait a few hours to buy the latest consumer gadget, whatever the brand, then they really do need to reconsider their priorities in life. Goddam bloody sheep.

3. Billy
   Posted 26/07/2010 at 8:12 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Well I’m glad you say that, slapper, one less person in the queue.

4. Martin
   Posted 26/07/2010 at 10:25 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Well I hope they have a midnight launch. I will be in Brisbane at midnight on Thursday anyway. And Friday is my day off :-) So it would save me the trip on Friday :-)

   When will they hurry up and release plans?