The VAR Guy

Are you an existing Verizon customer who can’t wait to get your hands on the iPhone? Well, good news if you don’t sleep: You can pre-order one of the iPhones the service provider has set aside for you, dear existing customer, and it can be had Feb. 3 at 3 a.m. Eastern. The rest of you plebians can read on to see when you can get your mitts on the near-mythical phone …

Apple announced that Verizon customers can buy the iPhone 4 at Apple’s online store on Feb. 3, but warns it’s a first-come-first-serve thing. But, Verizon’s e-mail to current customers said they can grab the phone as early as 3 a.m. Exciting. Get ready to spam your refresh button.

For everyone else who isn’t a Verizon customer, on Feb. 9, 2011, anyone can buy online or reserve an in-store pickup of the iPhone 4 for Feb. 10, when, at 7 a.m. (their local time) they can run out to their local Apple store and demand one, or run into a Verizon store and do the same.

There has been no mention of an orderly pre-reserving system for the Verizon iPhone like was done with the iPad, so expect lines or general chaos if you decide to just walk in and buy one. An obscure Verizon store might be your best bet.

If you’re one of the lucky people to nab the phone, let us know and tell us about your experience. If you brave the hoards of people on Feb. 10, let us know about that, too. I may or may not be scoping out the scene at my local Apple store.

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