a couple iphone 3g questions

[clra2]

hey guys. i'm about to purchase an iphone real soon (probably within the next 2 weeks) and i just have a couple questions.
1) iphone availabilty- does anyone know if i walk into an apple/at&t store whether they'll have the iphone in stock? the nearest apple and at&t store close to me is about a half hour away and i dont want to drive all the way there to just check whether they have them in stock.
2) changing numbers- well i currently have verizon and i want to keep my number but my 2 year contract doesnt expire until october and i obviously dont want to wait 4 months to get an iphone (and i'll be in college and 4 hours away from my family, we're thinking about getting the family plan). so can i get an iphone now and let at&t give me a temporary number or something and then after my contract with verizon expires change it afterwards?
thanks in advance!

[Surf Monkey]

1) No one knows. Stores get shipments and sell them all out the very same day. Your best bet is to go to an Apple store first thing in the AM. Check the availability page on Apple's site the evening before to see if they have stock.

2) Only ATT can answer that question, but I'm guessing that you'll have troubles moving a number to an established account.

[Gr8twhitenasty]

As far as getting a phone, I'm sure it is still early for the supply to catch up to the demand. You might get surprised where you go to look for one I'm sure. I think they're definitely a little more ready this year than last.

Cocnerning number changes, they'll have to port your number from verizon and if you're still under contract there probably will be some sort of porting charge. I was done with my two year contract with verizon and they didn't charge me anything.

Hope this helps.

[daihard]

I just got mine from the local Apple store. I walked in around 1:30 PM and the store had about 20 iPhones in stock (16GB whites and 8GBs). I waited in line for about 20 minutes before I went through the purchase and activation process. The store guy told me the best bet was to check the availability online the day before and hit the store as soon as it opened... just like Surf Monkey said above.

As for porting the number, you can let AT&T start using your old number right away. You will provide your old provider information to AT&T so they can grab the number from them for you. That is a separate process than your old 2-year contract. If you don't want to pay the early termination fee, I believe you can just leave your Verizon account alone until the contract runs out, even though the phone number itself has been moved.

[clra2]

ok cool. thanks a bunch. i dont mind paying a charge for number porting but this really helps a lot.

[Mephiska]

I know for Helio if you take your number it closes the line, thus ending any existing contract, so be careful. Call Verizon for that, not AT&T.

You can port your number to AT&T at any time with no effect on contract, so you could use a temporary number and then 4mo later switch back to your old number when your verizon contract expires.

Also, Apple Stores get 10x the inventory that the AT&T stores do, so your best bet is to go there.