Rumor: iPhone heading to Wal-Mart

According to an anonymous source, Apple's iPhone will soon be sold at Wal-Mart. Boy Genius Report's insider says that sales will begin on November 15.

The truth or falsity of this claim will be a nice litmus test of either (a) how far retailers will go to accommodate Apple, or (b) how far Apple will go to conquer the world. Wal-Mart typically demands heavy compromises from its suppliers, including control over distribution and packaging. For Apple to agree to this would go far beyond demonstrating that it never wanted to be a "cult," or that it has no interest in maintaining an elitist image: it would mean the hot breath of The Other America on the back of Steve Jobs' neck.

More likely is that Wal-Mart has simply agreed to take iPhones the way Apple sends them, as Best Buy does, (and remember, Best Buy had to retrain staff and sell at close to cost, hoping to profit on accessories), or that the rumor is bogus.

iPhone 3G may be coming to a Walmart near you [BGR]

[#1 posted by pupdog , October 12, 2008 12:35 AM]

I like the Smiley crop, gives it a nice evil slant...

[#2 posted by strider_mt2k , October 12, 2008 1:59 AM]

It's missing the blood drip though.

A comedian I'm not.

[#3 posted by retrojoe , October 12, 2008 2:10 AM]

iPhone jumps the shark.

[#4 posted by Sean Eric FAgan , October 12, 2008 8:41 AM]

WalMart sells iPods already, does it not? Are they packaged differently than the normal iPods? (Honestly, I don't know -- I doubt it, but I refuse to go to WalMart.)

[#5 posted by Anonymous , October 12, 2008 11:32 AM]

@ #1

It's the Wal Mart movie smiley! I knew I recognized it!

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

[#6 posted by Rob Beschizza , October 12, 2008 12:52 PM]

They have the iPods in a special display case, as I recall.

What would be interesting is if the iPhone was sold the same way, i.e. no in-store activation.

[#7 posted by midknyte , October 12, 2008 2:47 PM]

The iPods retain their packaging and are in their own display at WalMart. I would expect no different of the iPhone.

http://gizmodo.com/5052794/rumor-iphone-3g-home-activation-and-model-refresh-coming-soon

http://www.intomobile.com/2008/09/22/iphone-home-activation-coming-soon.html

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=10123

[#8 posted by Not a Doktor , October 12, 2008 2:52 PM]

People* always look down on walmart as being low class, but really it's as middle of the road you can get. It is THE mainstream.

*white people

[#9 posted by El Mariachi , October 12, 2008 5:04 PM]

I've seen iPods at Costco and I think Sam's Club (Walmart's warehouse store,) and they were in big crappy-looking blister packs, not the elegant folding cubes they come in at Apple Stores.

[#10 posted by El Mariachi , October 12, 2008 5:05 PM]

Oh, and @Not A Doktor:

That low class is perceived as mainstream ought to tell you something.

[#11 posted by Not a Doktor , October 12, 2008 6:16 PM]

It's not as bad as Kmart

[#12 posted by Elvis Pelt , October 12, 2008 7:16 PM]

My cachet, let me show it to you, err...

[#13 posted by dculberson , October 12, 2008 8:58 PM]

Wal-Mart is every bit as bad as K-Mart.

[#14 posted by Alan , October 13, 2008 8:36 AM]

I dunno; seems like they'd let AT&T reseller stores sell them first. Those are the guys that ought to be yelling to most about selling them.