The Samsung Galaxy S3 is one of the hottest and most elusive Android handsets of 2012. According to BusinessWeek, while the handset is available on five different carriers in the US, you will have to wait to get your hands on the device, or pay over the odds for it.
Samsung Galaxy S3 pulls an iPhone 4: more demand than supply, exorbitant prices from those who have it
There are stock shortages of the S3 with two of the carriers in the US whle another is asking a lot more for their phone (T-Mobile). These shortages are testament to Samsung finally building an Android handset that rivals the interest of a new iPhone when it is released.
According to Engadget, Sprint were planning on selling the phone from last Thursday but have had to delay due to the demand being so high. Anyone who pre-ordered the 16GB version of the device should get it as planned, however if you pre-ordered the 32GB version you will have to wait until next week before getting your hands on it.
AT&T is also experiencing delays and said that the supply constraints from manufacturers are the cause of the delay for pre-ordered handsets. They had given a delivery date of 21st June, but this has been changed to no later than 25th June. They went on to say that pre-orders should arrive in 10 business days and customers will get an email and SMS to notify them.
Verizon are keeping tight lipped but delays may happen. Verizon were the only carrier not to give a set release date for the handset. Anyone who pre-ordered the phone was told the shipping date would be July 9th.
At the moment only T-Mobile have the Samsung Galaxy S3 in stock, but there is very good reason for this. Others are asking $199 for the 16GB and $249 for the 32 GB. T-Mobile however has set their prices at $279 for the 16GB and $329 for the 32GB. What’s more these are the prices after a $50 rebate, which means the phone costs even more when you purchase it. Looking back, T-Mobile has never charged $329 for a smartphone before.
The phone had 9 million pre-orders and according to Samsung they can produce 5 million units per month. Samsung now have to meet the demand for the phone in the near term and other regions may have delayed the launch of the phone to accommodate supply issues. To date no phone has outsold the iPhone, maybe, just maybe, the Galaxy S3 will do so.
