U.S. carriers: Apple iPhone 5s inventory will be low at launch

A couple of new developments have popped up just days before the launch of the Apple iPhone 5s and Apple iPhone 5c. As we told you earlier, Apple is officially launching the pair at 3:01 am Eastern Daylight Time Friday morning. And sources for the major U.S. carriers are beginning to sound worried about low inventory levels for the Apple iPhone 5s. One source from a U.S. carrier said, "We will have grotesquely unavailable inventory."

Over the last few days, we have passed along a couple of stories indicating that low yields of a chip used for the fingerprint sensor and the low yields of a camera lens module could be holding back shipments of the full-featured iPhone to carriers. But another source from a different carrier says that the lower than expected supply of  iPhone 5s units will be met with lower than expected demand for the phone as many buyers have been turning to the mid-range, more colorful Apple iPhone 5c. The additional colors have become a problem for the carriers as each one tries to figure out which shades will be more popular.

If you have your heart set on the Apple iPhone 5s, keep in mind that the Gold and Silver versions sold out quickly in China where reservations for the unit started on Tuesday. Apple might have done many a favor by starting at 3am EDT Friday to accept orders, when the majority of those in the east will be fast asleep.

We will be minding the store as usual, so if you need some early morning/late night company as the calendar turns to Friday, come pay us a visit. We will have all of the latest news before, during and after the launch of the Apple iPhone 5s and Apple iPhone 5c.

source: AllThingsD