Not to be outdone by AT&T’s rumored 8AM iPhone 3G launch in the US, the UK’s O2 is now reportedly set to open their stores at 7AM, an hour earlier than usual, on July 11 to eager customers.

This rumor comes second hand from a poster in the Mac Rumors forum who claims to have received the information from an O2 employee.  According to the employee, O2 will be signing up customers for iPhone 3G service starting July 1.  By July 11, the credit check and service contract would be in place so users can waltz into their local O2 store and pick up their new iPhone.

The source also claims that O2 stores will be receiving shipments of 5,000 iPhone 3G’s per location.  That’s a mighty number, causing some to question the validity of the source.  Although the employee also states that O2 stores received the same number for the original iPhone launch in November.

If the winners in this picture are O2 customers, then the losers are the UK Apple stores.  Because there is no O2 account activation system and a lack of proper training for employees, Apple may be forced to sell only pre-paid iPhones in their stores.

Via AppleInsider