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

  With the iPhone 3G stealing the spotlight from its iPod cousins, how does the iPod touch fit into the Apple family? Starting at $299 for the 8GB model, the iPod touch stands out as the pricey black sheep. Sure, the iPhone 3G’s price is subsidized, but try telling that to the penny-pinching masses. Where does the iPod touch go from here? AppleInsider reports that supplies of the iPod touch are diminishing and it may have something to do with a new model rumored to hit shelves in September. Giant electronics retailer, Best Buy also reported reduced quantities of 16GB models, while Apple’s online store showed a slight delay in orders. We called up a few of the busiest Apple retail stores in the Bay Area, including the one in downtown San Francisco, to find out if they had any in stock. Though bewildered by our intern’s awkward phone demeanor, all three Mac Geniuses assured us there were plenty (and were eager to hold one for us). Recently, Apple introduced the back-to-school promo to college students, offering a $299 rebate towards a new 8GB iPod touch with the purchase of a new Mac. Though this is quite the deal, and a great way to own the MP3 player-slash-mini computer without actually purchasing one, it could just be a ploy by Apple to exercise excess inventory. It appears that the iPod touch is nearing the same fate as the iPhone, with Apple depleting supply so as to make way for an army of new and improved successors. We expect a September announcement, just in time to excite eager consumers for the holiday shopping season.