iPhone 3G Coming to Wal-Mart, Report Claims

— -- Wal-Mart will begin selling the iPhone 3G this December, a report published online Wednesday claims.

The story, published at tech blog The Boy Genius Report and attributed to a leaked internal memo, says select Wal-Mart stores will start carrying the iPhone 3G right after the holiday rush, on December 28. About 2,500 Wal-Mart locations will offer the device, according to the site, as will 69 Sam's Club locations.

The following is the supposed "internal Wal-Mart correspondence" said to be the source of the information:

We are pleased to announce that Wal-Mart has reached agreement with Apple to offer iPhone 3G in Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart-managed Sam's Club* Connection Centers nationwide beginning December 28, 2008. AT&T will support Wal-Mart and Sam's Club with the activation process for iPhone 3G, and we need all National Retail employees engaged to ensure a successful launch.

*NOTE: This product launch DOES NOT apply to SC Kiosks within Sam's Club managed by Radio Shack.

Wal-Mart has communicated the following launch plans and execution timeline to their employees:

* iPhone 3G will be available in-store only beginning 12/28/08

* New and existing customers in good standing can purchase iPhone 3G with a 2 year contract

* iPhone 3G transactions only will be processed through POS.com, not the kiosk

Execution Timeline:

12/2 - 12/5: AT&T / Wal-Mart MEM Classroom Training for Store Leads

12/3 - 12/19: AT&T In-Store Training

12/26 - 12/27: AT&T In-Store Refresher Training

12/28: Nationwide Launch

12/28 - 12/30: Wal-Mart and AT&T War Room Support

No mention of pricing or any potential drop in cost is mentioned in the alleged leak.

Wal-Mart would neither directly confirm nor deny the report. A spokesperson would only say that "Wal-Mart has not made an official announcement about offering the iPhone."

Wal-Mart did begin selling the T-Mobile G1 Android phone at the end of October in a similar "select stores" sort of arrangement. It offered the G1 for $148.88 -- about 17 percent less than the T-Mobile pricetag.