The iPhone 3G was released today, at 8 AM, and my plans to casually stroll into an Apple store at about 8 PM and buy a phone with no wait, as I did last year with the release of the original iPhone, may not work out. I've been calling around my city (Washington DC) and getting calls from people in other parts of the country and it's all chaos. The mighty Apple machine, in all its soothing hospital tones, may be falling apart, at least for today.

The Apple stores I've called in my city all have plenty of stock, but estimate at least a 5-hour wait to get into the stores. All the New York City Apple stores are reportedly out of stock in every size and color. The online Apple store is completely out of stock too. Our own Brian, the master of procurement of new mobile phones at least a week before anyone else, has not yet managed to get an iPhone 3G, despite lining up before the AT&T store opened. This is much crazier than last year - we were both able to get our phones easily.

Another warning - there is such demand on the iTunes activation service that people aren't able to activate their phones, in stores, or at home. Even if you get a phone, you may not be able to get it to work today.

Will Brian get an iPhone 3G today? Will I? Stay tuned.