Last year, Apple opened the pre-order session for the iPhone 4S on a Friday, a few days after the presentation event. This year it was rumored that the pre-orders will start this evening, but those from Macrumors I maintain that in reality you will only be able to pre-order terminals from Friday iPhone 5 in the countries where it will be available. It seems that Apple's sales team will be supplemented on Friday starting at 6 am, US time, and this measure taken by Apple should indicate that then the pre-order session will be opened.
MacRumors is now hearing that pre-orders may not begin tomorrow following the media event and that they may instead start on Friday morning in a scenario similar to last year's debut. We're hearing that certain portions of Apple's sales support team are significantly increasing their staffing levels beginning at 6:00 AM Eastern on Friday, with a major surge for the initial shift beginning at that time and a sustained level of high staffing for at least the remainder of the day.
It would not be unusual for Apple to take this measure, but it would not be unusual for Apple to open the pre-order session tomorrow evening, so it remains to be seen what decision will be made in Cupertino.
