Biz Brief: AT&T Suspends iPhone 4 Pre-Orders

AT&T (T) is suspending its iPhone 4 pre-orders because the crush of demand has depleted its existing supply, the telecom giant announced Wednesday. The company noted that pre-orders for the iPhone 4 were 10 times higher than that of Apple's (AAPL) hugely successful 3GS launch last year. Yesterday there were more than 13 million visits to AT&T's website. So much for perceived PR blunders!

That goes a long way toward explaining the complaints and security glitches AT&T has endured -- some consumers who tried to order an iPhone online found themselves re-routed to another AT&T user's account. According to an Associated Press report on the glitch, those user's did not see other customers' Social Security numbers, credit card information or detailed call logs.

AT&T says it will suspend the pre-orders until it can fulfill the ones that came in Tuesday and that customers should revisit its website for updates. Of course, bummed out would-be iPhone 4 owners can always check the Apple Store or other retailers such as Best Buy and Radio Shack, which are also taking pre-orders.

In the meantime, Apple's iPhone 4 is schedule to hit stores on June 24. Apparently it's never too early to pitch a tent in line.