Apple opens iPhone Duo preorder setup October 12

Apple will let customers prepare their iPhone Duo preorder selections beginning October 12, four days before orders open on October 16 at 8 a.m. ET. The advance setup is intended to speed checkout once preorders begin, while Apple says the foldable phone will be available starting October 23. Customers can use Apple’s online store or Apple Store app to choose options such as color, storage, carrier and payment method before placing an order. The advance process also includes entering shipping and billing information and selecting accessories and an AppleCare plan, according to the reported details. Customers still need to submit their orders when preorders open; selecting options in advance does not reserve a device. Apple says the preparation period begins October 12 and runs ahead of the October 16 preorder opening. The company has presented the process as a way to move through checkout faster. Whether that will improve an individual customer’s chance of receiving a device on the stated availability date is not yet known. The reports provide no order estimates, supply figures or delivery outcomes.