UPDATE (June 9, 2008): go here for the offical launch date and new 3g iPhone info.

Today, Boy Genius Report published an AT&T memo that it is restricting staff’s vacation requests between June 15th and July 12th. The reason for the restriction is “to ensure adequate store staffing and to give everyone an equal opportunity to benefit from an exciting product launch.” AT&T expects “heavier than normal customer traffic” in their stores due to an “exciting Summer Promotional Launch”. The same type of restrictions were in place during last year’s iphone launch. 

For the international market, Apple seems to have abandoned the exclusive single-carrier model that they have established in current markets. Both Telecom Italia and Vodafone independently announced that they have signed agreements with Apple to provide the iPhone in Italy. 

In addition to Italy, Vodafone also said in a statement (without providing further detail), “Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network”. 

And don’t forget about the canadian iphone deal that Rogers Communication made with Apple for later this year.

Now on to some possible 3g iphone photos. These photos show the rumored extra sensors on the front. Then again, it could just be another apple knockoff from China.

(source)