Do Apple stores already have the 3G iPhone in stock?

We may be half a day away from the WWDC but the internet is on fire with rumors that Apple Stores already have the 3G iPhone in stock, different news sites including Apple Insider and Arstechnica are reporting that stores from Australia to London have received boxes padlocked with instructions not to open until Monday.

Now we also hear from other sources in the UK that more local O2 phone stores are having meetings around 5PM UK time, this is no secret as it would be good training for the employees to learn from Steve Jobs keynote speech that is around 6pm UK time. Instead of these employees going home to watch the possible iPhone 2 launch online, they could get the same information all together at work.

So do Apple stores already have the 3G iPhone in stock?

Looking back at the information coming out over the last few days it seems so, first hearing about ship containers and warehouses with next generation iPhones, now we hear the stores could well have them. This is either good imaginations or all leading to the launch of the new Apple iPhone today.

Arstechnica is reporting Apple Stores have some new signage that is going up today, so taking everything into account and the rumored padlocked boxes in store safes, should we now be lining up at stores ready to collect our new gadget?

What’s also very strange is the rumor that Apple Stores around the world are all getting the new iPhone at the same time, normally we would see the United States get the phone first followed by the rest of the world. The only reason I can see them give just a few stores in each country the next generation iPhone would be to create massive demand for it. If your friend has one and you do not, then this will create demand for more stock. What do you think?