Apple has opened its Get Ready service for the iPhone Duo, giving prospective buyers a way to prepare their orders before pre-orders begin on Friday, October 16. The service is designed to reduce the time needed to complete an order when sales open and may help customers secure their preferred model if initial supplies are limited.

Pre-orders start at 5 a.m. Pacific time or 8 a.m. Eastern time on October 16. Apple plans to release the iPhone Duo on October 23.

What Apple’s Get Ready service includes

Customers can access Get Ready through Apple’s online store or the Apple Store app. The setup process allows shoppers to choose an iPhone Duo color and storage capacity in advance.

Apple also lets customers complete several parts of the purchase before pre-orders open, including:

  • Confirming carrier information
  • Selecting accessories
  • Choosing an AppleCare+ plan
  • Adding a trade-in
  • Saving a payment method
  • Entering shipping and billing addresses

Once those details are saved, customers should be able to submit their order with fewer steps when the pre-order window begins. Apple’s setup page is available through its iPhone Duo purchase page.

Why completing setup early matters

The main benefit of Get Ready is speed. Instead of entering configuration, payment and delivery information during the busy opening minutes of pre-orders, shoppers can prepare those choices ahead of time and move more quickly to checkout.

That could be particularly useful for the iPhone Duo. Reports cited in connection with the launch have pointed to production issues and possible supply constraints, raising the prospect that some configurations may become difficult to order soon after pre-orders open.

Apple has not stated how long each model or configuration will remain available. Customers who want the best chance of receiving their selected iPhone Duo on launch day can complete the Get Ready process before Friday morning.

iPhone Duo pre-order and launch schedule

  • Pre-orders: October 16 at 5 a.m. PT or 8 a.m. ET
  • Launch day: October 23
  • Preparation: Available now through Apple’s online store and Apple Store app

Completing Get Ready does not place an order before the official pre-order period. It prepares the required information so the purchase can be submitted once Apple begins accepting orders.