We are expecting to see the Iphone 4g be launched this summer, but until then people still buy the iPhone 3G. However, Apple has a very interesting policy when it comes to selling its iPhone versions: it has signed very rigurous contracts with mobile phone companies from America, UK and most part of Europe and the devices can only be purchased if the client signs a two year contract with the respective company - AT&T in America and O2 in UK and Europe. This contract allows them to sell the iPhone 3G for very affordable prices starting with $99. That is the reason why many people have wondered if there is any chance of having a wholesale or to buy the iPhone 3G in bulk.
At first sight the answer seems to be "No". I could not find any intermediate companies between Apple and the mobile phone companies in the countries where the iPhone is sold. The iPhones are usually locked only for these companies and can't be purchased from a third party. However, in the countries where there are no such contracts between Apple and the local mobile phone companies, you can buy unlocked iPhones that can be used with any mobile phone contracter, but of course you have to pay a lot more for such an item, somewhere around $500 more.
As far as I know, after I did some research, you can purchase these unlocked iPhones 3G in such places like Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. But you can only buy one item, not buy the iPhone 3G in bulk. But I am talking here only about the official partners of Apple that are authorized to make resales. But there are also some other kinds of web sites that sell this iPhone 3G in bulk. I was surprised to find such offers, considering the things stated above. However, I do not trust these web sites as they offer very good prices - actually they are too good to be true. And, of, course, the three online stores I found that sell iPhones in bulk or in packages of 30 are in Asia, most of them belonging to China.
Well, we all know that the Chinese are now specialists in copying the famous American devices design and sell them under a similar name. So be very careful when you purchase these things from an unreliable source, as you may have the surprise to get a fake. Check the offers for yourself: www.erdsupply.com, www.dhgate.com and www.banggood.com.