Don't really think anyone knows the answers to this if I'm honest. I'd have thought that Apple Stores this time round would be wanting to avoid selling the iPhone 4 with a contract and be looking to take in the full value of the phone selling it PAYG and SIM-free. Two reasons for this, one is the time it takes to complete the work that would normally otherwise be completed by the network carrier and secondly because of the demand for the phone. There will be huge numbers queing on the day and a lot will also be left disappointed.
The Apple Store Online is now saying 2nd July that the next batch of pre-ordered handsets will be available. That leaves me and no doubt thousands of others wondering whether the network carriers will even have any stock come the 24th June. You would expect Apple to give priority to those wanting to buy the iPhone from them directly and to those paying the full value which would make sense.
I myself have been checking Vodafone, O2, Orange, Tesco, T-Mobile and Three website regularly to see what changes have been made and so far only Orange have confirmed all the tariffs and options whereas the others have remained rather quiet.
I'm out of contract now but on an iPhone Simplicity tariff so looking to remain with O2 really as I've been with them for 3 years and their customer service is superb, as I've said many times before on here and that is perhaps the main reason for not wanting to leave, while Vodafone would appear to be second best for me in terms of mobile signal coverage.
I think what I will do is give O2 a call anyway and request my PAC as I will have 30 days to use it so then come the 24th, I can maybe switch network carrier if there is a better deal to be had elsewhere or more importantly whether I've been lucky enough to get one.
The tariffs and handset costs on the Vodafone test site that got leaked looked very good to me, maybe even better than what O2 could offer but there's little point in asking too many questions as the phone is not even out yet and there are some several days until launch.