According to Boy Genius, AT&T has circulated an email to its retail outlets limiting personal vacation requests from June 15 to July 15. The reason? AT&T is saying those 4 weeks might be the "biggest selling period we have seen in a few years." Does this all-but-confirm the iPhone's launch?The email is pretty clear:

As previously announced, Apple and AT&T will soon debut the iPhone, which combines a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and breakthrough internet communications into one small and lightweight handheld device. The new AT&T has a multiyear, exclusive agreement to provide U.S. service for the iPhone.

Um, what AT&T employee hasn't already heard of this device? I love how the memo actually explains what the iPhone is, and uses Apple's marketing-speak to boot!

To ensure proper staffing during the product launch period, Sales personnel planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their vacations before June 15 or after July 15 to participate in the iPhone launch.

The memo says nothing about "unapproved" time off, such as sick time. (Read: If you need to take off any days between June 15 and July 15 for, I dunno, graduation parties or July 4th at the beach, come up with your sick sob story now.)

Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling is not feasible.

No additional vacation requests will be approved during the launch period (6/15 - 7/15).

So, is June 15th the launch date for the iPhone? Restricting employee vacations in and around that date makes it pretty obvious that AT&T expects there to be a rush of people to its retail outlets once the iPhone becomes available.

I have to wonder how many people will actually go to AT&T stores to buy the device, or just look at it. After all, only a few dozen people seem to have even seen the thing, let alone get their hands on it. If you believe any of the studies that have been publishing on the subject, the majority of the people who show up at an AT&T store might be there "just looking."

Too bad Apple is so locked down. Did Apple retail store employees received a similar email limiting their vacation time from June 15 to July 15, as well?