One of the most peculiar things about Apple’s current iPhone lineup is that it includes the now over 3-year old iPhone 3GS, sitting at the bottom of the iPhone chain as a freebie $0 phone with any AT&T contract. While both the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S are available on Sprint and Verizon, the 3GS was only ever designed to be and released as a GSM phone, meaning it’s the last available iPhone to be A&T specific throughout the entirety of its lifespan.

Now, it seems, the end of the road for this long lasting iPhone may be nigh. Apple has just informed of Genius Bar’s across the globe of some serious 3GS shortages, recommending users to either perform in-store repairs, suggest the iPhone 4 or 4S, or – presumably in a serious case – swap it out with an iPhone 4, free of charge.

Many had wondered when it would be time for the 3GS to leave us, though this would admittedly be sooner than many thought as the iPhone supports iOS 6, set to be released this fall. Apple is said to be holding a keynote event on September 12 to introduce the new iPhone lineup.

Source: 9to5Mac