It's almost here! Apple's latest sensation, the iPhone 3G, prepares to make its official debut this Friday, and believe it or not, you might want to take some notes before standing in line.

In order to purchase and activate the iPhone 3G, customers will need their credit card, social security number, valid government-issued photo ID and current wireless account number and password or PIN (for those new with AT&T).

Apple didn't forget about its iPhone customers and reminded those who purchased their phone after May 27th to sink it with iTunes before getting their hands on the new iPhone 3G.

The purchase should take no longer than 15 minutes, according to AT&T, and the activation of the new iPhone 3G will also need to be made in store, whether it's an Apple store or an AT&T one. This will make it hard for those who dream of making an online acquisition I guess.

Here are a few more elements we should expect from the Friday launch, as noted by Apple Insider:

• the activation of an iPhone 3G through the modified iTunes app Apple and AT&T will use should take only 30 seconds

• clients signing new 18-month contracts may have their rollover minutes reset to the number of minutes specified in the iPhone 3G plan.

• rumor: approximately 50,000 iPhones are expected to be shipped on Friday, 5500 of which will be 8GB models, and 3500 16 GB models.

iPhone 3G retail stores will probably deal with some supply shortages these days, before the next shipment is expected. The number of phones Apple offers on launch date is far inferior to the one previously announced, but that wouldn't be something new...

According to iSupply estimations revealed last month, it takes $173 for Apple to make a 3G iPhone, with the 8GB NAND flash memory storage as the most expensive component.

The phone will sell for $199, but that's not all Apple will get. According to the same report, carriers will pay a subsidy rate of $300 per unit, which takes the price of the iPhone for carriers to $499.