Apple hasn't strictly confirmed that its App Store will launch this Friday alongside the 3G iPhone, but everyone we've talked to claims that's the case.

Anyway, if you're working on iPhone games for launch, you probably don't need us to tell you that today is the deadline to submit them for inclusion on the App Store's launch day.

Apple sent out a reminder to developers late last week, which was careful not to specify when that launch day would be, but explained that any apps submitted after today might not be available until after the App Store's launch.

The reminder, as shown on World of Apple, tells developers to finish testing their apps with the iPhone OS beta eight before submitting them.

Mystery still surrounds Apple's plans for launch day, in terms of which apps will be promoted on the App Store, and how.

Meanwhile, here in the UK, operator O2 opened its 3G iPhone pre-order process this morning, before its site promply went down – presumably under the pressure of thousands of users trying to get in quick. It's still not back up again.