I found the following blurb over at the MacNN site:
Anonymous sources are meanwhile claiming that the App Store, in theory only scheduled to go online on the 11th, will in fact go online by 12PM EST (5PM GMT) on the 10th for the US and the UK. Analysts with Music Ally observe that it "makes sense," as the 3G will go on sale at 12:01AM on the 11th in New Zealand's local time, equivalent to 1PM GMT or 8AM EST the previous day. The launch of the App Store should also signal the availability of the iPhone 2.0 firmware and iTunes 7.7, which are required for access.
Anonymous sources are meanwhile claiming that the App Store, in theory only scheduled to go online on the 11th, will in fact go online by 12PM EST (5PM GMT) on the 10th for the US and the UK. Analysts with Music Ally observe that it "makes sense," as the 3G will go on sale at 12:01AM on the 11th in New Zealand's local time, equivalent to 1PM GMT or 8AM EST the previous day. The launch of the App Store should also signal the availability of the iPhone 2.0 firmware and iTunes 7.7, which are required for access.