Mobile operator O2 UK is hiring an extra 1,427 people to help it cope with demand for the Apple iPhone when it launches in the UK on Friday evening [at 6.02pm].

The operator said Tuesday that 700 new jobs will be added to its customer services team, while another 727 people are being recruited in O2 retail stores “to ensure the best possible customer experience for new iPhone customers”.

Each retail store will have live demonstration devices and a dedicated iPhone specialist to guide customers through the features of the iconic device.

All other staff will also receive rudimentary iPhone training.

A dedicated iPhone customer services unit will also be created in O2’s Glasgow call centre, staffed by 1,000 agents.

“The iPhone is a revolutionary device and we need to ensure a fantastic overall experience for customers using it,” said Mark Stansfeld, sales director of O2 UK. “So we are investing in training and increasing our workforce to ensure this good experience from the moment you purchase the iPhone through to activation and on-going support.”

Meanwhile, rumour has it that Apple is readying firmware version 1.1.2. to ship with the European iPhone. The latest version of the firmware closes a vulnerability in the TIFF image rendering library used by the Safari browser, which has been exploited by hackers to ‘jailbreak’ the device so it can run third party applications.

Again, it looks like the hackers will be hunting for new ways to break into the devices which arrive on European shores this month.