Americans desperate to buy Apple's new iPhone are already queuing outside shops where the device will go on sale 29th. They are eager to splash out on the much-hyped handset that so far only a tiny handful of the very well-connected have been able to see or use its combined music player, web browser and telephone functions.
In New York, the faithful were already in place early on Monday, camping outside Apple's flagship store on Fifth Avenue despite baking temperatures and a five day wait - the phone does not go on sale until 6pm on Friday.
Elsewhere across the country, queues were expected to start forming by this morning. Many fans have done extensive research to calculate the most likely outlet for securing one of the coveted devices, which is only on sale at Apple and AT&T stores.
Those already in possession of the iPhone, a lucky few comprising journalists and industry insiders, have been causing ripples of excitement everywhere they go with onlookers snapping pictures of the device and posting them on websites.How the handsets will actually arrive at the nearly 2,000 outlets where they will be sold remains under wraps. At night and under armed guard? Perhaps, according to various online rumours.
Stores have already been briefing managers on how to cope with crowd control issues and training staff to operate the handset.
The phone, which costs $500 or $600 dollars depending on memory size, has so far won largely positive backing from reviewers, who say that despite a few shortcomings it is an impressive device. The Wall Street Journal even called it "a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer".
On Tuesday, Apple said the iPhone could cost as much as $3,000 dollars once the mandatory two-year service contract buyers must sign up to had been factored in.
But the cost seems unlikely to deter enthusiasts. Industry analysts expect the first iPhone to sell quickly, with predictions Apple and AT&T could shift about three million handsets within the first weeks
Jessica Rodriguez, a 24-year-old student from the Bronx, who was fourth in the queue outside the Fifth Avenue shop, plans to be among the first to buy an iPhone.
"I love everything Apple, and this is going to be something that goes down in the history books of cell phones," she said.
Sources say that Apple came with a deal to Verizon first, but they rejected the offer as Apple was asking for too much commission, after the refusal, they moved on to AT&T.
With 500$ list price, its quiet a piece of cake. Run for it..... Non-Us Residents will have to wait for this tasty piece of cake. |
