It's already begun: iPhone 3G line starting in New York City

[AppleInsider]

Although it's not the first release and ample supply is expected, a queue has reportedly begun outside of Apple's Fifth Avenue retail store to buy iPhone 3G a full week before its release.

As of mid-afternoon on Friday, a ten-person line has been spotted by Gear Diary along the marble border that surrounds the retail store above ground.

The lineup is acknowledged by both store security and Apple employees, some of whom have already left the store temporarily to talk with those in line. Chairs and other apparel make it clear the early visitors are there for the seven-day wait.

The names of those first in line are unknown, though unlike the queue at the same store last year, the front isn't headed up by well-known line waiter Greg Packer, who regularly queues up early to be the first in line for many high-profile events.

Also unlike last year, however, there exists more of a clear incentive to be first in line at the New York City flagship outlet. With customers required to activate iPhone in-store rather than simply walk out with their purchases, the time spent processing each customer is estimated to take at least 10 minutes -- a process that will slow the line down considerably versus the original launch, in which many customers could buy their handsets and leave in just a fraction of the time.

A snapshot of the early lineup. Image credit: Gear Diary

[Virgil-TB2]

Lining up for the first iPhone was historic, and since supply was not certain, probably was a smart thing to do if you wanted to make sure you got one on the first day.

Given the new set-up, the stock available, and the sheer number of outlets that will sell it, ... lining up for iPhone 3G is just stupid.

It's a virtual certainty that you will be able to walk into any Apple or AT&T store on the afternoon of the first day or release and pick one up with no hassle, and no line-up. Why sleep in a camp chair for 7 days just for a free TShirt?

[iCarbon]

do these people have jobs? 1 full week for a phone you could buy a day or two later,

just silly,

[bavlondon2]

I dont understand whats with all the queue business. Why not just go after work and get it?

Over here they made a big fuss of closing the stores for a supposed queue but I think the only queue was at the Apple store in London. Otherwise it was just bored people wanting to play with it lol I guess its fun to be part of the first batch of peeps to get their hands on it.

[alpal16]

So, do we call these people "iHeads"?

[Captain Jack]

I agree, it's silly, but it's harmless fun, if ppl get a kick out of it let them do it, it's not hurting anyone, they'll probably meet a lot of ppl, is sitting infront of a computer reading forums meant to be more enlightened?

[SpamSandwich]

It makes for great headlines, so I can't diss them too much.

[Dlux]

Also unlike last year, however, there exists more of a clear incentive to be first in line at the New York City flagship outlet.

Waste an entire week in line to save a few extra minutes or hours for activation?

That sounds like a clear incentive to me!

[rawhead]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Also unlike last year, however, there exists more of a clear incentive to be first in line at the New York City flagship outlet. With customers required to activate iPhone in-store rather than simply walk out with their purchases, the time spent processing each customer is estimated to take at least 10 minutes -- a process that will slow the line down considerably versus the original launch, in which many customers could buy their handsets and leave in just a fraction of the time.

So to save a few hours on launch day, they waste a week in a queue, and that's supposed to be one clear incentive?

[Bobo Decosta]

Originally Posted by iCarbon

do these people have jobs? 1 full week for a phone you could buy a day or two later,

just silly,

Guess it's their job?! Aren't those people paid to wait in front of the store to go buy an iPhone for someone with a job?

[bdkennedy1]

Just an opinion, but I image they're in line to buy several of them and then scalp them on eBay or another country. Otherwise I don't see why on earth anyone would stand in line for a week for anything but food.

[emulator]

Originally Posted by alpal16

So, do we call these people "iHeads"?

we call them idiots. way too many on this planet.

[nagromme]

This seems to have crossed the line from "making sure I get one" to "tailgate party."

And then crossed THAT line into "week-long tailgate party," which is firmly in the territory of the insane.

Then again, I bet in NYC you could find 10 people who think the iPhone 3G comes out today!

[solipsism]

Something seems off about this. The people waiting all appear to be an early 20s age group, not the decade older age group I'd expect to see on average. Plus, we heard nothing about the first waiting in line, so it's almost like they just showed up all at once. Adding to that point, we have heard nothing about any other stores having a single person waiting in line but the high profile NYC flagship store has dozens. Could this be that performance art troop doing another lame stunt?

[city]

Originally Posted by bavlondon2

I dont understand whats with all the queue business. Why not just go after work and get it?

Over here they made a big fuss of closing the stores for a supposed queue but I think the only queue was at the Apple store in London. Otherwise it was just bored people wanting to play with it lol I guess its fun to be part of the first batch of peeps to get their hands on it.

By going after work in New York City on July 11, 2008, you will wait in a very long line and hope you make it to the door before they close. The processing will be slow too with the overloaded AT&T Window based computers. Being first in line gets you on television for those that still watch it.

[sikras]

Some of those people in line may own Apple stocks for the last 5 years.
Then they deserve to be in line. Maybe it's there way of thanking Apple.

[winterspan]

On an unrelated note, I think it's funny that you British (and I think Aussies/Kiwis as well) use the terms "queue" and "queuing" which are actually much more precise than the average American using "standing in a line" or "lining up". Leave It to Americans to butcher the hell out of proper english..

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by winterspan

On an unrelated note, I think it's funny that you British (and I think Aussies/Kiwis as well) use the terms "queue" and "queuing" which are actually much more precise than the American "standing in a line" or "[B]lining up[]/B". Leave It to us Americans to butcher the hell out of proper english..

I wouldn't say it's more precise, but it certainly does sound more proper to our unsophisticated, Yankee ear.

From Dictionary.app:

Queue — ORIGIN late 16th cent. (as a heraldic term denoting the tail of an animal): from French, based on Latin cauda ‘tail.’

Line — ORIGIN Old English līne [rope, series,] probably of Germanic origin, from Latin linea.

[akhomerun]

Originally Posted by sikras

Some of those people in line may own Apple stocks for the last 5 years.
Then they deserve to be in line. Maybe it's there way of thanking Apple.

maybe using "there" instead of "their" is your way of botching the english language.

and if these people aren't scalping them on ebay they are idiots, but if they are they probably are still idiots because if they had a real job they could make more money than by sitting here to buy iphones, even if their profit is 100%, that's only $200.

In other words, get a life, not an iLife.

[sapporobaby]

Does it count as a queue if they are bringing mine to the embassy on Friday morning and I have to wait with the security guards until it passes through the scanners and x-ray machines?

Also, I might have missed it but is there the ability to use VoIP applications on the new iPhone or has Apple sort of "blocked" this via the SDK?

[winterspan]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I wouldn't say it's more precise, but it certainly does sound more proper to our unsophisticated, Yankee ear.

From Dictionary.app:

Queue — ORIGIN late 16th cent. (as a heraldic term denoting the tail of an animal): from French, based on Latin cauda ‘tail.’

Line — ORIGIN Old English līne [rope, series,] probably of Germanic origin, from Latin linea.

Well, maybe not technically more precise, but I think "queue" better describes what you are talking about without regards to surrounding context than "line"

Queue, Queu·ing
A file or line, especially of people waiting their turn
A line of waiting people or vehicles.
A data structure from which the first item that can be retrieved is the one stored earliest.


Anyways, give it 50 years and I'm sure Americans will split off a "simplified english" dialect consisting of a set of 50 three and four letter words... Then there will be cultural fighting over which is more "American" and educated people will be seen as the villanous "elite" because they speak in formal language.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by akhomerun

maybe using "there" instead of "their" is your way of botching the english language.

and if these people aren't scalping them on ebay they are idiots, but if they are they probably are still idiots because if they had a real job they could make more money than by sitting here to buy iphones, even if their profit is 100%, that's only $200.

In other words, get a life, not an iLife.

I suppose it depends on the supply and demand. The non-contractual price is $600 and $700, but that is still a locked iPhone to AT&T. As of right now there is no official unlocking, but possibly the real kicker is that there will reportedly be no iPhones for sale without a contract right away.

However, buying an iPhone under contract for $199 or $299, paying for one month of service plus activation fee at $105, and then canceling the contract an hour later for $175 is only $479 and $579. That is more than one hundred dollars below the full retail price of the handset.

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

Does it count as a queue if they are bringing mine to the embassy on Friday morning and I have to wait with the security guards until it passes through the scanners and x-ray machines?

Also, I might have missed it but is there the ability to use VoIP applications on the new iPhone or has Apple sort of "blocked" this via the SDK?

Wo is buying your phone for you? Are you buying it outright in full or have you arranged for someone to sign the contract for you?

SDK only allows for VoIP when no using the carrier's network. I'd add TUAW to your RSS as I'm sure as soon as the jailbroken, unlocking and way to add unauthorized apps they will let you know. As will other sites like Digg, Gizmodo and Engadget, but they cover so much more that it can be hard to sort through. I'll try to remember to send you a message of VoIP is possible on v2.0.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by city

By going after work in New York City on July 11, 2008, you will wait in a very long line and hope you make it to the door before they close. The processing will be slow too with the overloaded AT&T Window based computers. Being first in line gets you on television for those that still watch it.

While the process is definitely likely to be much slower this time, the only actual data point we have is the experience from last year.

Last year, you could walk into the same store these people are lining up in front of (the glass cube store), in the evening of the same day, and there was no line-up at all.

I still contend that it makes almost no sense at all to line up this year or last, but at least last year it was new, fun, and had that cache of being a historic occasion. This year is just a pale imitation of that experience for those that felt left out by not lining up last year.

[NeverInDoubt]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

While the process is definitely likely to be much slower this time, the only actual data point we have is the experience from last year.

Last year, you could walk into the same store these people are lining up in front of (the glass cube store), in the evening of the same day, and there was no line-up at all.

I still contend that it makes almost no sense at all to line up this year or last, but at least last year it was new, fun, and had that cache of being a historic occasion. This year is just a pale imitation of that experience for those that felt left out by not lining up last year.

I think "much slower" is an understatement. I wondered about my current credit check situation, so I went for an advance credit check at the nearby AT&T office. It took 10 minutes. The rep said all new AT&T customers require the check. And each line requires its own. Also, if you're porting a family over [my wife & I], *both* people have to be in line.

And that didn't count phone activation. And this guy seemed to be fairly capable, unlike many.

My guess is that it's 20 minutes/person for a new AT&T customer, best case.

I'm waiting till the lines disappear, then going in to buy them.

[Tallfish21]

I think they will go away after a couple of days or they are probably being paid by some company, A good way to get free web coverage.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are all wearing the same t-shirts on the day before the real launch ?

[Boogerman2000]

Originally Posted by Captain Jack

I agree, it's silly, but it's harmless fun, if ppl get a kick out of it let them do it, it's not hurting anyone, they'll probably meet a lot of ppl, is sitting infront of a computer reading forums meant to be more enlightened?

I agree as well. What's the big deal. It will surely be an experience that they won't soon forget. For better or worse. The way the weather has been in the city so far this year, it will be a miracle if they make it through the week without getting soaked.
On another note, does anyone know wether you can purchase more than one phone per person? Doesn't sound possible with the contracts, and I hear the no-contract phones won't be available for some time. Happy 4th everyone

[palex9]

ok, if we assume these are not some people who are being paid for this (great publicity obviously) we must deduct that:

1) a great deal of the US population has gone insane
2) there are people that never leave their basement other than when apple releases a product
3) inexplicable herd behavior warranting further investigation
4) the media is feeding us more and more news which is actually none, as to keep up from possibly thinking about real issues concerning us all

the count

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I suppose it depends on the supply and demand. The non-contractual price is $600 and $700, but that is still a locked iPhone to AT&T. As of right now there is no official unlocking, but possibly the real kicker is that there will reportedly be no iPhones for sale without a contract right away.

However, buying an iPhone under contract for $199 or $299, paying for one month of service plus activation fee at $105, and then canceling the contract an hour later for $175 is only $479 and $579. That is more than one hundred dollars below the full retail price of the handset.




Wo is buying your phone for you? Are you buying it outright in full or have you arranged for someone to sign the contract for you?

SDK only allows for VoIP when no using the carrier's network. I'd add TUAW to your RSS as I'm sure as soon as the jailbroken, unlocking and way to add unauthorized apps they will let you know. As will other sites like Digg, Gizmodo and Engadget, but they cover so much more that it can be hard to sort through. I'll try to remember to send you a message of VoIP is possible on v2.0.

Go see your PM my friend.

[Charko]

I think the English language is richer for it's diversity and, as a Brit, have no problems with 'waiting in line' or similar variations.
What does grate on my nerves is when established phrases or idioms are gramatically butchered; eg. the awful and nonsensical ' I could care less' (which I sometimes read here) instead of the obviously correct 'I couldn't care less'.

[success]

Originally Posted by Captain Jack

I agree, it's silly, but it's harmless fun, if ppl get a kick out of it let them do it, it's not hurting anyone, they'll probably meet a lot of ppl, is sitting infront of a computer reading forums meant to be more enlightened?

Well said. Btw, here in Japan it's being released next week and there isn't one commercial or banner about the iPhone anywhere in sight lol I think only hard core Mac fans here know about it.

[sapporobaby]

@solipsism,

I agree. I think so myself.

Can't wait. I spoke to Zibri. He says he thinks this will be a bit harder but he has cracked 2.0 as has the DevTeam but they have not really putting the word out there as much. They should have it jailbroken in about 2 or 3 weeks they estimate. This will be interesting for sure.

[Cedric]

It's not about being the first to get the iPhone.

And it's not about the iPhone itself.

It's more about being there. Being part of a group. Identify oneself with something and with other people. It's a socio/cultural phenomena. In a world where individualism, independency and isolation is high...

"He's a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody."

"Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a
wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a
jar by the door
Who is it for?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from ?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong ?"

...a queue is one of the few occasions where people meet new people, friendships are made and interdependency is increased. That the queue happen in the US and especially NYC is due to the fact that independency is extremely high whereas in Asia interdependency is higher. I would compare the phenomena with the sit-ins of the '60s. It's a way to break-out of the stressful and frenetic everyday life where they

"Can't get no satisfaction"

But..

"The Times They Are A-Changin"

They are stopping the time by standing in line.

"Look what's happening out in the streets
Got a revolution Got to revolution"

"You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world"

It's a revolution, that's the real purpose and not the iPhone. The iPhone is just a mean used as an excuse to reach the real goal.

"We Shall Overcome"

[btcutter]

10 min to activate???? they are dreaming.

I suspect average of at least 20 min if not 30 min per customer from filling out paper work, credit check and porting phone numbers (Apple employees don't even know how to do this yet). oh, not to mention checking upgrade elgibility and arguing with customers.

Let just say there are 20 Apple employees working non-stop to activate a phone and stores open at 24 hrs. At 20 min per customer, one Apple store can only active 1440 phones per day (and that is NON-STOP).

With 2200 AT&T retail stores and 164 Apple stores, average (high assumption here) 10 employees per AT&T and 20 per Apple store, active 3 phones per employee per hr for 12 hrs straight. There will be about 910,080 iPhone 3G sold in the US.

You have to be the 1st 360 people in line for AT&T store to get iPhone 3G on 1st day. Or, 1st 720 people at Apple Store.


Are you willing to wait????

Apple and AT&T are stupid. They could have easily sold 3-5x more phone if activation at the store isn't a requirement. How hard is it to set it up so either you activate within 7 days or get hit with huge penalty?? come on....

[jeffhrsn]

Originally Posted by emulator

we call them idiots. way too many on this planet.

Indeed! Reminds me of all the people who queued a week ahead last year; I walked out of the Apple Store with the same phone as they did yet spent a grand total of 30 minutes in line on release day. Whatever.

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

Does it count as a queue if they are bringing mine to the embassy on Friday morning and I have to wait with the security guards until it passes through the scanners and x-ray machines?

Also, I might have missed it but is there the ability to use VoIP applications on the new iPhone or has Apple sort of "blocked" this via the SDK?

VOIP for the iPhone is already in development using the SDK officially. Check it out http://www.icall.com/iphone/

[btcutter]

Originally Posted by jeffhrsn

Indeed! Reminds me of all the people who queued a week ahead last year; I walked out of the Apple Store with the same phone as they did yet spent a grand total of 30 minutes in line on release day. Whatever.

with this new activation policy, I suspect there will be a wait for the 1st week.

[lidofido]

Originally Posted by Cedric

It's not about being the first to get the iPhone.

And it's not about the iPhone itself.

It's more about being there. Being part of a group. Identify oneself with something and with other people. It's a socio/cultural phenomena. In a world where individualism, independency and isolation is high...

]"He's a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody."

This is some kind of ridiculous, tongue-in-cheek hippie joke post right? If the original poster is trying to posit the iPhone and Apple as some kind of cultural catalyst of human understanding and not just another consumerist company, the sheep mentality fostered on us by advertising has won; we've degenerated into people who can't think for themselves about what's actually important.

And if it IS a joke, it's really lame.

[elroth]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

While the process is definitely likely to be much slower this time, the only actual data point we have is the experience from last year.

Last year, you could walk into the same store these people are lining up in front of (the glass cube store), in the evening of the same day, and there was no line-up at all.

I still contend that it makes almost no sense at all to line up this year or last, but at least last year it was new, fun, and had that cache of being a historic occasion. This year is just a pale imitation of that experience for those that felt left out by not lining up last year.

Except that they pretty soon had a major shortage of phones last year - at one point only 2 stores in the entire U.S. had them in stock. It took a month or two to fully supply every store. How soon we forget.

[Ireland]

This is sick, it's just fucking phone.

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

@solipsism,

I agree. I think so myself.

Can't wait. I spoke to Zibri. He says he thinks this will be a bit harder but he has cracked 2.0 as has the DevTeam but they have not really putting the word out there as much. They should have it jailbroken in about 2 or 3 weeks they estimate. This will be interesting for sure.

What's the point if jailbreaking and unlocking the 2.0 iPhone? You can only buy it for $199 with a contract and you can buy it unlocked (At least in Europe) without a contract for higher price without worrying about it being bricked by future update. Beside, you have the App Store now where you can find all type of applications. However, with App Store maybe you cannot customize your iPhone with those ugly icons and themes I have been seeing online from time to time (who really want to use those anyway).

I won't be surprised if AT&T refused to sell you another 3G iPhone for $199 if you cancel your first 3G iPhone contract.