If there is any doubt that the initial demand for Apple’s new iPhone is heading into orbit - around Jupiter - one just need to take a look at what’s going on outside of your local AT&T store this morning. If the stores in some neighborhoods in Orlando are any indication, you should see a small, but growing line of folks anxious to be the first to own Apple’s trend-setting entry into the mobile phone market.

To be first in line at an AT&T store in East Orlando, Shaun McLane set up camp at 10a.m. on June 28. He had been there for 22 hours when I talked to him, he had another 10 hours to go before the AT&T store could officially start selling the iPhone.

Shaun McLane, 22 hours and counting.

I knew it was a silly question, but I asked him anyway; why he camped out so early?

"I was expecting a larger crowd," he said. Apparently the store expected more people too because they asked for, and got one of Orange County’s finest to keep an eye on the crowd. He didn’t look too pleased to be there. As of 8:30 a.m. there were approximately 15 people sedately jockeying to be the first on his or her block to own an iPhone.

iPhone waitin’ while basking in the morning sun

Mr. McLane, a long time Mac user, wasn’t put off by some of the initial less than positive reports concerning business email, the virtual keyboard, and other features. "[The iPhone] looks pretty solid and Apple products just works," he said.

I drove around and found lines had formed, or were forming in front of other AT&T stores. Local news stations are reporting lines were forming at all of the local Apple outlets around town.

While employees at Apple Stores may be used to having people line up for products, this will be a new experience for the folks at the many AT&T stores around the country. For them it looks like it’s going to be a very long day.