News

iPhone: Lines Forming At AT&T In Orlando

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.

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 971 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

What is this iPhone thing? I thought everyone was waiting in line across the nation to get their copy of GPL 3.0?!?

P.S. Apple should have coordinated a super limited sneaker drop at its stores with Nike. That would have attracted a better class of people to the lines. The people they are interviewing on TV are a bunch of dorks. Chicks are not gonna dig the iPhone.

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jennielf said:

member since 10 May 2007 with 3 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

I beg to differ.

I am a chick (granted a geek chick, but still....) and I totally dig the iPhone and will be purchasing it within the next week.

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Sir Harry Flashman said:

member since 08 Feb 2007 with 583 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

There is an AT&T store at the strip mall a few minutes walking distance from my house and they are carrying the iPhone. However there probably wouldn't be as much a carnival atmosphere at AT&T compared to the Apple Store, more like Carnivāle.

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 971 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

jenni, You make my point. See, you are going to be purchasing within the next week. You are not in line today sitting in a lawn chair trying to pick up some rich guy with man boobs and a sweat pattern around his navel that resembles Antarctica. By comparison, when sneaker freaks get in line, they are dressed to the 9s (urban style), wear lots of jewelry, and know about thick undershirts and antiperspirant. Make sense?

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macinnerd said:

member since 15 Jun 2005 with 1621 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Quote
Bosco wrote:
jenni, You make my point. See, you are going to be purchasing within the next week. You are not in line today sitting in a lawn chair trying to pick up some rich guy with man boobs and a sweat pattern around his navel that resembles Antarctica. By comparison, when sneaker freaks get in line, they are dressed to the 9s (urban style), wear lots of jewelry, and know about thick undershirts and antiperspirant. Make sense?

Bleeech...

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A guest said: (hide)

waiting at the AT&T store in Orlando at Dr. Phillips location. I'm number 12! Hooray

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ericl said:

member since 25 Jul 2004 with 27 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

waiting at the AT&T store in Orlando at Dr. Phillips location. I'm number 12! Hooray

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 971 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

ericl. I hope if we see you on TV, especially the local news in HD, you took a couple minutes to trim the ear hairs...

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A guest said: (hide)

Chicks will DEFINITELY dig the iPhone! I'm one and can't wait to get hold of one!

Quote
Bosco wrote:
What is this iPhone thing? I thought everyone was waiting in line across the nation to get their copy of GPL 3.0?!?

P.S. Apple should have coordinated a super limited sneaker drop at its stores with Nike. That would have attracted a better class of people to the lines. The people they are interviewing on TV are a bunch of dorks. Chicks are not gonna dig the iPhone.

Quote this post ↓

Sir Harry Flashman said:

member since 08 Feb 2007 with 583 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

A short while ago the police helicopter flew over broadcasting over the loudspeaker to be on the look out for a bank robbery suspect. Of course I grabbed my cameras and ran out hoping to get some YouTube footage, no luck. The robbery happened just a block from local AT&T store so I swung by there to check out the situation. There was about 25-30 people waiting in line. Most of the guys in line fit the description offered by Bosco and I didn't want to feel out of place so I will come back later to check out the iPhone.

My son called to tell me his girlfriend is waiting in line to get an iPhone for her boss.

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