Midstate consumers lined up outside electronic stores today for a chance to get the latest release from Apple Inc. — the iPhone 4.
Eli Douglass, general manager of the Best Buy on Presidential Parkway, said customers arrived early Thursday morning, waiting eagerly for the device.
VINO WONG/ASSOCIATED PRESS People wait Thursday in two lines formed inside Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody for the Apple store to open. Apple Inc.’s newest iPhone was selling briskly as people lined up outside stores around the world to become among the first to own the device amid concerns of supply shortages.“I got here at about a quarter to six, and we already had people who were forming a line,” Douglass said. “It’s the latest and greatest toy. There’s a ton of people who are showing interest.”
The new version of Apple’s popular cell phone includes added features such as a camera on both sides for video conference capability and the ability to record video in high definition.
Apple limited the number of units available in the U.S. after receiving more than 600,000 pre-order requests June 15, according to the Associated Press. New orders aren’t expected until July 14, according to Apple’s Web site.
Stacy Harth, spokeswoman for AT&T, said the demand for the new phone has been overwhelming, causing AT&T stores to delay availability to customers who did not pre-order.
“On a national basis, (demand) was 10 times higher than the pre-order number for last year’s iPhone,” Harth said. “Since we had such an overwhelming response with the pre-orders, we wanted to make sure we covered everyone who had pre-ordered. General sales will begin June 29.”
Glenn Smith, sales lead at Best Buy Mobile, located inside the Best Buy, said his division only managed to order about 25 units before Apple stopped taking pre-order requests.
“We were only allowed to take pre-sale orders on the first day,” Smith said. However, Smith said customers who arrived early at Best Buy did not arrive in vain.
“We were able to compensate eight people without pre-sales this morning,” he said. “Everything went really smoothly. We handled the launch really well.”
Matt Helstrom, a customer at Best Buy, said he arrived at 8:30 a.m. and was pleased to be able to receive one of the units.
“I’ve already got aniPhone, but I wanted to have the new one,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to the HD video.”
Source: www.macon.com
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