Post date: Sep 20, 2012 8:48:40 PM
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 20, 2012) (NBC) - Small lines are forming outside Apple stores in the U.S. ahead of the release of the hotly anticipated iPhone 5.
Small lines form outside Apple stores in the U.S. The opportunity to be among the first to own an iPhone 5 is a draw for some, but others see a marketing opportunity.
The iPhone 5 has won rave reviews from tech bloggers and other reviewers who were given the faster, slimmer and lighter smartphone ahead of its release to customers later this week, with CNET describing it as "flat out lovely."
In Chicago, some enthusiasts have been waiting in line since Tuesday (September 18), braving cold temperatures. Julian Diggs got to the store in time to be the first in line.
"Last year I was number one for the iPhone 4S so these guys at Apple are kind of expecting me to be number one again. And then number two, I really do want the phone. I've gotten every upgrade that's ever come out since the beginning. Number three is I might possibly sell my spot, I've already gotten an offer for $500 (USD)."
He's not quite ready to sell, but said that if the price is right he will consider it.
Gregory Thornton has also been waiting in line with Diggs and has the number two spot. He said he lined up because he wants to join the next wave of iPhone owners.
"I have an Android so I feel like it's time to upgrade and step up to the next best thing."
While Diggs and Thornton are enthusiastic about waiting in line, for Danielle Dietze, sleeping outside is getting difficult.
"It's pretty brutal. I didn't think I was going to sleep tonight and I did for maybe four hours, shivering, sharing a blanket, it's not that fun," Dietze said.
Meanwhile in New York, a small line formed outside the Apple store on 5th Avenue. While there are a few people who are eager to be the first to own the iPhone 5, most in line are there to hawk their iPhone apps or accessories before sales begin on Friday (September 21).
Mac Nelson, an employee of Otterbox, a company that makes protective cases for smart phones, said he has been in line for two days.
"Right now we're just supporting the most avid Apple fans because they are going be buying our products. As we protect smart devices we also want to protect and hang out with people that are buying our products."
Joshua Chinchilla, an account manager for Refundo, which is launching a financial services app in October, said he was asked to wait in line for the phone. While Chinchilla was there, he draped Refundo seat covers on top of chairs others are using while they wait.
"Some of the developers are overseas and what not. They can't get their hands on an iPhone immediately. They figure I'm in New York if it's possible for me to do this for them, I said yeah. And basically get it so we can launch in October," Chinchilla said.
The new connector to link the iPhone to docking stations got the thumbs down because it renders existing speakers and other accessories obsolete, but the phone itself wowed reviewers.
Buyers have embraced the new iPhone too, buying 2 million in the first 24 hours of presales in the fastest iPhone launch ever.
Apple's U.S. online store has imposed a limit of two phones per customer, with projected delivery dates pushed out to 3-4 weeks.
Apple stock hit an all-time high of $703.50 (USD) on Wednesday (September 19), ahead of the phone's official availability on Friday, before easing back to $701.03 (USD), down 0.1 percent.